Operation Sunshine
Encyclopedia
The Operation Sunshine was an anti-demolition operation in occupied Norway
from October 1944 to May 1945. Planned by Norwegian military personnel in the United Kingdom in cooperation with British forces, and part of an effort to protect essential installations and industry, in particular large power stations, against destruction in a possible scorched earth
action by the Germans towards the end of World War II
.
from his position within the exiled Norwegian Ministry of Defence
in London. An important goal was to protect the power plant industry in Norway, and the targeted operation area was chosen such that it comprised sixty percent of the energy supplies in Eastern Norway. This included power stations in the Rjukan
district, Notodden
, Kongsberg
and Nore
.
Nine SOE
agents, among them several from the heavy water sabotage
team, were selected for the mission and para-dropped over Ugleflott in Øvre Telemark 5 October 1944. The overall leader of Operation Sunshine was major Leif Tronstad
, with assistance from Gunnar Syverstad
and Norman Lind
. Einar Skinnarland
, who already was in Norway, received the agents, and also joined as wireline operator. Second-in command of operation Sunshine was Jens-Anton Poulsson
, also leader the Moonlight section. When Tronstad was killed in March 1945, Poulsson took over as leader of Sunshine.
The operation covered parts of the counties Telemark
and Buskerud
, and overlapped existing Milorg
districts. The district covered by Sunshine was separated out as Milorg
district 16 (D-16), and was divided in three subsections, with the codenames Starlight, Moonlight and Lamplight. The SOE agents would cooperate with and develop existing Milorg groups already established in the districts. The groups should be supplied with weapon and provisions by air drops from allied aircraft, and provided with military instruction.
,with Eldar Hagen as wireline operator.
Main defending target was the Nore Hydroelectric Power Station
, which was then the largest power station in Norway. The section also included Numedal
, Kongsberg
, Rollag
and Rødberg
. This was the original Milorg
district D16, under command of district leader Oscar Beck, and Milorg organized around 450 men in this district in October 1944. In the end this section could mobilize a military force of 900 soldiers. The troops received air drops with weapons, ammunition, uniforms and food supplies. Some of the men had left their homes and stayed in mountain cabins, organized in small cells, each of around ten men. Starlight had five such cells. Others still lived and worked as normal, having attended short military courses, and belonging to a group local to their home place. Starlight had around ten such group, where the number of group members varied from 30 to 150.
, with Claus Helberg
as wireless operator. In the surrounding mountains a military force consisting of 300 soldiers was built up. Main defending targets were the dam at Møsvatn
, factories and power stations at Rjukan
and Vemork
, and the ferries on Tinnsjå
.
and other power stations along the river Tinnelva
.
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
from October 1944 to May 1945. Planned by Norwegian military personnel in the United Kingdom in cooperation with British forces, and part of an effort to protect essential installations and industry, in particular large power stations, against destruction in a possible scorched earth
Scorched earth
A scorched earth policy is a military strategy or operational method which involves destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from an area...
action by the Germans towards the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Planning
Operation Sunshine was planned by Leif TronstadLeif Tronstad
Leif Hans Larsen Tronstad DSO, OBE was a Norwegian scientist, intelligence officer and military organizer. He graduated from the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1927 and was a prolific researcher and writer of academic publications...
from his position within the exiled Norwegian Ministry of Defence
Norwegian Ministry of Defence
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence is a Norwegian government ministry in charge of the formation and implementation of national security and defence policy, and for the overall management and control of the activities of subordinate agencies. The ministry is located at Glacisgata 1, Oslo,...
in London. An important goal was to protect the power plant industry in Norway, and the targeted operation area was chosen such that it comprised sixty percent of the energy supplies in Eastern Norway. This included power stations in the Rjukan
Rjukan
Rjukan is a town and the administrative center of Tinn municipality in Telemark . It is situated in Vestfjorddalen, between Møsvatn and Tinnsjå, and got its name after Rjukanfossen west of the town. The Tinn municipality council granted township status for Rjukan in 1996. The town has 3 386...
district, Notodden
Notodden
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Øst-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Notodden....
, Kongsberg
Kongsberg
is a town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is located at the southern end of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kongsberg....
and Nore
Nore (Norway)
Nore is a village in the municipality of Nore og Uvdal in the county of Buskerud, Norway. It is located in the traditional region of Numedal.-History:...
.
Nine SOE
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
agents, among them several from the heavy water sabotage
Norwegian heavy water sabotage
The Norwegian heavy water sabotage was a series of actions undertaken by Norwegian saboteurs during World War II to prevent the German nuclear energy project from acquiring heavy water , which could be used to produce nuclear weapons...
team, were selected for the mission and para-dropped over Ugleflott in Øvre Telemark 5 October 1944. The overall leader of Operation Sunshine was major Leif Tronstad
Leif Tronstad
Leif Hans Larsen Tronstad DSO, OBE was a Norwegian scientist, intelligence officer and military organizer. He graduated from the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1927 and was a prolific researcher and writer of academic publications...
, with assistance from Gunnar Syverstad
Gunnar Syverstad
Gunnar Bryde Syverstad was a Norwegian resistance member. He is known for his assistance at the Norwegian heavy water sabotage....
and Norman Lind
Norman Lind
Norman Lind was a British-Norwegian military officer and consul.He was born in Bergen as a son of the British naval attaché to Norway. He took his higher education in the United Kingdom. During World War II he served in the Royal Engineers in 1940 before attending officer's school for two years...
. Einar Skinnarland
Einar Skinnarland
Einar Skinnarland DCM was a Norwegian resistance fighter during the Second World War.Einar Skinnarland was born in Vinje, in Telemark county, Norway...
