Arne Laudal
Encyclopedia
Arne Laudal was a Norwegian military officer, Milorg
pioneer and resistance fighter during World War II
. He was arrested by the Germans, sentenced to death and executed.
, Vest-Agder
, Arne Laudal was the son of Bent Løvdal and his wife Ragnhild. He finished his secondary education
at Kristiansand Cathedral School in 1916, and attended the Norwegian Military Academy
, graduating in 1918. He married teacher Helga Stray in 1925. In 1930 he received the rank of captain, and headed a school for non-commissioned officers for nine years. He was appointed chief of staff with colonel Otto Ruge
in 1939. He was given the rank of Major in January 1940.
Laudal was chief of staff under colonel Otto Ruge
. He was involved in the battle of Midtskogen
, and was later in command of military forces in Østerdalen
, Valdres
and Northern Norway. He was among the pioneer leaders of the undercover military organization Milorg
, building up the Southern Norway district (labeled D 18, covering the Agder
counties). He was arrested by the Germans in December 1942, tortured in Kristiansand, transferred to the Grini concentration camp, sentenced to death and shot at Trandumskogen
in May 1944.
The crackdown of the Milorg district in Southern Norway by Gestapo in December 1942 led to the death of more than fifty men. Semb-Johansson estimates that 324 persons were arrested. Six of these were executed, including Laudal, while seventy died during imprisonment or shortly after the war.
He was posthumously awarded the British King's Commendation for Brave Conduct. A bust of Laudal was unveiled in Kristiansand in 1969.
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
pioneer and resistance fighter during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was arrested by the Germans, sentenced to death and executed.
Early life and career
Born in HolumHolum
Holum is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the northern part of the present-day municipality of Mandal.-Name:...
, Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
, Arne Laudal was the son of Bent Løvdal and his wife Ragnhild. He finished his secondary education
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
at Kristiansand Cathedral School in 1916, and attended the Norwegian Military Academy
Norwegian Military Academy
The Norwegian Army Academy was established in 1750. It is the oldest university-level educational institution in Norway, and one of the oldest active military academies in the world. Krigsskolen primarily educates officers for the Norwegian Army. There are separate academies for the Royal...
, graduating in 1918. He married teacher Helga Stray in 1925. In 1930 he received the rank of captain, and headed a school for non-commissioned officers for nine years. He was appointed chief of staff with colonel Otto Ruge
Otto Ruge
Otto Ruge was a Norwegian general. He was Commander-in-chief of the Royal Norwegian Armed Forces after Nazi Germany's assault on Norway in April 1940.-Background:...
in 1939. He was given the rank of Major in January 1940.
World War II
During the Norwegian CampaignNorwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
Laudal was chief of staff under colonel Otto Ruge
Otto Ruge
Otto Ruge was a Norwegian general. He was Commander-in-chief of the Royal Norwegian Armed Forces after Nazi Germany's assault on Norway in April 1940.-Background:...
. He was involved in the battle of Midtskogen
Battle of Midtskogen
The Battle of Midtskogen was the battle fought on the night between 9 and 10 April 1940 during the Second World War between a German raiding party and an improvised Norwegian force. the site of the battle was Midtskogen farm, situated approximately west of the town Elverum at the mouth of the...
, and was later in command of military forces in Østerdalen
Østerdalen
Østerdalen is a valley and traditional district in Hedmark County, in Eastern Norway. It consisting of the municipalities Rendalen, Alvdal, Folldal,Tynset, Tolga and Os in the north, Elverum, Stor-Elvdal, Engerdal, Trysil and Åmot in the south.-Geography:...
, Valdres
Valdres
Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.Administratively, Valdres belongs to Oppland. It consists of the municipalities Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal. The main town in the region is...
and Northern Norway. He was among the pioneer leaders of the undercover military organization Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
, building up the Southern Norway district (labeled D 18, covering the Agder
Agder
Agder is a historical district of Norway in the southernmost region of Norway, corresponding to the two counties Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder. Today, the term Sørlandet is more commonly used.-Name:...
counties). He was arrested by the Germans in December 1942, tortured in Kristiansand, transferred to the Grini concentration camp, sentenced to death and shot at Trandumskogen
Trandumskogen
Trandumskogen is a forest located in Ullensaker, Akershus county, Norway. It was the site of one of the first discoveries in May 1945 of German mass graves in Norway. The German executioner Oskar Hans was the officer in command of the unit performing the executions.In total 173 Norwegians, 6...
in May 1944.
The crackdown of the Milorg district in Southern Norway by Gestapo in December 1942 led to the death of more than fifty men. Semb-Johansson estimates that 324 persons were arrested. Six of these were executed, including Laudal, while seventy died during imprisonment or shortly after the war.
He was posthumously awarded the British King's Commendation for Brave Conduct. A bust of Laudal was unveiled in Kristiansand in 1969.