The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb

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From the Writer

Behind the scenes with Neal Bascomb

Dr. Tronstad

That is Dr. Leif Tronstad, an excellent younger Norwegian professor, who designed the heavy water plant at Vemork. On the Nazi invasion, he grew to become energetic within the resistance—after which was compelled to flee his nation to keep away from seize by the Gestapo, forsaking his spouse and two younger youngsters. In London, he knowledgeable the Allies of German curiosity in heavy water and discovered how important it was to their atomic bomb plans. After buying and selling his laboratory coat for a navy uniform, Tronstad grew to become deeply concerned in particular operations towards the Nazis in Norway, chief amongst them the sabotage of Vemork. In my analysis, I had uncommon entry to his voluminous diaries and the numerous letters he wrote to his household. His is a hero’s story, but additionally considered one of struggle’s affect on the soul.

Photograph courtesy of Norsk Hydro Assortment/Norsk Industriarbeider Museum.

Vemork

100 miles west of Oslo stands the hydro-electric plant and industrial complicated known as Vemork. Constructed of tons of metal and concrete, nestled in a steep valley on the sting of a precipitous cliff, surrounded by miles and miles of frozen tundra, it’s certainly a winter fortress. This {photograph}—and others of Vemork—do little justice to the foreboding nature of the place. Throughout my analysis, I spent many weeks within the space, residing in previous cabins buried in snow, mountaineering and cross-country snowboarding, and brushing by way of the plant’s archives. Day after day, I’d strategy the plant and marvel every time on the imposing process the saboteurs confronted in trying to infiltrate and destroy Vemork.

Photograph courtesy of Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum.

Commandos on the Vidda

This narrative is actually a narrative of epic survival. With rudimentary gear, the saboteurs dropped by parachute into Norway at a spot known as the Hardangervidda, the place they then lived for months earlier than their operation started. The three,500 sq. mile excessive plateau had no roads, no everlasting habitations. Many stretches have been barren, lifeless hillsides of damaged scree, one mile indistinguishable from the subsequent. On the Hardangervidda, Norwegian legends stated, it may develop chilly sufficient, rapidly sufficient, to freeze flames. Whereas there, the crew maintained wi-fi radio contact with London, and their cipher messages converse of horrible blizzards, hunger, determined hunts for reindeer, and an indomitable spirit to outlive in face of such circumstances.

Haukelid Household Photograph.