HONORING THE HEROES OF TELEMARK

• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Collection: Declassified Articles from Studies in Intelligence: The IC’s Journal for the Intelligence Professional
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0000624379
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Release Date: July 30, 2014
• Case Number: F-2013-02322
• Publication Date: April 1, 1993

TITLE:AUTHOR:VOLUME:Approved for Release: 2014/07/29 000624379Honoring the Heroes of Telemark(b)(3)(c)37 ISSUE: Spring YEAR: 1993Approved for Release: 2014/07/29 000624379pproved for Release: 2014/07/29 000624379INTLLIGENCEA collection of articles on the historical, operational, doctrinal, and theoretical aspects of intelligence.All statements of fact, opinion or analysis expressed in Studies in Intelligence are those ofthe authors. They do not necessarily reflect official positions or views of the CentralIntelligence Agency or any other US Government entity, past or present. Nothing in thecontents should be construed as asserting or implying US Government endorsement of anarticle's factual statements and interpretations.Approved for Release: 2014/07/29 000624379Approved for Release: 2014/07/29 00062437950th anniversaryHonoring the Heroes of Telemark (b)(3)(c)  History was both made and celebrated at CIAHeadquarters on 10 February 1993. A ceremony washeld in the atrium of the new headquarters buildingto open a photographic exhibit commemorating the50th anniversary of the sabotage raid in Norway onthe heavy water plant at Vemork in the province ofTelemark. A detailed account of the raid, "TheAction at Vemork," by Claus Heiberg, was publishedin the Winter 1992 edition of Studies in Intelligence.The raid was conducted by nine Norwegiansaboteurs, including Heiberg, who had been trainedin England. It resulted in a significant delay inGermany's efforts to build an atomic bomb. TheGermans needed the heavy water as a moderator intheir efforts to activate an atomic pile. The raid wasthe first successful paramilitary effort in history tocounter the proliferation of nuclear weapons.Over 93 persons lost their lives in the two-year battlefor heavy water in Norway. But the sabotage raidwas conducted so skillfully that not a shot was fired,and there were no casualties. After the war, the US37Government awarded six of the Norwegian saboteursthe nation's highest civilian award?the Medal ofFreedom with Bronze Palm.Heiberg and the chief of the Norwegian IntelligenceService, Maj. Gen. Alf Berg, who retired on 1 May1993, were honored guests at the ceremony, and theywere officially welcomed by Deputy Director ofCentral Intelligence Adm. William 0. Studeman.After being presented a commemorative copy of hisStudies in Intelligence article, Heiberg gave a briefacceptance speech in which he thanked those presentfor the opportunity to attend the ceremony. He wasfollowed by Major General Berg, who commented onthe little-known positive effect that the raid had onthe morale of the Norwegian public during theGerman occupation.The following day, Heiberg held two seminars atCIA Headquarters, in which he described the back-ground and operation of the sabotage raid. Bothseminars played to capacity audiences of enthusiasticemployees.Approved for Release: 2014/07/29 000624379Approved for Release: 2014/07/29 000624379Claus Helberg at CIA HeadquartersCs" d 38Approved for Release: 2014/07/29 000624379