Dick Zeiner-Henriksen
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dick" Zeiner-Henriksen (born 1 August 1924) is a Norwegian businessperson and resistance
member during World War II
.
invaded
and occupied Norway
as a part of World War II. Young Zeiner-Henriksen became a member of the Norwegian Independent Company 1
. From 1943 to 1944 he cooperated with Max Manus
and Oslogjengen
, and from 1944 to 1945 he participated in the Special Operations Executive
operation GREBE in Dovrefjell
and Rondane.
Among others, he participated in the May 1944 sabotage of Arbeidstjenesten's offices. He obtained copy of the door key to the address Wergelandsveien 3 (via an imprint in plastilina
) together with Roy Nielsen
. Nielsen was in charge of the strike towards Wergelandsveien 3, but the mission was called off because there were people present at the office. Zeiner-Henriksen joined Max Manus, Edvard Tallaksen
and Gregers Gram
to strike the address Kirkeveien 90. Zeiner-Henriksen was placed outside the building, tasked with ringing the doorbell in case of peril. As the three main saboteurs had spent one and a half hour burning Arbeidstjenesten's documents, they heard the doorbell as well as shooting. Four people from Milorg
had been placed throughout the area to assist with firepower in case enemies showed up. Three of the four guards (Lars Eriksen, Jon Hatland and Per Stranger-Thorsen) were captured and executed, whereas the fourth guard Hans-Peter Styren survived. Tallaksen, Gram and Zeiner-Henriksen escaped on foot whereas Manus stole a bike from a passer-by. Only Zeiner-Henriksen, Manus and Styren survived World War II. It later became clear that troops showed up because the Nazi collaborator Hans Eng
stayed at the same address that day. The sabotage mission was portrayed in the 2008 film Max Manus
.
Zeiner-Henriksen, born in Leningrad, took his examen artium
in 1943. He was decorated with the Norwegian War Medal
, the Defence Medal 1940–1945 and the British King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom
.
. He graduated in 1948. After further studies in France and England he spent his professional life as a manager. He started his career in the family business in 1950, and went on to the Norwegian Engineering Export Organization in 1960. He was CFO in Kontorautomasjon from 1966 to 1970 and Singer Business Machines from 1970 to 1972 before being promoted to vice president. In 1975 he was hired as CFO in Norges Varemesse, where he worked to 1990. He was also active in Lingeklubben, an association for former Norwegian Independent Company 1 personnel. The association had 463 members in its heyday, but as many died from old age, it was decided to discontinue the organization in 2007, when the membership was 63. Zeiner-Henriksen lives in Oslo
.
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
member 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...
.
World War II
On 9 April 1940 Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
invaded
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
and occupied Norway
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
as a part of World War II. Young Zeiner-Henriksen became a member of the Norwegian Independent Company 1
Norwegian Independent Company 1
Norwegian Independent Company 1 was a British SOE group formed in March 1941 originally for the purpose of performing commando raids during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. It was organized under the leadership of Captain Martin Linge...
. From 1943 to 1944 he cooperated with Max Manus
Max Manus
Maximo Guillermo "Max" Manus DSO, MC & Bar was a Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II.Manus was born in Bergen to a Norwegian father and a Danish mother...
and Oslogjengen
Oslogjengen
Oslogjengen was a sabotage group operating in Oslo from May 1944 to May 1945, during the last year of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. The group had its basis in both the British Special Operations Executive and the Norwegian Milorg, was coordinated by Gunnar Sønsteby, and had around ten...
, and from 1944 to 1945 he participated in the Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
operation GREBE in Dovrefjell
Dovrefjell
Dovrefjell is a mountain range in central Norway that forms a natural barrier between Eastern Norway and Trøndelag, the area around Trondheim. As a result, it has been heavily trafficked during and probably preceding historical times...
and Rondane.
