|
Return to News
Norway
donates major Nazi atomic artifact
to National World War II Museum in New Orleans
Nazi barrel of atomic material sunk by Norwegian
resistance fighters
officially presented at International Conference on
World War II
NEW ORLEANS (November 28,
2006) – Officials from Norway donated a major Nazi
atomic artifact to the National World War II Museum
Saturday at a special ceremony held during the
institution’s inaugural International Conference on
World War II. Norwegian Counsel General Svein H.
Andreassen attended the event representing Norwegian
Ambassador Knut Vollebaek to present the rare gift to
the Museum on behalf of the People of Norway.
The artifact, a metal barrel that contained Heavy Water
– an integral component used in atomic fission – was
produced by the Norsk Hydro company in Norway under Nazi
occupation to advance Germany’s efforts of creating a
nuclear bomb. After multiple bombing attacks by
saboteurs and the Allied Air Forces on the facility, the
Nazis decided to transport all of the Heavy Water they
had produced to Berlin so that their scientists could
work to continue their atomic ambitions there. Their
efforts, however, ultimately failed in February 1944.
“With great appreciation and thanks, we accept this most
generous gift and acknowledge that it is one of the most
significant artifacts of World War II,” said Museum
President and CEO, Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller. “This
barrel and its contents were central to the Nazi’s
efforts to produce an atomic weapon, and without the
dedication of our European allies to prevent its
transport to Germany, the history of World War II as we
understand it today might have been much different.”
To transport the Heavy Water from the plant in Norway to
Berlin, it had to be loaded onto a ferry and taken
across Lake Tinn in Norway. However the operation was a
failure as the allies thwarted the mission.
British-trained Norwegian resistance fighters planted an
explosive device onboard the ferry and exploded it as
the vessel crossed the middle of the lake, sinking it in
the body of water’s deepest reaches and effectively
ending the Nazi’s atomic ambitions. The barrel has
rested undisturbed at the bottom of the frigid,
freshwater lake for more than 60 years.
The National World War II Museum will display the barrel
with plans for a permanent exhibition as part of the
Museum’s $300 million capital expansion.
The International Conference on World War II has drawn
capacity crowds of nearly 1,000 visitors daily, November
16-18. Keynote addresses were delivered by such
luminaries as journalist Andy Rooney, film maker Ken
Burns, authors James Bradley and Rick Atkinson, and
former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Dozens of
servicemen and women from all sides of the conflict as
well as home front workers have participated in panel
discussions examining all aspects of “The War that
Changed the World”™. This year’s event concludes Sunday,
November 19.
The National World War II Museum opened in 2000 as The
National D-Day Museum and has been designated by
Congress as the country’s official national World War II
museum. It interprets the American experience during the
World War II years; celebrates the American Spirit, the
teamwork, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who
won WWII; and promotes the expression of these values
for future generations. The National World War II Museum
recently completed the first phase of a $300 million
expansion that, when finished, will create a six-acre
campus of Museum pavilions and experiences in downtown
New Orleans.
The Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,
and it hosts regularly changing exhibitions in addition
to expansive permanent, interactive displays on both the
European and Pacific theatres of World War II. A special
exhibition on Anne Frank will open in late January. For
more information about the National World War II Museum,
call the Museum at 504-527-6012 or visit online at
http://www.nationalww2museum.org.
Return to News
|
