Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Bryant | A 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) detachment commander skis in Trøndelag,...... read more read more
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Operation Rype, the only combat mission conducted by U.S. forces in Norway during World War II, exemplifies the extraordinary collaboration between the U.S. and Norway under the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). This mission highlights the capabilities of the OSS Norwegian Special Operations Group (NORSO) and serves as a testament to the resilience, adaptability, and bravery of American and Norwegian personnel working together to counter a shared enemy.
The OSS, established in 1942 as America’s first centralized intelligence and special operations agency, coordinated covert missions abroad. One of its specialized units, NORSO, was composed of Norwegian-Americans recruited from the 99th Infantry Battalion. Many of these operatives had previous experience in mountain and winter warfare, making them uniquely qualified for missions in Norway’s icy terrain.
During the spring of 1945, the Allied forces intensified efforts to dismantle Nazi Germany’s war infrastructure. Norway’s strategic position as a supply and communication hub for the German military made it a prime target for Allied sabotage operations. Among the critical objectives was disabling the Nordland Railway, a vital transport artery that could have allowed 150,000 German troops to reinforce Europe’s central theater.
Operation Rype (meaning “grouse” in Norwegian) thus launched on March 25, 1945. Maj. William Colby led the mission alongside Norwegian Resistance fighters, using local knowledge and expertise.
Eighty years later, Green Berets with the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) explored firsthand Operation Rype's historical context, operational objectives, challenges, and enduring significance in Trøndelag, Norway, from March 20 to 29, 2025.
Operation Rype's primary objective was to destroy segments of the Nordland Railway to disrupt German troop movements and hinder reinforcements from arriving on the European mainland.
S.O.E. Expeditions, a private adventure expedition company, guided the Special Forces Operators along the same routes used to sabotage railroad tracks and bridges by OSS NORSO.
The 10th SFG(A) Green Berets are part of a U.S. Special Forces team conducting High North training operations in Norway. High North Special Forces teams are specialized military units focused on combat within polar and sub-polar regions. The team has partnered with the Norwegian Home Guard and the Norwegian Armed Forces’ special forces unit, Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK).
“Working with and through a European partner is truly what we do and what we have been doing,” said the 10th SFG(A) High North detachment commander. “That is how we operate in harsh environments where the next hospital might be four hours away, the next airport five hours away, and the next ferry seven hours away…Nothing happens without the partner, so a good and fruitful alliance with the locals and local authorities is crucial.”
The miles-long expedition presented more opportunities for the Green Berets to ski and practice cold-weather survival skills, such as building shelters with local materials, making fires, and boiling snow for water, which NORSO operatives likewise did.
“The climate and the geographic conditions [of Norway] require a lot of training…mobility training, survival training,” said a 10th SFG(A) Special Forces warrant officer. “Training is based on reducing the environmental impact on us so we can conduct operations in inhospitable climates that people normally can’t survive in.”
Norway’s unforgiving environment posed significant challenges during Operation Rype. Operatives endured freezing temperatures, fluctuating weather conditions, and grueling physical exertion; each saboteur carried a 60-pound rucksack of explosives, ammunition, and gear, often accompanied by sleds carrying even more equipment. The mix of snow, rain, and rugged terrain tested their survival skills.
The terrain and weather were no different for the Green Berets on their expedition.
“It’s special as members of a Norway-aligned [Special Forces] detachment to look back on our [lineage]—which extends to NORSO—and draw parallels between what we are currently doing, what we could be asked to do, and what was done 80 years ago,” said the detachment commander. “Partnerships start with the individual, whether during World War II with Americans and Norwegians training small unit tactics side by side or today, working together doing the same stuff just with modern technology. It starts there, which can translate into strategic-level success.”
Operation Rype underscores the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and cultural understanding in special operations. In 1949, the U.S. and Norway were among the 12 original countries that signed the North Atlantic Treaty establishing NATO to safeguard the freedom and security of its members. Rype laid the foundation for a durable partnership between the U.S. and Norway, grounded in shared values and mutual respect, and continues to influence military cooperation today. With modern challenges like Arctic security and new forms of conflict, this legacy remains as relevant today as it was during World War II.
| Date Taken: | 03.29.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.05.2025 15:26 |
| Story ID: | 497009 |
| Location: | NORD-TRøNDELAG, NO |
| Hometown: | STUTTGART, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, DE |
| Web Views: | 58 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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