119) The Heavy Water Wars: Stopping Hitler's Atomic Bomb
 

 

On the frigid nights of February 27 and 28, 1943, ten elite Norwegian commandos carried out what would become the most daring and successful act of sabotage against the Nazis during World War II. In the depths of winter, under the cover of darkness, these men infiltrated the heavily guarded Vemork facility in southern Norway, Germany’s only source of "heavy water" (deuterium oxide), a crucial component for nuclear weapons development. Without firing a single shot, the team planted explosives, escaped undetected, and—pursued by thousands of German troops—skied across treacherous terrain to safety in Sweden. Their mission, known as Operation Gunnerside, crippled Nazi Germany’s nuclear ambitions and may well have changed the course of history. In this riveting presentation, Timothy Boyce will recount the incredible details of the raid, including earlier failed attempts, the state of Germany’s atomic program, and how the bravery of a few changed the fate of millions.