This review has been submitted to The Canadian Army Journal
Title: The
Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb
Author:
Neal Bascomb
ISBN:
978-0-544-36805-7
Publisher:
HMH
Year:
2016
Hardcover
Pages:
378
Photos/Maps:
49/6
Following
the invasion and capitulation of Norway in 1940, as a theatre of operations the
region became a sideshow, overshadowed by the massive conflagration being
played out in mainland Europe, Russia and the Far East; however, despite the
focus elsewhere, perhaps one of the most important dramas of the war was being
played out in the quiet, snow covered but brutal region of the Norwegian
interior. Few people have heard of Kompani Linge and the heavy water production
plant at Vemork (the only plant of its kind in the world); fewer still are
aware of the multiple efforts of Allied forces and operatives to destroy the
capability of the plant to provide heavy water (critical to the production of
an atomic bomb) to the German scientific and war effort and scarcer still are
those aware of the success of nine Norwegian operatives who parachuted into the
inhospitable Vidda region, survived a crushingly hostile environment and
succeeded not only in penetrating the plant and destroying critical
infrastructure but also escaping with no loss of life (on either side).
Bascomb’s book recounts their story.
Deeply
researched and written in a style that relates the stress, dangers and profound
knowledge and cohesion of the men involved, the author removes any sense of the
glamour of covert warfare. Rather, his narrative relates the effects of stress,
boredom and fear on the human psyche as well as accurately describing the
courage and dedication required to make this mission a success. It is a vivid
rendition of the mental and psychological strength required of those
undertaking this style of clandestine warfare and should be studied as a case
study in special operations.
He does
not only focus upon the successful Norwegian led mission but also the numerous
efforts of the RAF, USAF and, most noteworthy, of the 261st
Company of the Royal Engineers who tried to penetrate the German defences via
glider insertion and were lost to a man through accident and execution by the
Axis forces. Bascomb provides a very sobering account of their exertions and
sacrifices.
The
author paints a vivid picture of life in Norway under occupation; the efforts
to continue ‘normal’ life or at best moderate co-existence, the impact of
collaborators and the challenges of trying to build and maintain an element of
resistance to the Axis. Of particular note is the ability of the Norwegians
resistance fighters to survive in one of the harshest climates on earth; their
capacity to hunt and live off of the land even at the height of winter (albeit
on the edge of starvation) is in itself an epic tale.
This story is an adventure tale for the ages and the men who undertook
to see the sabotage of the German atomic program are as great hero’s as those
that fought on the front lines in the major theatres of war. Theirs was a
silent, unheralded effort and it is to Bascomb’s credit that their names and
achievements have not been forgotten. A well written account that should be
part of any library dedicated to special operations of the Second World War.
