The Heroes of Telemark

Norwegian resistance fighters and a physicist scientist plan and execute daring raids against the German-controlled Vemork heavy water plant, crucial to Nazi nuclear research. The mission culminates in the sinking of a ferry carrying the remaining heavy water stock across a Norwegian lake.

The Vemork plant produced heavy water essential to German atomic research, and Norwegian commandos trained by the British executed Operation Gunnerside in February 1943, followed by the sinking of the SF Hydro ferry in February 1944 to permanently halt the shipment.

The film compresses and dramatizes several separate operations and simplifies the scientific stakes for narrative purposes.

Directed by Anthony Mann

Cast: Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris, Ulla Jacobsson, Michael Redgrave

Positioned at February 1943 – February 1944 within the Norwegian heavy water sabotage phase of the war, as part of the Norwegian heavy water sabotage. This is entry 95 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• heavy water
• sabotage
• Norway
• resistance
• nuclear program

• 

  The 12th Man

  March–May 1943

• 

  Max Manus: Man of War

  1940–1945

• 

  Sophie Scholl: The Final Days

  18–22 February 1943

• 

  The Dam Busters

  16–17 May 1943

• 

  Ill Met by Moonlight

  26 April – 14 May 1944

• 

  Lust, Caution

  1938–1942