Gold Run: The Rescue of Norway’s Gold Bullion from the Nazis, April 1940

Gold Run is the true story of arguably one of the greatest gold snatches in history. It is a tale of immense bravery, endurance and great leadership of loyal Norwegians, plus a little good fortune and help from the British against intrigue and overwhelming odds.

The German invasion of Norway on the night of April 8th/9th 1940 almost took Norway completely unawares; had it not been for the defiance of one small coastal battery, the Norwegian Royal Family, Government, and nearly 50 tons of gold bullion would have had no chance to escape. In desperate haste the Royal Family fled Oslo by rail, dodging bombs and strafing, eventually reaching the port of Molde which was subsequently devastated by fire bombing. The gold with extraordinary ingenuity was moved by road, rail and fishing boat, hotly pursued by the Germans. Its weight and the need for total secrecy created unique transportation problems. After several instances of near disaster, the Norwegians managed to get the gold to the coast where the Royal Navy came to the rescue. Such was the difficulty of extricating the bullion, it was not possible to load it in one cargo, and it was taken off in three Royal Navy Cruisers, HMS Enterprise, Galatea and Glasgow, from different locations. The ships were attacked in port, then constantly harassed and bombed by the Luftwaffe as they made their way back to the UK.

The loss of the bullion was a blow to the Germans. They had gained a country, but lost a King, a government and huge amount of bullion that would have financed their war machine. That loss is directly attributed to a visionary bank chief, a Colonel, a hastily assembled body of Norwegians and the ships and men of the Royal Navy, ever resourceful, brave and loyal to their respective countries. This is their story.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction

1 The Sinking of the Blücher April 8–9th
2 The Flight & Fight Begins April 9th
3 The Bank and the Bullion
4 Flight to Lillehammer April 9–10th
5 Allied Help Arrives
6 Move the Bullion
7 Åndalsnes
8 HMS Galatea
9 The Road to Molde April 24th–29th
10 Molde – Capital of Norway
11 A Daring Rescue April 29th
12 D/S Driva April 30th
13 The Road From Molde
14 Welcome Arrivals
15 HMS Enterprise
16 The ‘Sealed Cargo’ Arrives in the UK
17 Pimpernel Gold
18 Atlantic Sailings
19 The Issue of Gold

Appendix: Per Prag’s Diary
Map Routes of the Gold Transport
Notes
Bibliography
Index