Trøndelag County Municipality’s culture prize goes to the association OSS Gjefsjøen in Snåsa. They receive the award for their work in disseminating the story of Operasjon RYPE, and the restoration of Gjefsjøen mountain farm, which was used as a base for the operation from March 1945.

Gjefsjøen was a central place in the last months of the war in 1945 in connection with Operasjon RYPE. The operation aimed to sabotage the railway to delay the withdrawal of German troops. 17 soldiers lost their lives in these mountain areas, and Gjefsjøen has now been rebuilt as a memorial to their victim. OSS Gjefsjøen is still a young organization, but has already made a significant contribution to Trøndelag’s cultural life.

– Since the establishment in 2018, they have restored Gjefsjøen mountain farm as it appeared when it was the headquarters of The Norwegian Operations Group (NORSE), codenamed “Operasjon RYPE” – this was the only American land operation in Norway during World War II, and thus has great symbolic significance for Norwegian-American military cooperation. That was where it all started in 1945, says Tore O. Sandvik.

Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset

Gjefsjøen mountain farm and Operasjon RYPE are a section in the great story of World War II.

The association OSS Gjefsjøen’s work to make the mountain farm a living cultural monument, gives us a Trøndelag entrance to this story. It has now been rebuilt to preserve the memory of Operasjon RYPE, as a symbol of Norwegian-American military cooperation, and as an example of the voluntary effort to preserve our important cultural monuments. Ebbe Deraas and Kristian Nastad received the award on behalf of OSS Gjefsjøen.

– Thank you very much for the great honor that is shown to the association and our work in awarding this prize. That the news came as a big surprise is a significant understatement, not least considering all the good actors we find in Trøndelag’s cultural life. At the same time, we are both proud and happy. This award is a good source of inspiration for further work and effort, and the prize money will also come in handy to achieve the goals we have set ourselves.

The year of volunteering 2022 is the year of volunteering. Then it is worth mentioning that countless hours of hard work have been put in to restore the mountain farm, including by the Home Guard, soldiers in the task force Rype, HV youths, veterans and pensioners. Gjefsjøen is a seven-hour march from the nearest road, which gives an insight into how challenging this restoration work has been. Gjefsjøen mountain farm now stands as a symbol of what volunteering can accomplish.

WW2 sabotage

Operasjon rype

In the last months of the war during spring 1945. Gjefsjøen Mountain Farm was a central location as part of the sabotage operation "Operasjon Rype". The saboteurs had their headquarter at the farm. Operasjon Rype's mission was to sabotage the railroad through Trøndelag and Snåsa. Today Home Guard's task force "Rype" is named after the operation.

Restoring of Operasjon Rype's headquarter

OSS Gjefsjøen

The building which was headquarter for Operation Rype was in bad shape after standing empty for years. OSS Gjefsjøen are now restoring the building. The association OSS Gjefsjøen will convey the story of Operasjon Rype which in the final phase of World War II operated from its base on Gjefsjøen mountain farm. The building will be restored in the original appearance from when Operasjon Rype was carried out.

Licour based on local herbs and plants from Gjefsjøen

Gjefsjø­akevitt (Aquavit)

Distilled at Inderøy Brenneri (distillery) based on pure water, plants, herbs and botanicals from Gjefsjøen Mountain Farm. Made as a tribute to the heros from Operasjon Rype who had their base at Gjefsjøen in the end og World War II.