The 73-year-old sister of King Charles herself wished to return to Vemork in Tinn municipality, with which not least the British have a powerful relationship after their cooperation in the course of the conflict. Norsk Hydro’s heavy water manufacturing at Vemork was an necessary a part of the Nazis’ nuclear challenge, and 4 dangerous army operations had been launched to cease it. British-Norwegian cooperation was essential right here.
– After we opened Tungtvannkjelleren in the summertime of 2022, we acquired a greeting from Princess Anne. She then stated that she wished to return right here herself, however we did not know if it will be doable, says director Anna Hereid on the Norwegian Industrial Staff’ Museum.
On Tuesday morning, the princess arrived within the Telemark village, which has turn into world well-known for the necessary heavy water operations in 1943. A light-weight, small-flowered summer time costume with a brief jacket on high was sufficient for one more summer time day in southern Norway.
– Nice honor
The cellar was discovered as not too long ago as 2017, when it had been untouched for over 40 years. Now Hereid may be very comfortable that the princess is coming, barely two years after the opening, in lovely summer time climate.
– It’s a nice honor to obtain Her Highness. As it is a personal, low-profile go to, there won’t be massive crowds right here. However a number of family of the heavy water activists get to satisfy her, says Hereid to NTB simply earlier than the princess arrives.
Among the many visitors is Jostein Rønneberg, son of Joachim Rønneberg. The latter was the chief of Operation Gunnerside, or the Vemork motion itself, as it’s usually referred to as in Norway. This motion group lastly managed to hold out the deliberate sabotage contained in the hydrogen manufacturing facility itself.
– Extra transparency
Princess Anne is patron of the Anglo-British Resistance Commemoration Challenge, a brand new memorial challenge that paperwork the army cooperation between Norway and Nice Britain in the course of the conflict. King Charles’ sister took the task in 2023, in keeping with the challenge web site.
Challenge supervisor Tony Insall says the princess may be very eager to convey information about what occurred in the course of the conflict, not least how necessary the cooperation between the 2 international locations was, together with by way of Kompani Linge and Milorg.
– What’s new now could be that we will speak extra overtly concerning the intelligence and resistance work. In Norway, individuals have been extra open about this previously, whereas Nice Britain has been reticent. However now it’s being opened up, which makes it doable for the princess to speak about this, says Insall to NTB.
Met the veteran Rønneberg
He says that Princess Anne herself has met a number of of the heavy water campaigners, amongst them Joachim Rønneberg. He died in 2018, one 12 months after the basement below the hydrogen manufacturing facility itself was discovered by archaeologists. Now the son is right here to obtain a greeting from the British royal home.
– The princess’s aim is to extend individuals’s consciousness, not solely of the best-known actions, however of the in depth cooperation that occurred between the international locations, says Insall.
On Wednesday, the journey to the capital continues. There, Princess Anne will unveil a commemorative plaque along with Crown Prince Haakon on the House Entrance Museum at Akershus Fortress.
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2024-05-22 04:35:42