Among others, he participated in the May 1944 sabotage of Arbeidstjenesten's offices. He obtained copy of the door key to the address Wergelandsveien 3 (via an imprint in plastilina
Plastilina
Plastilina is a brand of non-hardening modeling clay sold by Spanish company JOVI and its subsidiaries. JOVI Modeling Clay, Plastilina, is mainly composed of vegetable matter, making it lighter and giving 33% more volume.-External links :*...
) together with Roy Nielsen
Roy Nielsen
Roy Nielsen was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II, a member of Milorg and involved in propaganda and sabotage. Among his sabotage operations was the destruction of 25 Messerschmitt fighter aircraft and 150 engines stored in a bus garage in Oslo, on 14 August 1944, together with Max...
. Nielsen was in charge of the strike towards Wergelandsveien 3, but the mission was called off because there were people present at the office. Zeiner-Henriksen joined Max Manus, Edvard Tallaksen
Edvard Tallaksen
Johan Edvard Tallaksen was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II, as an ensign in the Oslo Gang and Norwegian Independent Company 1.-Early life:...
and Gregers Gram
Gregers Gram
Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram MC MM was a Norwegian resistance fighter and saboteur. A corporal and later second lieutenant in the Norwegian Independent Company 1 during the Second World War, he was killed in 1944....
to strike the address Kirkeveien 90. Zeiner-Henriksen was placed outside the building, tasked with ringing the doorbell in case of peril. As the three main saboteurs had spent one and a half hour burning Arbeidstjenesten's documents, they heard the doorbell as well as shooting. Four people from Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
had been placed throughout the area to assist with firepower in case enemies showed up. Three of the four guards (Lars Eriksen, Jon Hatland and Per Stranger-Thorsen) were captured and executed, whereas the fourth guard Hans-Peter Styren survived. Tallaksen, Gram and Zeiner-Henriksen escaped on foot whereas Manus stole a bike from a passer-by. Only Zeiner-Henriksen, Manus and Styren survived World War II. It later became clear that troops showed up because the Nazi collaborator Hans Eng
Hans Eng
Hans Eng was a Norwegian physician and Nazi collaborator during World War II.-World War II:In 1940 he called for Norwegian soldiers in the Norwegian Campaign to lay down their weapons. He volunteered for front service in Germanic SS Norway, but was never at the front...
stayed at the same address that day. The sabotage mission was portrayed in the 2008 film Max Manus
Max Manus (film)
Max Manus is a Norwegian 2008 biographic war film based on the real events of the life of resistance fighter Max Manus . The story follows Manus from the Winter War against the Soviet Union, through the outbreak of World War II and the German occupation of Norway until peacetime in 1945...
.
Zeiner-Henriksen, born in Leningrad, took his examen artium
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...
in 1943. He was decorated with the Norwegian War Medal
Norwegian War Medal
The War Medal is a Norwegian war decoration for service during Second World War.The Norwegian War Medal was instituted by King Haakon VII of Norway by Royal Decree on 23 May 1941 with the addition of the Royal Decree of 13 November 1942. It may be awarded to Norwegian and foreign members of the...
, the Defence Medal 1940–1945 and the British King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom
King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom
The King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom is a British medal instituted on 23 August 1945 to reward those, mainly foreigners, who during the Second World War with the danger of life had contributed to helping British military personnel to escape the enemy and escape from occupied areas...
.
Post-war life
After the war he took his education in Business Administration at the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. He graduated in 1948. After further studies in France and England he spent his professional life as a manager. He started his career in the family business in 1950, and went on to the Norwegian Engineering Export Organization in 1960. He was CFO in Kontorautomasjon from 1966 to 1970 and Singer Business Machines from 1970 to 1972 before being promoted to vice president. In 1975 he was hired as CFO in Norges Varemesse, where he worked to 1990. He was also active in Lingeklubben, an association for former Norwegian Independent Company 1 personnel. The association had 463 members in its heyday, but as many died from old age, it was decided to discontinue the organization in 2007, when the membership was 63. Zeiner-Henriksen lives in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.