– It is very strange to be here and see how they got in through the pipe streets, says Dag Strømsheim. He is the son of the saboteur of the same name. 80 years ago, soldiers from Kompani Linge placed explosive charges in the basement at Vemork. The goal: Prevent the Germans from using heavy water in the production of atomic bombs. SON: Birger Dag Strømsheim is the son of the saboteur with almost the same name. Photo: Martin Torstveit / news Kort luna On Tuesday, the Norwegian Museum of Industrial Workers opens a new exhibition where 3D and augmented reality are used to tell about the dilemma the saboteurs faced. Strømsheim said that the saboteurs worked quickly and made an assessment of how long the fuse should be. The alternative was two minutes or a minute and a half. They went for the last time. At the museum, the public can themselves try to blow up the factory and choose the length of the fuse. – What did you go for? – I agreed with my father, we talked about it several times. 30 seconds managed. Otherwise, there was a risk that the sabotage would fail if they were allowed to tear away the fuses. Clothing that was used during operation “Gunnerside” A gun is displayed in a stand. Guests in the heavy water cellar can experience history through digital tools. Live pictures on the walls help simulate the heavy water action. Current history Exhibition manager Gunhild Lurås believes that the history of the heavy water campaigns is still relevant after 80 years. EXHIBITION: Gunhild Lurås is responsible for the new exhibition. Photo: Martin Torstveit / news – Unfortunately, war is still relevant. It is important to tell about what soldiers in war face, says Lurås. She says the purpose of the exhibition is to create an understanding of the election that was drawn. – That says a lot about what they were like as people, says Lurås. The exhibition has cost around NOK 16 million. Parts of the group from Operation Gunnerside met in London after the war. In the front from the left are Hans Storhaug and Joachim Rønneberg. Back from left: Fredrik Kayser, Kasper Idland and Birger Strømsheim. Knut Haukelid and Leif Tronstad are not present in the picture. Photo: Leif Tronstad collection Unknown / Tronstad Jr., Leif Føre was Professor of History Olav Njølstad at UiO says the heavy water actions were precautionary actions. There was information that Germany had established a program for research into nuclear energy. The Allies did not know whether the purpose was military or civilian. Join a tour of the museum: – In order to disregard the fact that the purpose was for military use, it was important to attack Vemork, says Njølstad. The chemist Leif Tronstad built a copy of the electrolysis plant in the basement at Vemork. Kompani Linge used this in training to learn about where the explosive charges should be placed. – When the actions took place, the nuclear energy track to Germany was seen on the sidelines, says Njølstad. Hitler was told that it would take 4–6 years before he could see the results of the heavy water production. – He therefore chose to prioritize building V1 and V2 missiles, he says. – Stort Birger Strømsheim thinks it’s special to stand in the same cellar where his father once worked for a hard life. – I think it is quite great that so much has been made of it, he says. The Vemork action/operation Gunnerside Drawing of the attack route against Vemork 1943. Photo: Berg, Bjørn / SCANPIX A military, allied sabotage operation during the Second World War to blow up Norsk Hydro’s factory at Vemork near Rjukan in Telemark. The saboteurs consisted of the Norwegian ground team “Grouse” from an earlier bombing attempt, and six new Norwegian paratroopers from Norwegian Independent Company no. 1 Night to 28 February 1943, nine of them made their way to Våer, crossed the gorge with the frozen river Måna, and took made his way to the factory along the railway track, an area that was not mined. While the covering party kept watch, the blasting party entered the heavy water plant and blew up the heavy water cells. 900 kg of heavy water was destroyed. The two who had remained in the mountains could then inform the management in London that the mission was very successful. The advance party remained on the plain, while the blasting party went on skis to Sweden. The action was carried out without the saboteurs firing shots. Source: Wikipedia
ttn-69
Now you can “blow up” the heavy water factory at Vemork – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
