Egil Reksten
Encyclopedia
Egil Reksten was a Norwegian engineer and resistance
member during World War II
. He is best known as leader of the illegal radio post Skylark B
.
. He attended the Norwegian Institute of Technology
, and graduated in chemistry
in 1941. His professor was Leif Tronstad
, a well-known resistance member during the German occupation of Norway since April 1940
. In September 1940 the Secret Intelligence Service
established two stations for radio communication; the so-called Skylark A in Oslo
led by Sverre Midtskau
and Skylark B
in Trondheim
led by Erik Welle-Strand
. Skylark B was operated by students at the Institute of Technology, and after technical difficulties in the initial phase, they established regular contact with the intelligence in London
in January 1941. Leif Tronstad was also affiliated with the group. When Welle-Strand left the country, Reksten took over as leader of Skylark B.
Among others, the group helped spread vital information about German
activity at Vemork
heavy water
plant. The link between heavy water and a German nuclear energy project
was established later. After less than a year, however, Gestapo
managed to track the Skylark B transmitting activity. Reksten was arrested by the Nazi authorities in September 1941. He was incarcerated at Møllergata 19
from 14 September 1941 to 10 March 1942, then at Akershus Fortress
, then at Grini concentration camp from 7 July to 29 July 1943. He was then shipped to Germany with eleven others. Seven of these people died, but after stays in six different Nacht und Nebel
camps, Reksten returned to Norway after the war's end. He was decorated for his efforts.
. He died in 2009.
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...
. He is best known as leader of the illegal radio post Skylark B
Skylark B
Skylark B was a radio communications group that operated in Trondheim during the German occupation of Norway. The group was established and led by Erik Welle-Strand, who was a student in Trondheim. Preparations were done in 1940, when a transmitter was brought in from the United Kingdom, and the...
.
World War II
Reksten hailed from OsloOslo
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...
. He attended the Norwegian Institute of Technology
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
, and graduated in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
in 1941. His professor was Leif Tronstad
Leif Tronstad
Leif Hans Larsen Tronstad DSO, OBE was a Norwegian scientist, intelligence officer and military organizer. He graduated from the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1927 and was a prolific researcher and writer of academic publications...
, a well-known resistance member during the German occupation of Norway since April 1940
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...
. In September 1940 the Secret Intelligence Service
Secret Intelligence Service
The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
established two stations for radio communication; the so-called Skylark A 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...
led by Sverre Midtskau
Sverre Midtskau
Sverre Midtskau was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II. He is best known as leader of the illegal radio post Skylark A.-World War II:...
and Skylark B
Skylark B
Skylark B was a radio communications group that operated in Trondheim during the German occupation of Norway. The group was established and led by Erik Welle-Strand, who was a student in Trondheim. Preparations were done in 1940, when a transmitter was brought in from the United Kingdom, and the...
in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
led by Erik Welle-Strand
Erik Welle-Strand
Erik A. L. