The OSS Norwegian Special Operations Group in World War II

by Bruce H. Heimark

Overview

The Operational Groups (OGs) are the unsung heroes of the OSS, and this story is about the Norwegian OGs, who operated deep behind enemy lines in France in 1944, and in Norway, China, and Indochina in 1945. OGs were the Infantry of the OSS. They were uniformed military personnel designed as hard-hitting units trained to operate deep behind enemy lines to conduct sabotage upon Axis forces. The OGs were trained in parachuting, demolitions, weaponry, commando tactics, communications, amphibious warfare, and skiing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275948603
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/26/1994
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

BRUCE H. HEIMARK is a retired Air Force intelligence officer and a Master Navigator./e A Vietnam veteran, Heimark was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for outstanding achievement while on a strategic reconnaissance mission over southeast Asia on June 28, 1973. He is a part-time instructor for local colleges and universities in history and Norwegian in Omaha, Nebraska. Heimark is an Honorary Admiral in the Nebraska Navy and the El Paso, Texas, Navy.

Table of Contents

Foreword by William E. Colby
Introduction
Formation of NORSO; Stateside Recruiting and Training
Recruitment into the OSS
Training in the United Kingdom
A Mission to Norway?
The Push on France; Percy Red
Donald
Antagonist
Percy Pink
Patrick
Lindsey
Christopher
Adrian
Lessons Learned in France
To Norway, at Long Last!; Planning Operation Rype
The Tragic Delivery of the Rype Mission
The Failure of Resupply
The Bridge at Tangen
The Lurudal Caper
The Big Picture
Encounter with a German Patrol
German Surrender and NORSO Garrison Duty
Lessons Learned in Norway
China Operations; Movement to Kunming
Training the Chinese
The "Fruit" Missions
The "Bird" Mission: Quail
War's End and Disbanding of the OSS
Lessons Learned in China
Conclusion
Notes
Persons Interviewed
Letters to the Author
Bibliography
Glossary
Index of Proper Names
Index of Military Terms and Codes
General Index
Index of Places

Editorial Reviews

Drawing on records that were only declassified in 1987 and interviews with old soldiers, describes the US program during World War II in which stranded Norwegians, Americans of Norse descent, and anyone else who could pass as native, were trained as saboteurs and sent into German-occupied Norway to disrupt anything they could lay their hands on. After Germany fell, they ended up doing the same work in China. The program was organized by the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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