The Vemork Heavy Water Sabotage

The Norwegian heavy water sabotage in Vemork was an Allied-led attempt to halt Germany's heavy water production in Nazi Germany-occupied Norway during World War II.
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[@metamaxis]

Ah, yet another video of Simon covering the history of a sabaton song. Always a delight.

[@hannahp1108]

These guys, especially the 4 original Grouse survivors, were incredibly badass

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:10 - Chapter 1 - The elephant in the room 3:25 - Chapter 2 - Heavy skies over scotland 5:25 - Chapter 3 - Not second fiddle , operation "Grouse" 9:55 - Chapter 4 - A turn for the worse , operation "Freshman" 12:50 - Chapter 5 - Reindeer moss & ptarmigans , operation "Swift" 15:55 - Chapter 6 - The most splendid coup , operation "Gunnerside" 18:50 - Chapter 7 - The american bombing fo vemork 20:30 - Chapter 8 - Heavy ice sinks, the bombing of the SF Hydro

[@namerelevant2499]

As a Norwegian longtime viewer I’m so glad that you highlight this moment of the war. Bless you, king of KZbin.

[@mq5731]

Can I ask why Caribou stomach contents in a soup is/was considered a delicacy?

[@hwplugburz]

@@mq5731 Vitamine C , hard to come by on a subartic mountain-plateau in the middle of winter..

[@frankieseward8667]

arguably one of the most important events that helped win WW2. shows just how determined the allies were to beat the Nazis

[@josephshrike3972]

How do you figure? While truly daring and, as you say, a testament to the determination of the allies, it really wasn't very consequential on anything.

[@josephshrike3972]

@@martinskartland The raid set back production maybe only by a couple of weeks but regardless of all that, the Nazis would not have achieved a nuclear bomb using the hard water research track they were going down regardless. So while a morale victory, the raid itself had almost no actual impact on either the war or Nazi development of a nuclear weapon. That said, it should be noted that the Allies didn't know that so the raid was perfectly sound from a tactical standpoint and it does show how determined the Allies were to beat the Nazis and how concerned they were about the Nazi nuclear program, but to say it was 'one of the most important events that helped WW2' is not accurate.

[@resileaf9501]

Commando operations are almost always a blast to read to hear about. I would argue they are my favorite parts of war stories. This was a great video.

[@Free-Bodge79]

Second that. 👍👊😆

[@AShortDropSuddenStop]

I have a glass vial with heavy water from Vemork. It's from one of the barrels that went down with the ferry DF Hydro. The ferry was raised a few years ago, and the heavy water was sold as collectors items in small glass vials.

[@Free-Bodge79]

If you break it open and drink it , it'll give you super powers.! You'll turn massively strong, green and really angry ! 😆😃

[@yvindwestersund9720]

It wasn't the ferry that was recovered only a few barrels of the heavy water After all the ferry is located at more than 400m below the surface and recovering it would take a massive operation that would cost millions And just so you know it's a war grave and not permitted to be disturbed in any way so the water recovered is from barrels that was on the seafloor besides the ferry Just saying 🇧🇻

[@rc59191]

Can't believe Battlefield wrote them out of their own mission and replaced the Commandos with some mom and daughter.

[@davidh5903]

For more information on these Norwegian heroes, please see the documentary by Ray Mears, the survival expert, where he interviews them and eats their stew. Greetings from neutral Sweden!

[@joegordon5117]

Incredible courage, parachuting into your own occuppied country on such a dangerous mission. All the more courageous considering none of these men would really know exactly what this was about, the atomic bomb programme being secret, and of course they were years from seeing the horror of an atomic bomb at Hiroshima, but they knew it was important and that they had to act to do their part in allied victory. Simply remarkable.

[@coreybutler7668]

Thank you Simon and team for all the work you do!

[@ethanbell6762]

Idea for a video: The Football War, where two sovereign nations with enough tension to measure on the Richter Scale went to war because of immigration, soccer, and bananas

[@johnforrester9120]

Already done on another Chanel history guy

[@MintyLime703]

@@whopito422 oh no I guess that's off the table then. We couldn't possibly do a topic a meme channel already talked about before

[@24Deutschmark]

Channel is spelled with two n's and isn't randomly capitalized comment guy

[@FatManWalking18]

some would argue the British Commando raid on the German occupied dry dock at St. Nazaire is both the greatest and most daring raid of all time

[@thedigitalrealm7155]

Maybe, but it also failed.

