In the early 1940s, the German nuclear energy project was focused on developing a nuclear reactor and, ultimately, an atomic bomb. To do this, they required (deuterium oxide) as a neutron moderator. At the time, the only industrial-scale producer of heavy water in the world was the Vemork hydroelectric plant in Telemark, Norway.
When the Germans attempted to ship the remaining heavy water stocks to Germany, Norwegian resistance fighters placed a time bomb on the ferry SF Hydro , sinking it in the deep waters of Lake Tinnsjø. Legacy and Media The Heroes of Telemark
Led by nine Norwegian commandos trained in Britain, this mission is the centerpiece of the "Heroes" legend. The team skied across the treacherous Hardangervidda plateau in brutal winter conditions, scaled a 600-foot gorge, and infiltrated the plant to blow up the electrolysis chambers. In the early 1940s, the German nuclear energy
A tragic initial attempt involving British paratroopers in gliders. Most of the men were killed in crashes or captured and executed by the Gestapo. When the Germans attempted to ship the remaining
The story of the "Heroes of Telemark" refers to the legendary , a series of daring Allied operations during World War II aimed at crippling Nazi Germany's nuclear ambitions. The Mission: Stopping the Nazi Atomic Bomb
The bravery of these men is credited with significantly delaying—or even preventing—Germany's ability to produce an atomic weapon. Their exploits have been immortalized in several major works:
Realizing the catastrophic potential of a Nazi nuclear weapon, Allied forces launched several high-stakes operations to destroy the plant and its supply lines: