Leif Tronstad | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 27 March 1903 Bærum, Norway |
| Died | 11 March 1945 (aged 41) Syrebekkstølen, Rauland, Norway |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Norway |
| Service | Norwegian Army |
| Years of service | 1924–1927 1940–1945 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Norwegian Independent Company 1 |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | War Cross with sword
Norwegian War Medal |
| Relations | Edla Obel (wife) |
| Other work | Athlete, scientist |
Leif Hans Larsen Tronstad DSO, OBE (27 March 1903 – 11 March 1945) was a Norwegian inorganic chemist, intelligence officer and military organizer. He graduated from the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1927 and was a prolific researcher and writer of academic publications. A professor of chemistry at the Norwegian Institute of Technology from 1936, he was among the pioneers of heavy water research, and was instrumental when a heavy water plant was built at Vemork.
After the invasion of Norway by Germany during World War II, Tronstad conducted domestic resistance for one year before fleeing the country for England. There, he gathered valuable intelligence from Norwegian sources, both on the development of the V-2 rocket and the growing German interest in heavy water. In 1943 Tronstad planned Operation Gunnerside, in which the German access to heavy water processing at Vemork was severely impeded. His information about the V-2 rocket contributed to the massive Allied bombing of Peenemünde.
For a long time Tronstad had wanted to return to Norway to organize resistance work, however he was prevented by the Norwegian military authorities in Britain. In 1944, he did travel to Norway, to organize Operation Sunshine, for the defence of Norwegian infrastructure. After five months in the country, he was killed in action after his team had taken the local bailiff hostage.