Special Spy Mission: 1942 - The True Story of Preventing Hitler's Atomic Bomb Program

Author: Mills
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-03-01
Features: A complete record of classic battle events during World War II. In 1942, the European theater of World War II was in a dire situation, with Western Europe almost falling into the hands of Nazi Germany. For British Prime Minister Churchill, in addition to the pressing war efforts, an issue that could not be ignored was repeatedly brought to the agenda. This was a substance known as "heavy water." On the surface, heavy water looks no different from ordinary water—you can mix it with whiskey or even take a shower with it. However, if you freeze heavy water into ice cubes and place them in a cup of ordinary liquid, you will observe a fascinating phenomenon: these ice cubes will gradually sink to the bottom. By 1942, the total amount of heavy water in the world was only a few hundred pounds. Yet, those who truly understood the significance of heavy water knew that as a material for making atomic bombs, these mere few hundred pounds were enough to destroy the entire Earth. In the Tr?ndelag Mountains, located 150 kilometers west of Oslo in the occupied Norway, inside a heavily guarded "Vemork Hydroelectric Plant," heavy water was being produced and accumulated at a steady pace. This was the only heavy water production facility in the world. Starting in the 1930s, physicists from around the world had been openly exchanging discoveries in the field of atomic energy research. However, with the outbreak of World War II, the hostility between scientists from different factions became increasingly apparent, and the nuclear race between the Allies and the Axis powers intensified to a fever pitch. It is no exaggeration to say that the outcome of this race would determine the fate of World War II, as well as the destiny of Western civilization. With the Vemork Hydroelectric Plant in hand, Hitler's leverage against the Allies grew even stronger. Preventing the destruction of heavy water production became a top priority for both British Prime Minister Churchill and U.S. President Roosevelt. However, the Tr?ndelag Mountains were remote and covered in snow and ice year-round, with harsh living conditions that tested the limits of human endurance. Surviving in such an environment and carrying the weight of turning the tide of World War II was nearly a myth. A small team of Norwegian patriots, after undergoing rigorous training, finally descended upon the Tr?ndelag Mountains from the sky. With extraordinary courage, extensive wilderness survival skills, and supplies barely sufficient for minimal survival, they turned a myth into reality. Based on recently declassified World War II archives, this book details for the first time the classified operation that was ranked among the most secretive during the war.