Although the supply of heavy water had been removed, the plant was capable of producing more. The Norsk Hydro management's collaboration with the Germans was examined during investigations of collaborationism begun by Norwegian authorities after the war, but Aubert's cooperation with the French aided the company's case. [1] [11] Operations Grouse and Freshman [ edit ]

The saboteurs were chosen for their local knowledge and their survival skills that enabled them to survive in Northern Europe's most inhospitable environment, the high mountain plateau of the Hardangervidda. After missing the chance to see it a few years ago,I had hoped that Telemark would be screened to celebrate Kirk Douglas's 100th birthday,but only found a screening of his interesting Film Noir Out of the Past. Finding almost nothing on TV during the Easter holidays,I was pleased to spot this title getting shown again,which led to me at last meeting the heroes of Telemark. There have been larger land battles and more protracted air campaigns than Okinawa but this was a combined operation, unparalleled in size, scope and ferocity.

After months of preparation, the team finally reached their objective. Put us on the ground on the night they blow up the plant. First, they’ve got to climb this bloody mountain, haven’t they?

A huge political thriller began to unfold in 1943 and 1944. Was this a question of preventing the development of a nuclear weapon? Was this an arms race? In any case, the outcome could determine who won the war. In nuclear-weapon development, the main problem is securing sufficient weapons-grade material; it is particularly difficult to acquire fissile isotopes of uranium-235 ( 235U) or 239Pu. Weapons-grade uranium requires mining, extracting and enriching natural ore. Plutonium can be "bred" in reactors fueled by unenriched uranium, which requires chemical separation of the 239Pu produced.

Downside; the Germans are depicted as being dafter brushes than usual. From time to time I find this jarring. Always they are seen rushing around with a kind of furious impotence, or depicted as schemingly stupid. It's stereotypic that comes close to 'Allo, Allo'. And some times Kirk Douglas's character seems a little too heroic for a scientist. Seventy-five years ago, resistance fighters in Norway pulled off one of the most daring commando raids of the Second World War. Now, three British men are following in the snowy footsteps of the ‘heroes of Telemark’, writes Gerard GilbertI do disagree. For two reasons. First, the Allies didn’t know whether or not Germans were investigating the atomic bomb, but they knew they were intensely interested in heavy water and needed to do everything they could to stop this potential threat. British Embassy in Oslo (25 February 2014). "Sinking of DF Hydro 70th anniversary events in Norway". www.gov.uk . Retrieved 13 January 2016. The Nazis have a plant used for making heavy water, deuterium, water made with a hydrogen atom with a neutron as well as a proton. This stuff was critical in the development of the atomic bomb. When a Norwegian scientist got wind of it he gets a message to a colleague played by Kirk Douglas who escapes to Great Britain to inform the Allied High Command.

The Heroes of Telemark is directed by Anthony Mann and written by Ben Barzman and Ivan Moffat. It stars Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris, Ulla Jacobsson, Michael Redgrave and David Weston. Music is by Malcolm Arnold and cinematography by Robert Krasker. 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. After victory in North Africa, the Allies needed an ingenious ruse to disguise the true target of their next invasion. Meet the officer of Britain's top-secret Double-Cross Committee who devised the brilliant solution -- "The Man Who Never Was." Find out how a notorious German spy ring unknowingly helped to hatch the devious plan. And, for the first time, learn the true identity and tragic story of the man, who in death, was able to save many thousands of lives.Finally, after two abortive missions during the previous full moons, the promised raiding party of six new Norwegian recruits were dropped by the RAF – albeit 30km from where the four survivors had arranged to meet them. After waiting out a five-day blizzard, the two parties were finally united and they began to formalise their plan to break into the hydroelectric plant and then escape. The seemingly suicidal Operation Gunnerside was in play. The hotels we stayed at were wonderful, especially the first hotel (the Revsnes) which was extremely welcoming and well presented. The food was excellent and I made a point of thanking the chef personally for his hard and very much appreciated efforts.

a b Riste, Olav; Nøkleby, Berit (1970). Norway 1940–45: The Resistance Movement. Oslo: Tano. ISBN 82-518-0164-8. Brian and Glyn provide a safe, enjoyable, progressive learning environment and are adept at bringing the saboteurs' story to life. The unique combination of skills, environment, military and local history, team work, personal journey, hard work, fun and the beauty of Norway, in particular the Hardanger Vidda is what makes this expedition amazing - the course director and guide as well as support from the local Norwegians made this come alive for us. 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.

At the outset of WWII, a race began to create a nuclear weapon. Give us an overview of the participants.

The heavy water plant was rebuilt and production restarted during the next six months. On the night of 16 November 1943, 140 US bombers swooped in over Rjukan and totally destroyed the Vemork power station and electrolysis plant. Many people were killed. After that, the Germans gave up producing heavy water at Vemork. "Hydro" sinks to bottom of the Tinnsjø lake Some of the derring-do has been fictionalized, I'm sure. Douglas manages a narrow escape on skis even though he's been wounded with a gunshot to his ankle. Several other aspects of the story have the ring of dramatic license. The Germans found that a chain reaction could not be sustained if graphite was used as a moderator, and abandoned it. Unaware that this was due to impurities, they did not test ultra-pure graphite (which would have been suitable). Instead, they settled on a heavy-water-based reactor design. [7] A heavy-water-moderated nuclear reactor could be used for nuclear-fission research and, ultimately, to breed the plutonium with which a bomb could be made. In normal water, there is only one deuterium atom for every 6,400 hydrogen atoms; deuterium is more prevalent in the residue of water used as an electrolyte. An analysis of residues from the Vemork hydroelectric plant, a large-scale nitrate production plant using the Haber process, showed a hydrogen-to-deuterium ratio of 48 (most of the deuterium bound in HDO molecules). [8] Norwegian Institute of Technology lecturer Leif Tronstad and Jomar Brun, head of the hydrogen plant, proposed a project in 1933 (the year heavy water was first isolated). It was accepted by Norsk Hydro, and production began in 1935.