"The Germans set fire to all farms as they advanced. It was a warning to us. Wherever they met resistance everything should be burned. The civilians who refused to leave their homes were shot, and all livestock was burned to death. We swore then that we would never give in -- not even if the Germans won the war."
--Knut Haukelid
2nd in Command, Gunnerside Operation
Germany Occupation of Norway
Map courtesy of: http://cdn.dipity.com/
When Germany invaded Norway in 1940, the Norsk Hydro Plant was taken over by the Germans. Before the war, heavy water was produced at the plant which was a bi-product of fertilizer production. By 1942, Germany had a seemingly large lead over the Allies in developing an atomic bomb. Contributing to this situation was Germany's access to a crucial ingredient, "heavy water," manufactured in sufficient quantity at the Norsk Hydro Plant. After the plant was taken over by the Germans, production of heavy water was increased dramatically. A group of daring Norwegians from the Secret Operations Executive in Great Britain planned a sabotage of the plant to halt the German production of an Atomic Bomb. This plan was a turning point to secure the safety of our world.
(Haukelid, Skies Against the Atom, p. 18-20.)
(Haukelid, Skies Against the Atom, p. 18-20.)