Description
Object description
Norwegian civilian in Norway, 1940-1941; escaped from Norway to GB, 1941; trained at Special Training School 26 (STS 26), Special Operations Executive at Aviemore, GB, 1941-1942; served with Special Operations Executive in GB and Norway, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Norway, 1920-1940: lack of family military service; education. Aspects of period as student in Oslo, 4/1940: reaction to German invasion; father's stopping him from joining Norwegian forces; return to college in Oslo. Aspects of period as civilian during German Occupation of Norway and escape to GB, 1940-1941: attitude towards occupation of Norway by German forces; question of number of Norwegians who actively resisted German occupiers; reasons for decision not to go to Sweden; escape to GB in fishing vessel, 7/1941; nature of voyage from Norway to Shetland Islands, GB; other passengers on boat; assembling of group for voyage; journey from Bergen to Sognefjiord; journey from Lerwick to London, GB; interrogation at London Reception Centre, Royal Victoria Patriotic School, Wandsworth, London.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of training with Special Training School 26 (STS 26), Special Operations Executive at Aviemore, GB, 1941: background to being sent to school; pattern of training; silent killing methods; effect of instructor's stories; codes and secret ink; wireless training; explosives training; size of his course; parachute training at No 1 Parachute Training School, RAF at RAF Ringway; contrast in parachuting from aircraft and balloon jumps; training in setting up resistance networks; trained to attack hydro-electric plant.
REEL 3 Continues: question of only operating with consent of Norwegian Government-in-Exile; loss of course members in car crash. Aspects of period with Special Operations Executive in GB, 1942-1943: exercise to attack Forth Railway Bridge; explosive training; opinion of NCO instructors; exercise to attack Fort Augustus. Recollections of operations with Special Operations Executive in Norway, 1943-1944: parachuting into Norway, 11/1943; weapons and equipment carried; attack on factory plant near smelter; question of successful sabotage being more successful than bombing; orders to walk to Oslo; problem with false papers; role instructing MILORG in military skills; character of Milorg resistance volunteers.
REEL 4 Continues: accidental discharge of Bren Gun; Royal Air Force air-supply of equipment to Milorg Resistance; use of instructors kit; obtaining accommodation and rations; German plan to call-up Norwegians for labour service and his orders to disrupt scheme; blowing up registration machine in centre of Oslo; second mission to blow up second registration machine; attack on third registration machine; operation to destroy special locomotive in Oslo for repairs in which he broke arm; medical treatment; orders to attack Raufoss munitions plant; orders received by wireless; wireless operator who was detected; plan to destroy ball bearing factory in Oslo and method employed; need to evade his father and brother; success of operation.
REEL 5 Continues: difficulties encountered during attack on Shell Oil installation late 1944; success of operations; ignition qualities of petrol; character of incendiary bombs used during operation; German authorities reaction to attack; escaping from operation; vehicles used; behaviour of German Army guard at Shell Oil installation; own role in placing charges; increase in activity of Norwegian pro-Nazi National Gathering organisation; orders not to attack Norwegian National Gathering street patrols; reasons why the liquidation of traitors not discussed; incident when he was shot by three man patrol during gun battle in courtyard, 6/3/1945; weapons carried at time of shooting; fate of three man patrol; escape from scene.
REEL 6 Continues: ordering car driver to take him to Midstuen Sanatorium in Oslo; drive to home of friend; medical treatment received from brother in law who was a doctor; move to hiding place; plans to move him to Sweden; reasons for discovery of his hiding place; escape from house into forest under German fire; aid received from schoolboy; effect of hearing sound of his own breathing; discovery by Milorg patrol; crossing into Sweden and meeting by British representatives of Special Operations Executive; hospitalisation in Sweden and character of wounds; other patients in hospital; return to Norway and further medical treatment.
REEL 7 Continues: amusing encounter with Swedish neuro-surgeon; operation carried out by his group against German Air Force aircraft and aero engines, 7/1943; reasons for attack on Park Veien 8; difficulties of attacking Park Veien 8; execution of attack on Park Veien 8; attack on chemical plant at Lysaker which made sulphuric acid for use in submarine batteries; reasons for synchonising attack with similar one; wrecking of locomotive serving sulphur mines at Skabu; attacks on transformers producing electrical supply to ammunition factory in Raufoss; technique for wrecking high tension pylons; attack on Norse Vacuum Oil Company depot.
REEL 8 Continues: method of diverting fire service away from fire at Norse Vacuum Oil Company depot; escape after attack on Norse Vacuum Oil Company depot; reasons for plans to blow railway lines, 3/1945; reasons for German forces' discipline; attacks on bridges between Oslo and Trondheim; use of limpet mines against German merchant shipping; return to Oslo, 5/1945; role searching for Gestapo personnel in Oslo, 5/1945; discovery of head of Gestapo in Norway; pro-Nazi elements amongst Norwegian population; inactive nature of civilian population; behaviour of Norwegians who served with German forces on Eastern Front; relations between Norwegians and British forces; reasons for not wanting to stay in army after Second World War; chance meeting with sister in late 1944.
REEL 9 Continues: attitude to shooting of collaborators; wartime German authorities reprisals against civilian population; attitude towards Nazi collaborators; sources of Nazi collaborators in pre-war Norway; Communist resistance in Norway; problems caused by occupation; return to civilian life; lack of contact with Linge Club until retirement .
