The case in summary
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– Halvor Haugan has made souvenirs with real heavy water from Rjukan, produced in the 80s.
– The souvenirs are shaped like bombs from the Second World War and contain an ampoule of heavy water.
– The idea already came to Haugan in the late 80s, but was put on hold after opposition from Hydro.
– Now Haugan, who is retired, has taken up the project again and hopes it can become a popular product.
– Hydro is primarily concerned that their logo is not used, but Haugan assures that he only uses the guarantee from Hydro.
– Haugan has around 250 finished copies and envisages a price of around NOK 900 per unit.
The product itself is made of wood and brass, and is shaped like a bomb from the Second World War.
An ampoule has been inserted into the tip genuine heavy water from Rjukan, produced in the eighties.
Halvor Haugan with his tungvass souvenir.
Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / NRK
Not entirely uncontroversial, some would say.
Halvor Haugan is prepared that someone may react negatively.
– I don’t look away from it. But it’s a chance I’ll take, then.
Interested in the heavy water campaigns at Rjukan?
Genuine item
The idea is not new.
The idea of being able to sell real heavy water as souvenirs came to Halvor Haugan already at the end of the eighties. Specifically in 1987.
It wasn’t just popular.
Rune Krätzel Gulløy at Protektiv in Skien has given the souvenirs a new look on behalf of Halvor Haugan. Here, the product is admired by the client.
Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / NRK
At the time, he had recently started a small tourism business in Rjukan, and was looking for souvenirs that he could sell from his shop.
– At that time there were no souvenirs from the area, he says.
As said so done.
An order for real heavy water was placed and approved by the cornerstone company Hydro.
The ampoules were made by the company’s own glassblower at Rjukan factories, and labeled with a guarantee for the contents.
– This is “original product”, assures Haugan.
What do you think of a souvenir with heavy water shaped like a bomb?
Exciting. There is a lot of history in such a product. A bomb imitation filled with heavy water will be completely wrong to sell as a souvenir in 2024.
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Thumbs down from Hydro
When Hydro was made aware of the plans for the product to become souvenirs in the eighties, they nevertheless put themselves on the back foot, says Haugan.
– Leiinga was furious, he recalls.
They are threatening, according to what is said, to put the legal department on the case.
Hydro was not an opponent one wanted for a start-up company in Rjukan, and thus the project was put on hold.
Heavy water in ampoules becomes souvenirs. Along with the product, there must be a piece of writing that tells about the history of heavy water.
Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / NRK
Until no.
Recently, Haugan, who is now retired, blew the dust off the glass ampoules again. He hopes it can become a popular item already by the summer.
Hydro does not refuse Haugan to resell heavy water in 2024.
Anders Vindegg, the company’s information manager, is primarily concerned that the company’s logo is not used.
Anders Vindegg, communications director at Hydro.
Photo: www.gudim.no / www.gudim.no
– Heavy water production during the war, the actions connected to him and Vemork are an important part of our shared history, he says.
– Hydro still does not accept that our logo and trademark, either as it looked in the past or in its current form, is used by others for commercial purposes, is his comment to NRK.
That does not worry Haugan.
– I only use the guarantee from Hydro. The product was bought honestly and fairly 35 years ago.
History that creates great commitment
The history of heavy water on Rjukan is well known.
The hunt for the coveted product was, among other things, an important piece in the game between Germany and the Allies during the Second World War.
The battle for heavy water is well known. Here from the Norwegian TV series of the same name, represented by the shoe actresses Espen Klouman-Høiner and Anna Friel.
Photo: Filmkameratene AS/Jiri Hanzl
The production of heavy water at Norsk Hydro’s plant at Rjukan also had a lot to say for nuclear research internationally, and continued for a total of fifty years, from 1939-1989.
Several campaigns were carried out to stop the export and production of heavy water from Rjukan during the war.
Stories of both heroism and tragic events, which are later kept alive through films, radio documentaries, books and cartoon series.
The drops Haugan will sell were made in 1987, and therefore some of the last of their kind to be produced at the factory.
The factory that made the heavy water was blown up in 1977. This is what Vemork looks like today. The factory is located just outside the center of Rjukan.
Photo: Martin Torstveit / NRK
In total, Haugan has around 250 finished copies lying around.
He has not finally determined the price, but expects it to be around NOK 900 per unit.
He has not yet planned where the product will be sold, but hopes that the local museum may be interested.
The Norwegian Industrial Workers’ Museum (NIA) today ensures that the stories from Vemork and Rjukan are kept alive.
Anna Hereid, director of the Norwegian Industrial Workers’ Museum in Rjukan.
Photo: NIA
Museum director Anna Hereid is unsure whether it will be appropriate to sell Haugan’s heavy water as souvenirs.
– We are familiar with heavy water in ampoules. This variant is new to us. We probably wouldn’t have developed this product in this form ourselves, but if there is an enquiry, we will consider it, she says.
The heavy water operations at Rjukan
Photo: Unknown photographer / Norsk Hydro’s photo collection
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- The actions against Norsk Hydro’s plant at Rjukan during the Second World War were military measures carried out by Kompani Linge.
- The production of heavy water was of great importance for German nuclear research.
- The first paratroopers landed in the area on the night between 18 and 19 October 1942.
- The Vemork station was destroyed on 27 February 1943.
- D/F “Hydro”, which shipped out heavy-water lye after the factory had been rebuilt, was sunk on 20 February 1944. This was the last of the heavy-water operations.
- The heavy water operations are among the most famous sabotage operations from the Second World War.
- Among the participants were Jens Anton Poulsson, Knut Magne Haugland, Claus Helberg, Arne Kjelstrup, Joachim Rønneberg, Knut Haukelid, Kasper Idland, Fredrik Kayser, Hans Storhaug and Birger Strømsheim.
Source: Large Norwegian encyclopedia
Published 17.04.2024, at 10.49 Updated 17.04.2024, at 13.26