This week, she and several descendants of those who took part in the so-called Freshman action in 1942, were visiting Norway. The heavy water operation which did not go well for the allied forces. Many of the relatives of the young men who sacrificed their lives in the action have never been to Norway to visit the places where the 41 soldiers and airmen died and were later buried. Strong experiences – It’s very emotional, says the older woman quietly. We meet Patricia Blackburn Cleveland at Vemork, outside the historic premises of the power station, which today houses the Norwegian Industrial Workers’ Museum (NIA). The 84-year-old has traveled from the United States to see the unknown country where her father, Sapper James Frank Blackburn, sacrificed his life in the fight for peace. Patricia Blackburn Cleveland at Trandum, where her father was executed by the Germans in January 1943. Photo: Bruce A. Tocher She and her mother herself moved to the United States after her father’s death. They didn’t talk much about her father out of respect for her stepfather growing up. She finds it powerful to think about how life could have been. That things could have turned out differently for the father, if it hadn’t been for the Nazis’ merciless decision. The 28-year-old navigator was one of the few who initially survived the action itself. Only a few weeks later he was nevertheless brutally executed by German soldiers in Trandumskogen. – Freedom does not come for free. I think many people need to be reminded of this today, says the daughter, with tears in her eyes. Crashed in the mountains It’s hard to imagine what they were thinking. The men on board the gliders attached by long ropes behind two Allied bombers heading towards Norway, the evening of 19 November 1942. Halifax bombers, similar to those used during Operation Freshman, the first unsuccessful attempt to destroy the heavy water plant at Rjukan. Photo: Wikimedia commons It was one of the very first times the allied forces used the method during the war. Hence the name “Freshman” – which can be translated as beginner in Norwegian. The mission was to put the heavy water factory at Rjukan out of action, to prevent Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany from winning the race to develop nuclear weapons. However, several unfortunate incidents led to problems with the planes. One bomber crashed. So did the two gliders. Only one flight returned this night. Several of the men miraculously survived in the various places in the Norwegian mountain home, but were quickly captured by German soldiers. All were executed at different times, including Sapper James Frank Blackburn, who was shot and killed on a January night in 1943. Anna Hereid, director of the Norwegian Industrial Workers Museum, feels even closer to history after the meeting with the descendants. Anna Hereid, director of the Norwegian Industrial Workers Museum. Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / news – We are always close to history up here, but when you meet those who have lived with this for more than 80 years, it becomes very powerful for us too. We had to struggle to hold back the tears today, she says. Facts about the Vemork sabotage The explosion of the heavy water plant at Rjukan on the night of 27 and 28 February 1943 is one of the most famous acts of sabotage during the Second World War. The plant at Vemork was started by Norsk Hydro before the war. The Germans took control and were well on their way to producing heavy water to be sent to Germany and used to make nuclear weapons. Several actions were carried out to stop production and prevent the transport of heavy water to Germany. In the autumn of 1942, 41 allied soldiers who were supposed to land by glider on Hardangervidda died. Technical problems led to the planes having to make an emergency landing in Rogaland. The Germans executed all who survived the landing. The Norwegian heavy water saboteurs from Kompani Linge entered the country in two groups. The first landed in October 1942 and stayed at Hardangervidda, until the last group was parachuted out in February 1943. The vanguard Grouse consisted of Ensign Jens Anton Poulsson (aged 24), Sergeant Arne Kjelstrup (aged 29), Ensign Knut Haugland ( 25 years) and Sergeant Claus Helberg (23 years). Gunnerside, who came later, was led by Ensign Joachim Rønneberg (23 years old), and otherwise consisted of Sergeant Birger Strømsheim (31 years old), Ensign Knut Haukelid (31 years old), Sergeant Hans Storhaug (27 years old), Sergeant Fredrik Kayser (24 years) and Ensign Kasper Idland (24 years). Although the plant was blown up and much heavy water destroyed, the Germans still had some reserves. When this was to be sent to Germany, Norwegian saboteurs stopped the shipment by blowing up the ferry Hydro on Lake Tinnsjøen in February 1944. The action has been filmed twice; the Norwegian “Kampen om tungvannet” (1948) and the American “The Heroes of Telemark” (1965). news produced a drama series about the action; “Kampen om tungvannet” (2015) Source: NTB Writing the story Bruce A. Tocher has organized the commemoration for the descendants in Norway this month. He has been researching Operation Freshman for nearly three years. The plan is to write a book about the action. – One of my main goals with the research has been to try to track down the families of the men who participated, in order to find out more about their lives, he tells news. The fact that he has finally managed to collect many of them in Norway therefore means a lot. Bruce A. Tocher has been researching the history of Operation Freshmen for several years. Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / news – It is important. Most people are probably not aware of what actually happened. How senseless it was that they died, he says. Brendan Otto is the son of Eric Otto, who was on board the Halifax A bomber and survived when they managed to return to England on that dramatic night 80 years ago. Brendan Otto, son of Eric Otto, who survived the action in 1942. Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / news The son has traveled from Australia to participate in the visit to Norway. He and his father did not talk much about the experiences from the war. He regrets it now. – It makes me sad to think that we didn’t do it. I am left with so many questions after being here. About what kind of feelings he was left with in relation to his friends who did not return. Those who sacrificed their lives. Hello! I have written this matter. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Please send me an email.
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– Freedom does not come for free – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
