The Real Heroes Of Telemark - In Streetview

With the recent announcement that Norway has been added to Google Street View, I wanted to see if a location of great historical importance, and of interest to me was visible - it was!

That location is the Vemork Hydroelectric Plant in Vemork, Telemark county - site of the Norwegian Heavy Water Sabotage in World War II. The operation was a daring raid carried out by a small team of inspirational and dedicated Norwegian saboteurs to destroy the plant and therefore prevent Nazi Germany from being in a position to make heavy water - a key component in the making of nuclear weapons, which would have spelled disaster for the Allies.


The Vemork Hydroelectric Plant in 1935

I first became aware of the Norwegian heavy water sabotage operation after seeing the three part BBC documentary (also accompanied by a book) by author and TV presenter, Ray Mears, who incidentally I think I am going to put into Room Lovely.

Mears, known for his studies and teaching of Bushcraft and survival skills, holds a interest in the survival techniques of resistant fighters during WWII. This led Mears to make the documentary "The Real Heroes of Telemark: The True Story of the Secret Mission to Stop Hitler's Atomic Bomb", in which he examines the survival skills required and executed by the saboteurs in what turned out to be one of the harshest winters the weather could throw at the Hardanger Plateau (Hardangervidda) - from where the operation would be launched. In making the documentary, Mears also took the opportunity to focus more on the facts and less on the dramatization seen in the 1965 film "The Heroes Of Telemark" starring Kirk Douglas.

Having watched the television documentary and read the book, I could not help but be overwhelmed at the determination of this small, passionate, young group of men. The daily battles they endured to survive (a battle which became ever more acute as time went on), along with shouldering the responsibilities of an operation so crucial to the outcome of WWII make this account a true testament to these phenomenal men. It made me think just how much we have to thank them for - even though they just saw it as "their job to help free their country".

Below are a selection of Street View's showing the Vemork Hydroelectric Plant and the terrain they faced - though at the time of the operation, in a harsh winter and behind enemy lines.


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The television documentary Ray Mears made is available on YouTube in 16 installments. The first of which is below.



I highly recommend the book "The Real Heroes of Telemark: The True Story of the Secret Mission to Stop Hitler's Atomic Bomb". Alternatively, you can buy the audiobook on iTunes.