Description
Object description
Norwegian civilian in Ålesund, Norway, 4/1940-3/1941; officer served with Linge Company, Norwegian Army in GB, 1941-1942; attached to Special Operations Executive for attack on Hydroelectric Power Plant at Vemork, Norway, 2/1943; served with Norwegian Army attached to Special Operations Executive during Operation Fieldfare in Norway, 3/1944-3/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Ålesund, Norway, 1919-1940: family; connections with GB and Germany; significance of German tourists visiting area in 1930s; reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; invitation to help in map making; shooting, Boy Scout and skiing activities. Recollections of German invasion of Norway, 1940: prior indications of war, including the Altmark Incident; reaction to German forces' landings in Oslo; coastal mining; work with civil defence organisation; German Air Force attack on radio mast; sight of Royal Navy destroyers in fjord; shooting down of German Air Force aircraft; sight of reserves leaving from bus station; loss of friend in action at Dombås; German Air Force raids on town. Recollections of period as civilian in Norway, 4/1940-3/1941: arrival of German Army troops; effects of blackout; work in export office; start of sea traffic to GB; decision to leave Norway for GB; punishment for attempts to leave Norway; German authorities attempts to control movement of fishing vessels.
REEL 2 Continues: German Army garrison and behaviour; German authorities methods of stopping young adults from escaping to GB. Aspects of escape from Norway to GB, 3/1941: arrangements for departure including cover story; security arrangements; use of disguise; sailing in fishing boat; engine breakdown and repair; weather and duration of crossing; journey from Shetland Islands to London, GB; impressions of London Reception Centre at Royal Victoria Patriotic School, Wandsworth, London, GB; nature of interrogation. Recollections of training with No 1 Norwegian Independent Company, Linge Company, Norwegian Army and Special Operations Executive in GB, 1941-1942: impressions of Captain Martin Linge; attitude to drinking; impressions of London during German Air Force attacks; organisation and pattern of first training course; story of Norwegian paratrooper breaking both legs during parachute jump; opinion of course.
REEL 3 Continues: incident on grenade range; instruction; importance of security; fieldcraft training and exercises; training at Special Training School, 22a (STS 22a), Special Operations Executive, Glasnacardoch Lodge, Mallaig; exercise against Home Guard guarding power station; finishing training at Special Training School 31 (STS 31), Special Operations Executive at Beaulieu; explosive training; parachute training at No 1 Parachute Training School, RAF at RAF Ringway; problems training at Special Training School 54a (STS 54a) at Fawley Court, Henley-on-Thames; appointment as liaison officer on second course; period as instructor, 1941-1942; move to Special Training School 26 (STS 26), Special Operations Executive, Aviemore; development of training; schemes to attack big objectives; capture and arrest by guards during training exercise on railway viaduct; character of exercises; opinion of training; training to drive railway engines.
REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of training for Operation Gunnerside, the attack on the Hydroelectric Power Plant at Vemork, Norway in GB, 1942: reaction to selection for operation in Norway; briefing in London; limits of information given; training received at Special Training Station (STS 17), Special Operations Executive at Brickendonbury Estate; short time to prepare for operation; shooting training on street fighting range; technique for choosing members of team; special equipment and clothing required; special rations; ammunition and explosive charges carried; plan to withdraw to Sweden after operation. Recollections of operations as officer with Norwegian Army attached to Special Operations Executive during Operation Gunnerside, the attack on Hydroelectric Power Plant at Vemork, Norway, 2/1943: importance of suitable weather and moonlight; abortive flight to Norway, 1/1943; duration of flight from GB to Hardangervidda Plateau, 2/1943; character of landing and initial loss of container containing rucksacks; attempts to find hut during onset of blizzard; effects of enforced wait in hut; character of maps.
REEL 5 Continues: consideration in planning route to Sweden; contact with Quisling who offered to act as guide; method of dealing with Quisling; knowledge of location of Operation Grouse team; prisoner who wanted to buy a Thompson Machine Gun; question of whether to cross the gorge or approach via suspension bridge; Claus Helberg's crossing of gorge, 27/2/1942; knowledge of German defences of plant; timetable for the attack, 27/2/1943-28/2/1943; composition of covering and demolition parties; noise of explosions muffled by wind and sound of generators; method of entry into the plant; treatment of Norwegian workman on night duty; exiting from the plant; direction of initial German search; journey on skis to Sweden including distances covered; discarding of uniform and equipment made in GB on entry into Sweden.
REEL 6 Continues: fabrication of cover story on entry into Sweden; wish to avoid internment; interrogation by Swedes; threat from pro-German Swedish officials; contact with British Military attaché in Stockholm, Sweden; return to GB aboard high-altitude postal aircraft; reporting and debriefing in GB; items discarded during operation. Recollections of period as officer with Norwegian Army attached to Special Operations Executive during Operation Fieldfare in Norway, 3/1944-3/1945: character of operation; logistical considerations; use of local knowledge to guide Royal Air Force aircraft; Royal Air Force reasons for rejecting help; character of his flight to Norway, 15/3/1944; terrain in drop zone and parachute landing; method of descending from cliff side; other members of the Operation Fieldfare team.
REEL 7 Continues: assembly of team and retrieval of containers; plans to improvise shelter after initial loss of tent; discovery of tent and weathering two day storm; equipment carried on mission; plan for reserve depot; reconnaissance; request for air drop; construction of snow tunnel for stores; rations; breaking into tourist hut; reconnaissance of vulnerable points on railway and other sites; use of civilian clothes; life in tent; radio schedules and contact; situation and request for orders, 5/1944; found site for new base; construction of hut to live in; internal arrangements of hut.
REEL 8 Continues: placing of radio antenna; accepting air-supply drop from Royal Air Force, 7/1944; discovery of letter in container; following war news; permission to form Resistance group; arrangements to conceal theft of food from Tourist Association; organisation of Norwegian Resistance group; expanding of Norwegian Resistance groups; planned attack on stone railway bridge; weather conditions during attack on railway bridge, 1/1945; German authorities belief that attack was carried out by large group; ignition system used; effects of attack on transport; German authorities reaction to attack; reasons for wearing uniform after operation; reasons for orders to leave Norway, 3/1945. Aspects of period as instructor with Norwegian Army in GB, 1945: role instructing officers in resistance methods; opinion of trainees.
REEL 9 Continues: VE Day celebrations in London, 8/5/1945; behaviour of British people during Second World War; question of having duel nationality outlook and political intrigues in Norwegian forces; return to civilian life and effects of war service.
