Who were the shadowy figures and unsung heroes that lay behind the extraordinary story of the Norwegian resistance during World War II? What were the extreme conditions they worked under? And how did they contribute to major allied intelligence-gathering operations, including helping to stall German efforts in producing atomic bombs?

In this episode we speak to Dr Tony Insall, Senior Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of War Studies and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, on his recent book ‘Secret Alliances: Special Operations and Intelligence in Norway 1940-1945’. Credited with shining a new light on the story of the Norwegian resistance movement, British intelligence and special operations in war-time Norway, it draws on hitherto unpublished materials buried deep in Norwegian and British intelligence archives.

He discusses the uniquely close Anglo-Norwegian political relationship and cooperation that gave rise to the successful resistance movement, the desolate conditions agents based in Norway operated under, the role of code breakers and the story behind one of the world’s most famous Christmas trees – a festive gift from Oslo to London which is displayed in Trafalgar Square every year.