Heavy water is used for the production of nuclear weapons. The norsk hydros energy plant in vemork could have. Vemork destination guide telemark county, norway trip. Vemork is the name of a hydroelectric power plant outside rjukan in tinn, norway. It is one of the largest aluminium companies worldwide. Norsk hydro supplied the worlds scientific community with heavy water only as a sideline. The german firm ig farben, which was a partial owner of norsk hydro, had ordered 100 kg 220 lbmonth. Heavy water deuterium oxide played a sinister role in the race for nuclear energy during the world war ii. World war ii europe norway the norsk hydro and vemork raids allied efforts to interrupt heavy water production at the norsk hydro plant near rjukan in germanoccupied norway included a failed glider assault by british commandos in november 1942, the destruction of a portion of the plant by an soe team of norwegians in february 1943, an eighth air force bombing raid in november 1943 that left. Tronstad fights in the battle for norway, which the norwegians lose, and goes back to teaching in trondheim. In a young readers companion to the winter fortress, bascomb offers a riveting account of norwegian resistance efforts to prevent germany from developing the atomic bomb by sabotaging a norsk hydro plant in vemork, the worlds sole producer in 1939 of heavy water. Apr 10, 2018 it was discovered that the germans were using heavy water from the norsk hydro plant, the only commercial production facility, in their atomic research program.
The books cover states that the book is the true story of the secret mission that blasted hitlers dream of an atomic bomb. As rjukanfos was probably owned by or related to norsk hydro. Nov 21, 2015 wwii hero credits luck and chance in foiling hitlers nuclear ambitions. Acquiring the remaining 50% stake in sapa is a credit positive. Oct 17, 2017 the establishment of norsk hydro is the best example of norways key part in this second industrial revolution, which contributed to creating what still stands as one of the worlds best examples of a modern socialdemocratic society. Weaving together his typically intense research and a riveting narrative, neal bascombs the winter fortress is a spellbinding piece of historical writing. Inside the daring mission that thwarted a nazi atomic bomb. It has operations in some 50 countries around the world and is active on all continents. It was discovered that the germans were using heavy water from the norsk hydro plant, the only commercial production facility, in their atomic research program. The plants in telemark are hydros oldest, starting with svelgfoss, which began operations in 1907. An interesting story of the raid to blow up the heavy water plant in vemork norway. The plant manufactured chemicals related to the production of fertilizer, initially potassium nitrate from arcproduced nitric acid and later ammonia, hydrogen, and heavy water.
The old, creaking ferry steamed across the sundappled mountain lake. At vemork, heavy water was produced through electrolysis, a process in which an electric current is conducted through an ioncontaining solution. Accompanying the plants was housing and public facilities for the workers. However, an excavation of the cellar has begun vemork was a hydroelectric power plant located outside rjukan. In 1975, a nonfiction book by thomas gallagher called assault in norway was published by harcourt brace jovanovich. The most famous of these was the telemark sabotage mission of 1943, closing down a germanoperated heavy water facility in hydros plant at rjukan. Norsk hydro, the company that owned the vemork factory in rjukan, started making the stuff since the early 30s, but it had been nothing. Based on the true story of operation gunnersidethe britainsponsored mission that sent norwegian commandos into the nazioccupied telemark region of their country to destroy the enemys nuclear weapons programnew york times bestselling author andrew grosss the saboteur is a riveting world war ii thriller of espionage and action. Statoil, rjukan line, norsk hydro rjukan, norsk transport, sf hydro, yara international, heroya, tinnsjo railway ferry, vemork na. It was a key factor in germanys bid to harness atomic energy primarily as a source of electric power. Norsk hydro electric owned the hugely important hydroelectric plant at vemork, near the village of rjukan. Vemork hydroelectric plant at rjukan, norway in 1935. The norwegian heavy water sabotage was a series of actions undertaken by norwegian salboteurs during world war ii to prevent the german nuclear energy project from acquiring heavy water deuterium oxide, which could be used to produce nuclear weapons. The only viable supply of the substance was a hydroelectric plant located in occupied norway.
A gripping account of a commando raid into occupied norway in 194. Moody s investors service 30 jun 2017 announcement moody s. The norwegian heavy water sabotage was a series of actions undertaken by norwegian saboteurs during world war ii to prevent the german nuclear energy project from acquiring heavy water deuterium oxide, which could be used to produce nuclear weapons. Hydro is a fully integrated aluminium company with 35,000 employees in 40 countries.