[@Grimmtoof]

​@@thedigitalrealm7155 The dry dock was put out of action until well after the war was over. I'd say that was a success.

[@ursulayost2371]

Thank you for this episode, it was really interesting.

[@j0njn]

Great video, I’m glad you took my suggestion (and that of many others). I think you covered the subject as well as the format’s timing allows, and it’s great that this story gets told. And if you make a few more videos regarding Norway, you may even learn how we pronounce “g” 😉

[@rrrosengren]

I just visited Rjukan and Vemork the other day, and went down into the actual room where the bombing happened. Can really recommend.

[@usonumabeach300]

Moe Berg, a highly educated and multilingual American Jewish baseball player, was used by the allies to determine, through extremely covert espionage and consulting with the top nuclear scientists, just how close the 3rd Reich was at achieving a nuclear device, and to infiltrate and assassinate Germany's top nuclear scientist if Berg determined he was legitimately working towards it. There's a movie about it that came out in the last few years with Paul Rudd, which has some sensationalism to give it that Hollywood spice, that covers the operation. It's quite an interesting story. Berg was a fascinating person. He also did some spying in Japan before the war.

[@emorymeek]

Great video! I had never heard of this. Fascinating story.

[@buckbradley1843]

My Great Great Uncle Roy Ball died in the air raid on 16 November when his B-17 was shot down.

[@The_Lone_Wolf]

Thank you Simon and thank you to your wonderful crew that creates these videos for you to narrate, I've always been interested in reading about the Second World War, I can remember that since I was a child always being interested in reading anything and everything about military history and the Holocaust. Which we should be teaching our kids about, because it could happen again the Holocaust.

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

A wonderful introducing thanks

[@chasingadeline]

Good info!!! We just went to that place where they had the Heavy water plant in Norway

[@parptarf]

I highly reccomend visiting Rjukan and the museum at the Vemork power plant. Lots of interesting history consering Norsk Hydro in general.

[@yvindwestersund9720]

Absolutely And now they have even been able to find some of the production facilities They didn't even know It was there Really good place to learn about the history and how it all happened If you're interested in the second world War then a visit to Rukan/ vemork is very much recommended And remember when you look at the ravine where they climbed down imagine doing that I February and with 6 feet of snow What they did is just short of a miracle If you ask me Just saying 🇧🇻

[@cynthiasimpson931]

I read about this incident in Leo Marks' book "Between Silk and Cyanide: A Codemaker's War 1941-1945".

[@anders_karlsson]

Feb 28th is "labeled" as being in 1942 on screen in the video, the voiceover has the right year (1943).

[@theawesomeman9821]

This operation should be adapted to film.

[@edvingrytnes615]

It was made into a miniseries in 2015, called "The Heavy Water War" ("Kampen om Tungtvannet" in Norwegian)

[@theawesomeman9821]

@@edvingrytnes615 cool

[@koragg3399]

Grate work

[@canadianbacon9819]

Video suggestion: Battle of the Falaise pocket, Canadian, British, Polish and American troops attempt to encircle 15 German divisions including most of the Seventh Army. This resulted in the loss of an estimated 60,000 men for the German army, there was dead horses, blown out vehicles and bodies for miles, would definitely make a good video very notable event in the Second World War on the Western Front. Also a great video guys my favorite Simon channel

[@paulceglinski3087]

Loved the movie with Kirk Douglas. Heroes of Telemarck if I'm not mistaken. Love the channel, Simon. One of my favorites of all the other channels, allegedly. Cheers.

[@duncancurtis5971]

With its rather over dramatic climax, Nazi soldiers squished by runaway wagons.

[@paulceglinski3087]

@@duncancurtis5971 Yea! Nothing beats squished Nazis.

[@nickyfield137]

Whoa there Fact Boy - more about the reunited sledge!!

