Operation Grouse: The Real Heroes of Telemark

[ArcticWolf]

Book Description
Published to tie in with the 3-part BBC TV series, Ray Mears shows how the success of a vital World War II mission depended on survival skills.
Synopsis
In 1943, four men parachuted onto a Norwegian glacier, equipped with only the most basic equipment. Their mission was to prevent the Nazi regime from building an atomic bomb. Wilderness expert Ray Mears tells the true story of this gruelling campaign, showing how these men's ability to survive in extreme conditions influenced the outcome of World War II. The Telemark campaign was an example of the bravery and skill of the SOE trainees. The Norwegians transformed a military disaster into triumph. This title tells the full story.

http://www.militaryimages.net/shop/shop.php?c=001&n=1025612&k=The+real+heroes+of+Tele mark&s=sr&p=1&x=Books

I watched the TV series last weekend and let me tell you, these guys are truly real heroes. Humble and modest after accomplishing something that was THE thing that stopped the Nazis from developing their atom bomb.

I'm not sure if the next link will work for downloading the TV series, because I don't have time to try it out. If it works, it's well worth the three hours it takes to watch it after downloading:

http://www.mininova.org/tor/170647

If the above link doesn't work, here is a link to some people that took part in filming it, where they have still photos and some more info:

http://www.destination.setesdalnett....ish/midten.htm

And here is another great link with more information:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hydro/resistance.html

If anyone has more pertinent information, or just would like to comment / discuss this operation, feel free. I'm in complete awe of the men that were part of this operation, but I will listen to all arguments, for or against.

 

[Bombardier]

Missed this one AW, great post...some excellent info there

 

[Drone_pilot]

Watched the Ray Mears series on UKtvhistory channel and it was a very good series, thought the bit about Moss soup was interesting, just goes to show what you'll eat when faced with starvation. love the scene in the last episode when they served the soup at the reunion meal.

 

[ArcticWolf]

Moss/lichen soup

Yeah, well, moss or lichen soup really isn't that bad. Mind you, I prefer raw lichen myself.

Wee'uns in Sweden learn about what you can and cannot eat in nature as part of basic (survival) skills when they're no older than 7 or 8, in some places (up North) even earlier than that, mainly because it's part of their (the Saami) life style. No doubt the Finnish and Norwegian children get the same down to earth skills from an early age (at least in the Northern parts of these countries - where the Saami people live).

If I'm wrong, please someone correct me...! mineman?

Here are some interesting facts about lichen and moss and it's historically military related

The Russians found another use for the lichen during World War II, when they prepared a version of molasses with Iceland moss.

:

http://www.answers.com/topic/iceland-mosshttp://web.uvic.ca/~stucraw/part1.html