One of the first new applications came about in 1934, when norsk hydro built the first commercial facility to make heavy water in its hydroelectric power plant at vemork in telemark county. Before jumping to the operation itself, well indulge in giving out the outline of the whole happening first. It was built by norsk hydro, and opened in 1911 its main purpose being to produce hydrogen to produce fertiliser, and was the later the site of the first the first plant. It is there that they produced heavy water, a material that was needed for making nuclear weapons. It was the worlds first site to massproduce heavy water as a byproduct of nitrogen fixing, with a capacity of 12 tonnes per year. Vemork in the region of telemark county is a place located in norway some 78 mi or 126 km west of oslo, the countrys capital. Vemork is the name of an hydroelectric power plant outside rjukan in tinn, norway. The plant was built by norsk hydro and opened in 1911, its main purpose being to fix nitrogen for the production of fertilizer. Jun 16, 2016 the heavy water war and the wwii hero you dont know.
Sabotaging the nazi nuclear program by thomas gallagher posted on 08252008 by rhapsodyinbooks in 1943 and 1944, a couple of amazing raids by norwegian volunteers removed the heavy water supply, used by the germans to develop nuclear weapons, from the norsk hydro plant at vemork, norway. The second world war brought new challenges to hydro, as norway was occupied by germany and many hydro facilities were damaged by allied attacks. Norwegian heavy water sabotage project gutenberg self. Vemork, vemork is the name of a hydroelectric power plant. Mar 19, 2003 nine britishtrained norwegian saboteurs were dropped by parachute on a frozen lake in the county of telemark, west of oslo, on february 17 1943, to attack the norsk hydro laboratories at vemork. This cover is a precursor to the heavy water era and tells part of a story which has worldwide importance. Joachim ronneberg, leader of raid that thwarted a nazi atomic. Heavy water and the wartime race for nuclear energy. Norsk hydro hydraulic power plant at vemork, norway science, spies and sabotage in a real life thriller sometimes real life offers up stories that trump the finest thrillers, and the story of the struggle between the allies and the reich over an essential ingredient for the manufacture of atomic bombs heavy water is just such a tale. Nine britishtrained norwegian saboteurs were dropped by parachute on a frozen lake in the county of telemark, west of oslo, on february 17 1943. The vemork plant is now the norwegian industrial workers museum.
When the nazis captured a heavy water facility in norway, the chemist who helped design. Norsk hydro up and running with the exception of one business unit where operations remain almost at a standstill. Norsk hydro, the company that owned the vemork factory in rjukan, started making the stuff since the early 30s, but it had been nothing more than a scientific curiosity until german scientists. On 28 september 1911 basf sold their ownership in the rjukan plants to norsk hydro, the same year the first plant opened. The long months leading up to the main mission, when the forward team was monitoring conditions and staying hidden in the snowy wilderness when i stumbled across this book at the library, i was looking for books about. Wanting to keep an atomic bomb out of hitlers hands, allied forces deemed it imperative to take action in norway. Norsk hydros vemork plant outside of rjukan, norway. A blend of high politics, military drama, scientific adventure and individual courage is one way to concisely define the sabotage that took play at vemork hydroelectric power plant in norway during the second world war. The allies wished to destroy or at least largely incapacitate this plant in order to slow down the nazi research. It operates through the following business segments.
The hydroelectric power plant at vemork was built in 1934. Norsk hydro asa often referred to as just hydro is a norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, headquartered in oslo. Assault in norway share book recommendations with your. It was celebrated in books, documentaries and films, notably anthony. The norwegian industrial workers museum visit norway. The norwegian industrial workers museum at vemork and. Norsk hydro rjukan is an industrial facility operated by norsk hydro at rjukan in tinn, norway, from 1911 to 1991. By january 1935, the plant had produced more than 100 grams of heavy water. Sep 04, 2015 so by the time germany invaded norway on april 9, 1940, norsk hydro was involved in the production of both heavy water and light metal. Originally, the company exploited the hydro electric resources of waterfalls to generate electricity used in the production of nitrogen fertilizers.
Rooted in more than a century of experience in renewable energy, technol. The book recounts the various attempts made by the allies to accomplish this. Norwegian heavy water sabotage military wiki fandom. The norsk hydros energy plant in vemork could have changed the world history if. Norsk hydro s maximum production rate was then limited to 10 kg 22 lbmonth. Vemork last updated december 01, 2019 site of the plant in 2003. Wwii hero credits luck and chance in foiling hitlers nuclear. Heavy water is a form of water that has a greater than normal concentration of an isotope of hydrogen, known as deuterium. The only industrialscale production facility in europe capable of producing heavy water for the german atomic effort was the norskhydro power station at vemork, to the west of rjukan in telemark region or state, a remote mountainous area deep in a long southern norway valley. Books and films have dwelt on the allies efforts to deny the germans heavy water by military. In 1934, at vemork, norsk hydro built the first commercial plant capable of producing heavy water as a byproduct of fertilizer production.