[@TheAvengeddonut]

Thank you so much for covering this, Simon and co, this is some fascinating stuff. Norway's resistance against the nazis is something we're very proud of, and this story is absolutely up there with the most important things we did during the war!

[@dees3179]

Loved the content. But note to the editors, please can you drop the music when Simon is speaking. It’s much clearer when it’s just him. He has excellent diction so it’s really easy to understand but with the music in its much harder for hearing impaired. The beginning took a few gos to understand.

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@KingOfCatfish]

You watch Simon Whistler?

[@antonw6082]

No mention of Colonel Hogan?! 🤣

[@connerbixby6532]

Every time I think I've found all of Simon's channels...

[@Mokoship]

Dropped down to a world of ice

[@aaronolivas6970]

I know yall got alot of stuff to cover but im still waiting on that 2nd part of "russias failures in ukraine" whenever ya get a minute

[@DMTrance87]

Hey! Morally and creatively bankrupt Hollywood! You need ideas? Make a movie out of this dramatic awesomeness!!

[@stc3145]

What happens if you drink Heavy Water

[@johnclark8227]

You get heavy and glow in the dark ;) I can definitely recommend it.

[@synchc]

Nothing much. Your body treats the D2O as H2O and can metabolize it but not quick enough to satisfy hydration soooo; toxic in large quantities. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKquZ56Gnp2ebZo

[@michaelpipkin9942]

Drink W.W. Fizzy Lifting drink. It should counter the effects.

[@paulnolan4971]

Your bladder drops.

[@cd5433]

Up to 5 tablespoons is safe to drink

[@michaelpipkin9942]

Can you do the history of MonsterTrucks? Beginning with tractors, it's now a multi-million dollar industry with incredible technology and a worldwide fan base.

[@mortenpoulsen1496]

Who says the USa is world wide.. ;)

[@fstimellom8882]

The german projects goal was to build a reaktor not a bomb. thats why it wasnt under military but civilian administration. After the ferry sunk several barrels floated to the surface and was sendt to germany. The project wasnt stopped but delayed

[@utareangara5529]

The series that was on Netflix was amazing.

[@Dank-gb6jn]

Definitely need to cover the Battle of Fredericksburg. One of the key battles of the US War Between the States; this battle had a significant moment of courage, heroism, and compassion when Sergeant, later 2nd Lt. Richard Rowland Kirkland of the CSA brought water to wounded Federals despite major risks to his person.

[@factsdontcareaboutyourfeel7204]

I keep reading this same comment everywhere .. you copy and pasting it all the time

[@Dank-gb6jn]

@@factsdontcareaboutyourfeel7204 yep. I think it’s a worthy subject to cover. Especially when it includes a hero such as Rowland.

[@factsdontcareaboutyourfeel7204]

@@Dank-gb6jn I have heard of the story . I’m sure he is predicted in a film too .

[@Dank-gb6jn]

@@factsdontcareaboutyourfeel7204 he was portrayed in an AHC (American History Channel) docu-series on the War Between the States.

[@factsdontcareaboutyourfeel7204]

@@Dank-gb6jn maybe that’s what I saw. Did they think he was looting the bodies at first and they were going to kill him until they realised he was giving them water ..

[@daniell1483]

I can only tip my hat to these commandos. It is hard to say whether Nazi Germany would ever have gotten their hands on an atomic weapon, which would have changed the course of the war. But these men's courage and bravery ensured that potentiality would never come to fruition.

[@pandawok301]

Dropped onto a world of ice!

[@gearhead2255]

A fellow person of culture I see

[@ShadowKayvaan]

Operation Musketoon next?

[@gumunduringigumundsson4315]

Love. Respect. Responsibility. 🌏👍

[@villain68]

I saw this on tv. But don't remember the Chanel I watched it on. Maybe History Channel?

[@-m1nt-378]

Just played Battlefield 5, one of the operations was located there, such an interesting place and historical background... everything. Great video

[@booboolips6053]

You’re going to trip over that beard😂

[@thekidfromcleveland3944]

You mean this wasn't just a script for a Hogan's Heros episode?

[@ChopsticksMcguffin]

Why ain't this a movie?

