Norwegian SOE Commandos are parachuted into the mountains 40 miles north of the the German ‘heavy water’ plant at Telemark. They met up with the reconnaissance party, that had arrived the previous October.
28/02/1943
Nine Norwegian commandos successfully climb down the steep gorge on one side of the German ‘heavy water’ plant at Telemark and work their way up a 500 foot, almost sheer rock face to reach the plant on the other side of the gorge. Undetected, they gain entrance and successfully set and detonate their explosives, ruining the plant. All the commandos escaped safely, without taking or inflicting any
casualties.
03/05/1943
The U.S. commander in Europe, Lieutenant General Frank M. Andrews is killed in air crash in Iceland.
14/05/1943
SS day is celebrated in Oslo.
31/05/1943
The Danish resistance blows up an engine shed at Toender as sabotage mounts, despite Danish King’s appeal for a halt.
24/07/1943
A battle-damaged USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress crash-lands in Sweden. Its ten-man crew becomes the first of nearly 1,000 American and other Allied airmen to be granted refuge in neutral Sweden during World War 2.
15/08/1943
The Swedish government forbids all German traffic and transport from crossing over it's territory.
28/08/1943
The Danish government refuse a German ultimatum, as the sabotage campaign reaches a crescendo.
29/08/1943
Martial law is declared in Denmark and the Danish Royal Family are ‘isolated’ by the Germans.
30/08/1943
The Danish Prime Minister, Scavenius refuses to serve under the Germans.
12/09/1943
Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Dekanozov arrives in Stockholm on an ill-defined mission. Tipped off that the Russians were open to discussing possible peace terms with the Third Reich, German Foreign Minister Von Ribbentrop pleads with Hitler that he be allowed to dispatch an envoy to at least hear what terms Stalin might be willing to offer. Hitler, however, refuses the request and
Dekanozov departs for Moscow after waiting four days.
16/11/1943
The RAF bomb the ‘heavy water’ plant at Telemark, which the Germans are attempting to repair.
