Books have been written, television features have been made, and there is a number of articles about Gjefsjøen and Operasjon Rype throughout the ages. Mostly in Norwegian. Feel free to tell us if there are more stories that should be added.

Voluntary work from the Homeguards youth department

18. May 2021

  Youths mountain march and voluntary work The youth department from Home guard in Trøndelag has contributed with a solid volunteer effort at OSS Gjefsjøen. In the summer of 2020, this year’s mountain march was added to Gjefsjøen and volunteer work on the project. The intention of HVU’s summer march 2020 was to develop skills, good…

Jørstad bru-sabotasjen

Time witness – a seven-year-old’s experiences from the Jørstad Bridge sabotage

2. May 2021

On 13 January 1945, the Norwegian sabotage group Woodlark carried out a sabotage operation against Jørstad bridge in Snåsa. Woodlark was British-led and included members of the Norwegian Independent Company No. 1 (Company Linge). Soldiers from Woodlark later joined the American-led Operation Rype. As a seven-year-old, Bjarne Aasum was a passenger on the first train…

Colby og Helgesen - Operasjon Rype

William Colby’s report from Operasjon Rype

8. April 2021

  “SAS operations in Norway: Skis and daggers” OSS Operation RYPE / NORSO During late 1944/early 1945 a sabotage mission to Norway was planned, with the name Operation RYPE (Norwegian for Grouse).  The main mission would be to destroy railroad lines in Norway making it impossible for the Germans to move their troops in Norway…

NRK- Armbåndet fra Operasjon Rype

NRK – The bracelet

6. April 2021

The chest of drawers in the great-granddad’s house hid a story of real courage and top-secret operations. That is until Jørn accidentally pulled out the top drawer of the dresser. Read the story about the bracelet form Operasjon Rype 

Tunbalderbrå - Pineapple mayweed

How the pineapple came to Gjefsjøen

30. March 2021

In his notes from Operasjon Rype William Colby tells a story about pineapple “Our base was 30 miles away, and we reached it skiing from tree to tree, stopping only for rest. Overhead, German spotters were looking for us, and I promised the men we would lie low, keep out of sight, and sleep. But…

Etikett Gjefsjøakevitt - Design Heidi Holje

Design and graphic artwork by Heidi Holje

20. February 2021

Label design and graphic artwork by artist Heidi Holje. In the village Kapp by the lake Mjøsa, Heidi works with different types of art, design, graphic artwork and painting. She is also a lecturer in upper secondary school and arranges different types of courses in art and painting. The design is based on original maps…

The unknown heroes from Operasjon Rype

14. April 2019

Easter evening 1945: Two southerners on a top secret mission die when their plane crashes in the Orkney Islands. The operation they were part of may have shortened World War II by several months. ARENDAL / FARSUND / KIRKWALL: – There are still remains here. It’s been a while since I’ve been here now… yes, look…

Kampen om Nordlandsbanen

Book – Kampen om Nordlandsbanen (in Norwegian)

8. March 2016

Av Frode Lindgjerdet In September 1944, Finland and the Soviet Union made peace. The German troops in Finland were forced out and withdrew through Norway. This made Nordlandsbanen strategically important. The Allies feared that this was the start of a major withdrawal from Norway and that the 300,000 German soldiers in Norway would be deployed…

William Colby

Cold Response 16: A family legacy continues

2. March 2016

Article by Sgt. Kirstin Merrimarahajara – II Marine Expeditionary Force VǼRNES, Norway –Seventy-one years ago during World War II, Army Maj. William E. Colby led a group of over 30 men with the Office of Strategic Services on a highly important sabotage mission, called Operation Rype, in which they blew up bridges, ports and railroads…

Almost home

“Almost home” book by David W. Earl

25. June 2011

Almost Home: The Story of the B-24 Crash at Walliwall Orkney – 31 March 1945 Paperback – 25 Jun. 2011 by David W. Earl (Author, Contributor) ALMOST HOME By David W.Earl. This book is the result of over 14 years research and tells the story behind the worst aviation accident in Orkney history, that of…

Gjefsjøen – “Where no one should believe that anyone could live”

8. August 2005

Norwegian Television NRK’s popular documentary series “Where no one should believe that anyone could live” (Der ingen skulle tru at nokon kunne bu) visited Gjefsjøen mountain farm in 2005. 22-year-old Nils Christian Gjefsjø has recently taken over his father’s farm, Gjefsjøen, close to the Swedish border in Nord-Trøndelag.

You are stepping on my cloak and dagger - Roger Hall

You’re Stepping on My Cloak and Dagger

24. February 2004

Book by Roger Hall With a sharp eye and wry wit, Roger Hall recounts his experiences as an American Army officer assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. First published in 1957 to critical and popular acclaim, his book has become a cult favorite in intelligence circles. The story follows…

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.