| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1942 | German scientists Heisenberg and Döbel successfully achieved a positive neutron production in a uranium rod with heavy water (or deuterium) as a moderator. They calculated that a self-sustaining chain reaction would be achieved if 5 tonnes of heavy water, and 10 tonnes of uranium metal were used. Heavy water was only produced at Rjukan, and after the occupation of Norway, the heavy water production was set to full speed, among other things, with a new production method. In 1940 10 kg pr. month was produced, by 1941 the production was increased to 100 kg per month. |
| 1941 Summer | The Norwegian resistance informs British intelligence of the increased German interest in the heavy water production in Vemork. The Britt's concluded that the Germans were building a reactor. |
| 1942-11-19 | Two Halifax-bombers with one glider each in tow with a total of 34 soldiers, headed for the landing strip at Møsvatn. Four Norwegian scouts were in place, but the weather conditions were so bad that a landing was impossible. On the way back, both gliders an one of the bombers went down. 42 British soldiers lost their lives in Operation Freshman. |
| 1943 february | Operation Gunnerside: 6 Norwegian elite soldiers in English uniforms parachuted over Hardangervidda, joined with the scouts and reached Våer, and approached the factory along the railroad tracks, an area that had no mines. While the rest kept guard, the demolitions team entered the heavy water plant and destroyed the heavy water cells. 900 kg of heavy water was lost (including production losses). The scouts remained on the mountain, while the demolitions team went on skies into Sweden. |
| 1943 november | 161 B-17 and B-24 bombers released their cargo on Vemork and Våer with 711 500-kilo and 200 250-kilo high explosive bombs. About 12 bombers dropped 118 250-kilo bombs over Rjukan. Only 2 bombs destroyed the heavy water plant. The destruction also included the pipes to the power plant, and some of the walls and roof of the power plant, houses and barracks on Vemork, Våer and Rjukan, the hanging bridge and a number of industrial installations. 22 Norwegian civilians were killed in addition to the 10 that were killed when one of the bombers went down. |
| 1944 february | The extensive bombing in November the previous year resulted in a complete shutdown of the heavy water plant. The equipment was taken apart and sent to Germany. The remains of the heavy water, about 40 barrels, were to be transported by train. At one point the cargo had to be transported over a lake by ferry. In february 1944, the ferry "Hydro" was sunk on the Tinnsjøen lake. 3 saboteurs had managed to place a timed explosive in the stem. 4 German soldiers and 14 civilian Norwegians lost their lives. |
This marked the end of "The Battle for Heavy Water". It cost 92 soldiers and civilians their lives. The heavy water sabotage is considered one of the longest and most successful secret operations of the Second World War. The fact that the heavy water production was stopped aided in keeping the German nuclear reactor experiments at a manageable level. We know now that there was never an arms race. Better intelligence on the allied part, with more reliable information on how far the German atomic research had developed, could have made the "The Battle for Heavy Water" unnecessary( a love-sick german scientist gave false information. He stated he granite could NOT be an atomic stabilizer and heavy water was the only way. Hewas incorrect but no german realized it, and it cost them the nuclear race. But menwhile the good ol alied boys in the back room realized the opposite. That granite could be used and expensive heavy water wasnt needed and cheap economic granite COULD, infact, be used as a nuclear stabilizer. ) . German plans of a nuclear powered bomb were abandoned in the summer of 1942. From that point, their goal was to produce a reactor ("Uran Maschine"), as a possible power source for submarines.
This text is based on documents in Norwegian, found at the site of the Norwegian industrial workers museum?
There is also a book out. Its called "Blood And Water". The book documents the whole thing pretty darn well. Shows the race to build the atomic bomb and leads into everything towards the middle. Tells about the failed operation freshman and how the surviving glider pilots got trapped in enemy territory.. and executed... And then i tells of the planning for the socond operation.. I wont give away anymore. It's almost like a fiction story but this is different.. THIS was REAL!