, who already was in Norway, received the agents, and also joined as wireline operator. Second-in command of operation Sunshine was Jens-Anton Poulsson
Jens-Anton Poulsson
Jens-Anton Poulsson DSO, was a Norwegian military officer. During the World War II he was a Norwegian resistance member, especially noted for his role in the heavy water sabotage 1942–1943...
, also leader the Moonlight section. When Tronstad was killed in March 1945, Poulsson took over as leader of Sunshine.
The operation covered parts of the counties Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
and Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
, and overlapped existing Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
districts. The district covered by Sunshine was separated out as Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
district 16 (D-16), and was divided in three subsections, with the codenames Starlight, Moonlight and Lamplight. The SOE agents would cooperate with and develop existing Milorg groups already established in the districts. The groups should be supplied with weapon and provisions by air drops from allied aircraft, and provided with military instruction.
Starlight (D161, Nore section)
The Nore section was led by Arne KjelstrupArne Kjelstrup
Arne Kjelstrup, MM was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II, especially noted for his role in the heavy water sabotage 1942–1943, and for being military leader of Milorg section D-161 during the anti-demolition operation Sunshine 1944–1945.-Personal life:Kjelstrup was...
,with Eldar Hagen as wireline operator.
Main defending target was the Nore Hydroelectric Power Station
Nore Hydroelectric Power Station
The Nore Power Station is a hydroelectric power station located in the municipality Nore og Uvdal in Buskerud, Norway. The oldest plant Nore I operates at an installed capacity of , with an average annual production of 1,110 GWh. The plant Nore II has an installed capacity of , with an average...
, which was then the largest power station in Norway. The section also included Numedal
Numedal
Numedal is a traditional district and valley Buskerud, Norway. Running north–south, it extends between Kongsberg in the south to Rødberg in the north, passing through the municipalities of Kongsberg, Flesberg, Rollag and Nore og Uvdal.. The river Numedalslågen, the third-longest in the country,...
, Kongsberg
Kongsberg
is a town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is located at the southern end of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kongsberg....
, Rollag
Rollag
Rollag is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Numedal. The municipality of Rollag was established on 1 January 1838 . Nore og Uvdal was separated from Rollag in 1858....
and Rødberg
Rødberg
Rødberg is the administrative centre of Nore og Uvdal municipality, Norway.Rødberg is located in the Norwegian traditional district and valley of Numedal. Its population is 468, and it is located on the Rødberg dam on the Numedalslågen River....
. This was the original Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
district D16, under command of district leader Oscar Beck, and Milorg organized around 450 men in this district in October 1944. In the end this section could mobilize a military force of 900 soldiers. The troops received air drops with weapons, ammunition, uniforms and food supplies. Some of the men had left their homes and stayed in mountain cabins, organized in small cells, each of around ten men. Starlight had five such cells. Others still lived and worked as normal, having attended short military courses, and belonging to a group local to their home place. Starlight had around ten such group, where the number of group members varied from 30 to 150.
Moonlight (D162, Rjukan section)
The Rjukan section was led by Jens-Anton PoulssonJens-Anton Poulsson
Jens-Anton Poulsson DSO, was a Norwegian military officer. During the World War II he was a Norwegian resistance member, especially noted for his role in the heavy water sabotage 1942–1943...
, with Claus Helberg
Claus Helberg
Claus Helberg was a Norwegian resistance fighter and mountain guide. He was a member of Company Linge, a resistance commando unit that was best known for carrying out Norwegian heavy water sabotage during World War II. After the war, he worked for the Norwegian Mountain Touring Association...
as wireless operator. In the surrounding mountains a military force consisting of 300 soldiers was built up. Main defending targets were the dam at Møsvatn
Møsvatn
Møsvatn is twelfth largest lake in Norway with a surface area of 78.31 km². It lies primarily in Vinje municipality in Telemark county. The lake lies in the watershed of the Skien river and discharges into the Måna river. Along the shores of the lake, many traces of stone age settlers can be...
, factories and power stations at Rjukan
Rjukan
Rjukan is a town and the administrative center of Tinn municipality in Telemark . It is situated in Vestfjorddalen, between Møsvatn and Tinnsjå, and got its name after Rjukanfossen west of the town. The Tinn municipality council granted township status for Rjukan in 1996. The town has 3 386...
and Vemork
Vemork
Vemork is the name of a hydroelectric power plant outside Rjukan in Tinn, Norway. The plant was built by Norsk Hydro and opened in 1911, its main purpose being to fix nitrogen for the production of fertilizer. Vemork was later the site of the first plant in the world to mass-produce heavy water...
, and the ferries on Tinnsjå
Tinnsjå
Tinnsjå is one of the largest lakes in Norway. It is located between the municipalities of Tinn and Notodden in Telemark county. At its source in the west, the Måna river flows out of Møsvatn and past Rjukan into Tinnsjå...
.
Lamplight (D163, Notodden section)
The Notodden section was led by Herluf Nygaard, and with Leif Brønn as wireline operator. About 500 men were organised in this section at the end of December 1944. Important defending targes were Svelgfoss Power StationSvelgfoss Hydroelectric Power Station
The Svelgfoss Power Station is a hydroelectric power station located at the river Tinnelva in Notodden, Telemark, Norway. It operates at an installed capacity of , with an average annual production of about 500 GWh....
and other power stations along the river Tinnelva
Tinnelva
Tinnelva is a river in Notodden, Telemark, Norway. It flows from the lake Tinnsjå to Heddalsvatnet. The waterfalls Årlifossene, Grønvollfoss, Svelgfoss and Tinnfoss are exploited, and the hydroelectric power stations have a combined installed capacity of ....
.