As this was written in 1975, the author was able to talk to many of the participants in the raid on the heavy water plant in Norway in WWII and the comments were all interesting but I found the actual writting a bit heavy handed. I've been somewhat fascinated by this episode in WWII history since my Mom and I found the truly dreadful movie "Hereos of Telemark" one lazy winter afternoon and I was very glad to fill in the details but I might look for a more modern history of it somewhere else.

Absolutely fascinating story that for some reason is not very much mentioned when WWII events are discussed on TV or in the press. It is surprising because these determined Norwegians majorly (if not singlehandedly) contributed to bringing the Nazi nuclear program to a screeching halt. Gallagher's writing is so captivating that it is hard to put the book down. The stories of courage and survival during the harsh Norwegian winter are almost unbelievable. Highly recommended. ( )

In 1943 and 1944, a couple of amazing raids by Norwegian volunteers destroyed the heavy water from the Norsk Hydro plant at Vemork, Norway. Heavy water differs from ordinary water in that the former is made with hydrogen isotopes, each of which has a neutron in addition to the proton in its nucleus. This isotope is called deuterium and is uncommon in nature. Heavy water acts as a moderator for nuclear fission, thus making possible the production of atomic bombs. It is difficult to manufacture, and at that time, there was only one plant in the world capable of making it in significant quantities: Norsk Hydro. When the Germans occupied Norway in 1940, they took over the plant. But the success of the intrepid saboteurs eliminated any chance for the Germans to develop a nuclear bomb before the Americans.

Gallagher provides a play-by-play of the sabotage efforts, from the insertion of the operatives onto the barren wastes of ice and snow in Norway, to the destruction of the remaining barrels of heavy water two years later.

You follow the small team as they learn to stomach reindeer eyeballs to survive; as they climb the snow-and-ice-covered walls of a sheer 600-foot gorge to wire the factory with explosives (and then climb back down); as one of them literally races from six Germans on skis, out-skis all but one, and then stands stock-still as the German empties his Lugar from forty-feet (but into the sun, so he misses). And that’s only a few highlights of this incredible adventure.

The beginning might seem a bit slow as you are introduced to the volunteers, and as they wait for the weather to be favorable. But persevere: you won’t be disappointed! James Bond has nothing on these guys, except maybe a taste for martinis rather than reindeer parts.

(JAF) ( )