[@timsytanker]

It is…..

[@CartoonHero1986]

There are some really great documentaries on the resistance people working with the allies in Vemork and sinking the boat the Heavy Water was on before the Nazi's could get their boat out of the harbour.

[@pyromania1018]

I'm thinking of "Hogan's Heroes".

[@ehrldawg]

Up next;belleau Woods

[@andym1594]

You are ignoring that the Soviets would have gotten that water from the Germans if they hadn't sank it.

[@TheJPinder]

this would be a good movie

[@lancerxx68]

The Heroes of Telemark 1965

[@paulnolan4971]

Uranium is heavy man.

[@alwayschillin9524]

Where was this mission on COD?

[@donmoore4488]

If the Germans would have developed the nuclear bomb and were able to create a warhead for the V2 history would have played out much differently I believe, I'm truly grateful for the brave souls that gave everything to prevent this from happening, they are the hero's.

[@TheLoneTerran]

Of course my country nails a goddamn city. Strategic bombing was such a waste of lives jfc.

[@safdaralli2567]

I don"t understand..what does heavy water have to do with making an atomic bomb...just trying to learn..

[@stjernen66]

Heavy water contains hydrogen isotopes that is twice as heavy compared to normal water. It also contains a neutron in addition to the proton. The idea was that heavy water will slow down the neutron so it will react with the uranium. And create a chain reaction.

[@safdaralli2567]

So if I'm understanding you correctly...the heavy water is " inside" the bomb as part of the makeup of its reactor component? @@stjernen66

[@jokodihaynes419]

battlefield 5 and medal of honor 1

[@yvindwestersund9720]

OMG YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR PRONOUCIATION OF THE PEOPLE THAT WAS IN ON THE ACTION As a Norwegian it hurt to listen to it BUT THE FACT THAT this is on of the most incredible operations of the second world War is just incredible And it was but in the aftermath this was just an other unnecessary destruction of civilian life The Germans didn't have a clue about what to do whit the heavywater they had So in the end it was an incredible operation that didn't make any difference in the war at all Only nearly 40 people died unnecessary that's the war toll of the operation And if anyone would like to see a movie about this then THAT HERO'S OF TELEMARK THING IS JUST FUCKING CRAP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW IT WAS REALLY DONE THEN WATCH KAMPEN OM TUNGTVANNET IT IS A NORWEGIAN MOVIE ABOUT THIS RAID AND SEVERAL OF THE ACTORS IN THIS MOVIE IS ACTUALLY MEMBERS OF TEAM GROUSE IN OTHER WORDS THEY DID THE ACTUAL THING THEY ARE THE REAL PEOPLE THAT WAS THERE ON THAT DAY Just saying 🇧🇻

[@davidleonard3887]

When I deployed to Afghanistan I met a soldier in the Norwegian army. His unit came from that location and his wife was responsible for the destruction of the ferry

[@MrTexasDan]

Your Norwegian buddy's wife was in her upper 80s or 90s then?

[@brianhum8765]

Righttttt, a woman who blew up a ferry in 1944 was married to a man young enough to be in the army between 1999 and 2021.

[@MrTexasDan]

@@brianhum8765 My uncle Twodogsfucking was at Little Bighorn and kilt Custard.

[@tsartomato]

FAU 2

[@paulnolan4971]

You tube is acting stoopid again

[@buddywoof1796]

There‘s something wrong about this story. The real heroes were a mother and her teenager daughter. This takes away credit from important female historical figueres

[@dtaylor10chuckufarle]

Badasses, each and every one. Men of the Greatest Generation; we stand on the shoulders of giants.

[@kestrels-in-the-sky]

You could say they were the hero’s of the telemark carrying Viking blood in there veins

[@SpikeRazzor]

*EA:* An untrained mother and daughter did all this 😂.

[@westrim]

That's an alternate universe where the British tried to do it themselves and failed

[@cyclonegames9215]

EA: “Let’s remove the British and French almost entirely and say only a Norwegian mother and daughter did this.” It was an immersive War Story in the game tho.

[@micahistory]

FIRST!

[@Pepsi_Addicted]

first