The norwegian heavy water sabotage was aimed at the 60 mw vemork power station at the rjukan waterfall in telemark. Tronstad was a 38yearold norwegian professor of chemistry at the university of trondheim, who came up with the idea of the heavy water plant at vemork. The story follows the men on the ground during the sabotage mission of the nazicontrolled vemork heavy water plant in norway. The most famous of these was the telemark sabotage mission of 1943, closing down a germanoperated heavy water facility in hydro s plant at rjukan. The plant was controlled by nazi germany during the second world war, but thanks to a series of sabotages from the side of the allies, key components of the plant was. Nova hitlers sunken secret norwegian resistance coup. Mar 26, 2017 it was the worlds largest power plant when it opened in 1911, and its original purpose was to fix nitrogen for the production of fertilizer. In the 1930s, one of the few places in the world with power to spare was the vemork plant of norways norsk hydroelektrisk, which had harnessed a 144meterhigh waterfall to produce fertilizers. Filling this gap, heavy water and the wartime race for nuclear energy concentrates on the circumstances whereby norway became the preeminent producer of heavy water and on the scientific role the rare isotope of hydrogen played in the wartime efforts by the axis and allied powers alike. Interactive map of vemork local time in vemork is now 06. The only industrialscale production facility in europe capable of producing heavy water for the german atomic effort was the norsk hydro power station at vemork, to the west of rjukan in telemark region or state, a remote mountainous area deep in a long southern norway valley at the foot of telemarks tallest mountain.
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or other free sources online. It held about sixty passengers that day, as well as two empty railway. February 1943 parachuted them onto the hardanger plateau, from where the renowned heroes of telemark descended to vemork by combining skiing. The only industrialscale production facility in europe capable of producing heavy water for the german atomic effort was the norsk hydro power station at vemork, to the west of rjukan in telemark region or state, a remote mountainous area deep in a long southern norway valley at the foot of telemarks tallest. At opening, it was the worlds largest power plant with a capacity of 108 mw. Historical discovery at vemork the norwegian american. Hydro sunk in norway 20th february 2017 les the hydrogen plant at vemork in norway, some 50 miles west of oslo, was a mass producer of heavy water deuterium oxide, an essential component in the creation of plutonium for early atomic weapons. The rjukan waterfall rjukanfossen provided the basis for building the worlds largest power station of the time at vemork in 1911.
Norsk hydro employed at the most 2,500 people during construction, and many settled and took industrial jobs after the plants were finished. The accounts of the commando raid on the norsk hydro plant and the. Metal prices recovering, cost cuts boost liquidity for emeas high yield miners in 2017. The epic mission to sabotage hitlers atomic bomb bascomb, neal on. Norsk hydro asa engages in the manufacturing of aluminum products and produces renewable energy. Org for excellent articles on heavy water, discussion of this hydro plant, and british and norwegian sabotage attempts to destroy the plant. The telemark sun was a serviceable ship, built in 1915, coalfired, and at around 490 tons, it could still make the thirtykilometer jaunt across lake tinnsjo from tinnoset to mael in just under an hour and a half.
The mission to destroy hitlers atomic bomb by neal. Ol stock quote, history, news and other vital information to help you with your stock trading and investing. The plant manufactured chemicals related to the production of fertilizer, including ammonia, potassium nitrate, heavy water and hydrogen. The first attempt to attack the vemork plant ended in tragedy. Birkelandeyde electric arc furnace norsk hydro rjukan 191640 teknisk museum img 5755. Water was dripping in a hydrogen plant at rjukan in telemark, southern norway, as it had done since1934.
Vemork destination guide telemark county, norway tripsuggest. Norsk hydro rjukan is an industrial facility operated by norsk hydro at rjukan in tinn, norway. But for these men isbn 0705700453, a 1962 book by john d. The german research community had reached a similar conclusion and in january 1940 had procured additional heavy water from vemork. In the front building, the norsk hydro hydrogen production plant, a norwegian special operations executive soe team operation gunnerside blew up heavy water production cells on the night of 2728 february 1943 in order to sabotage the efforts of the german nuclear energy project.
A hydroelectric power plant in the norwegian town of rjukan, where. It was built by norsk hydro, and opened in 1911 its main purpose being to produce hydrogen. Vemork was later the site of the first plant in the world to massproduce heavy water developing from the hydrogen production then used for the haber process. The establishment of norsk hydro is the best example of norways key part in this second industrial revolution, which contributed to creating what still stands as one of the worlds best examples of a modern socialdemocratic society. Martin dugard, author of into africa and coauthor of the killing series neal bascombs the winter fortress is a riveting, highaction world war ii thriller with nothing less than the fate of planet earth on the line. Nova hitlers sunken secret norwegian resistance coup pbs. Norsk hydro was founded in 1905 by norwegian entrepreneurs sam eyde and kristian birkeland as norsk hydro elektrisk kvaelstofaktieselskap norwegian hydro electric nitrogen corporation. Discover the area of vemork with this destination guide telemark county in norway. The infamous vemork hydroelectric plant in rjukan, norway, in 1935. Nova online teachers classroom activity hitlers sunken.