Rhodes, Richard (1986). The Making of the Atomic Bomb. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. pp.455–457, 512–517. ISBN 9781439126226. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Richard Rhodes's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Making of the Atomic Bomb, includes details of the events. [33] Leo Marks' 1998 book, Between Silk and Cyanide: A Codemaker's Story 1941–1945 ( ISBN 0-684-86780-X), also details the story. Marks (SOE's cryptographer) knew the Norwegian team, trained them in cryptography so they could communicate with SOE in England, and followed their progress after they were dropped in Norway. The raid is the subject of Assault in Norway: Sabotaging the Nazi Nuclear Program ( ISBN 9781585747504), a 2002 book by Thomas Gallagher based on interviews with many of the commandos. SoDiebnerwas doing everything he could to get enough heavy water to create an atomic reactor and start the program again. Would they have been able to create a bomb? Probably not. But it is clear thatDiebnerwas very intent on creating a nuclear weapon for the German army. “War makes the mind very hard,” LeifTronstadwrote in his diary.“Becoming a sensitive person again will not be easy.” How did the survivors fare after the war?

The heavy water cargo was closely guarded at all times, but the boat that was to transport the shipment stood unwatched the night before. One of the three saboteurs had experimented with a timer and detonating mechanism, and he tried to set the explosion to go off when it would be easiest to rescue passengers. I had never skied before this trip yet at no point did I feel out of my depth. My teammates (all previous skiers in one form or another) were encouraging and I rapidly fell in love with Nordic skiing thanks to the training, the support and, not to mention, the true magnificence of Norway. The Scandinavian branch of the SOE was commanded by a luminary of the Scout movement, Major John Skinner Wilson, and under his watch, a successful raid had already been carried out on a Norwegian hydroelectric plant supplying power to an aluminium-smelting factory. Little did the Germans know that the body they discovered on the coast of Spain in 1943 was part of one of the most elaborate hoaxes of World War II. Skis Against the Atom ( ISBN 0-942323-07-6) is a first-hand account by Knut Haukelid, one of the Gunnerside raiders who remained behind. Jens-Anton Poulsson (Swallow and Grouse) wrote The Heavy Water Raid: The Race for the Atom Bomb 1942–1944 ( ISBN 9788245808698), a 2009 book. Operation Freshman is covered in two books: Richard Wiggan's 1986 Operation Freshman: The Rjukan Heavy Water Raid 1942 ( ISBN 9780718305710) and Jostein Berglyd's 2007 Operation Freshman: The Actions and the Aftermath ( ISBN 9789197589598).

You write that Allied leaders in World War II regarded the heavy water plant at Vemork as “on the thin line separating victory and defeat.” Put it on the map for us—and explain why it was so important. 

The Deuxième Bureau (French military intelligence) directed three French agents (Captain Muller and Lieutenants Mossé and Knall-Demars) to remove the world's extant supply, 185kg (408lb), of heavy water from the Vemork plant in then-neutral Norway in 1940. Norsk Hydro general director Axel Aubert agreed to lend the heavy water to France for the duration of the war, noting that if Germany won the war he would probably be shot. Transportation was difficult, since the Abwehr (German military intelligence) was present in Norway and had been alerted of ongoing French activities in Norway (although they were not specifically warned about heavy water). If they had become aware of the shipment, they might have tried to intercept it. The French transported it secretly to Oslo, then to Perth, Scotland, and finally to France. [1]

By contrast the Resistance fighters, led by Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris, are portrayed as indefatigable, fearless in the face of impossible odds, and totally committed to their cause. Their characters are likewise not really developed: Douglas does his usual turn of a stone-faced hero, while Harris reveals some of the rebel- like qualities characteristic of THIS SPORTING LIFE (1963). Michael Redgrave has a cameo role as a pipe-and-slippers type, who is ultimately provoked into defending his property. The first three days will be based in the Setesdal Valley, south of the Hardanger led by chief instructor Matt Larsson-Clifford from Hogas winter skiing centre run by Brian Desmond. In a beautifully forested area, this training phase will concentrate on basic skiing skills in forgiving, undulating terrain suited to the novice skier. These are important skills that are necessary to enable you to complete the expedition phase of the trip. These skills will add a dimension to your skiing that will stay with you for years to come. Ebb and Flow, Evacuations and Landings by Merchant Ships in World War Two, Roy Martin ISBN 0955744121 The underwater war saw many innovations and a rapid increase in electronic technology, which eventually enabled the Allies to achieve ultimate victory.

Fortune favoured the brave

Most popular star for third time". The Times. London. 31 December 1966. p.5 – via The Times Digital Archive. As it turned out, in the early summer of 1942, Albert Speerdecided the Germans were notgoing to invest in a Manhattan-style nuclear program. But KurtDiebner, who once headed the program, was told very clearly by his boss, “You get a heavy water reactor going, you prove to us you can do it, and we will shower you with money.” BBC.Secrets.of.World.War.II.Set.1.13of14.The.Real.Heroes.of.Telemark.x264.AC3.MVGroup.org.mkv (792.53Mb) Haukelid, Knut (1989). Skis against the atom. Minot, North Dakota: North American Heritage Press. ISBN 0-942323-07-6.

Chris, the secondary instructor was also a wonderful addition to the team. His skillset was obviously very broad and his knowledge of Norway and Nordic skiing was great to dip into. A very interesting chap who was both helpful and supportive whenever necessary. I have just returned from what was a truly exhilarating experience, namely, the Heroes of Telemark skiing expedition. From start to finish the training and the expedition itself were superbly well organised and carried out Hydrogen has a single proton and a single electron.Deuterium,which is an isotope of hydrogen,has a neutron in its nucleus.This makes it heavier. It is very rare—there is one part heavy water for every 41 million molecules of regular water— and has this ability as a so-called “moderator.”In an atomic reaction, it slows down bombarding neutrons and doesn’t absorb them, which fosters a chain reaction. BBC TV documentary about the raid based on the survival skills, who actually interviewed the saboteur Directed by Anthony Mann (his last film) with a mostly British cast, and starring KIRK DOUGLAS and RICHARD HARRIS, it's based on a little known true-life episode. Their mission: to return to Telemark from England and see whether ground invasion is possible--rather than bombing, because the village nearby is heavily populated. As someone else observed, Kirk and Richard spend more time fighting each other than the Nazis. Whatever animosity lies beneath the surface of these two stars, it shows on the screen.By the time the Germans had realized what had happened and soldiers started streaming up to the Vemork plant, the saboteurs were already far down the railway line on their way to Rjukan. It was very dark and the snow was deep but they all got away. Hundreds of sailors, eight ships and two American Admirals were to be lost in actions where valour overcame many mistakes on both sides - leading to the defeat of the Japanese Admiral Yamamoto. The raw beauty of the Hardanger Vidda landscape was breathtaking and knowing that one was following the skisteps of true Norwegian heroes was quite a spiritual experience. The conviviality of the Norwegian dog sleigh team - Olav and Isaach - who shadowed us from a distance, greatly added to the enjoyment and authenticity of the trip. Perhaps I was particularly fortunate in finding myself part of a team that gelled together so well. On the Even a half century after his violent end, the death of the 20th century's most sinister evil is still shrouded in mystery. How did Hitler spend his final hours? Did he actually die in his Chancellery bunker, or did Hitler's doppelganger make one final impersonation? Why was Joseph Stalin obsessed with finding Hitler's body? Return to the war-torn ruins of Berlin to discover the secrets of "Adolf Hitler's Last Days."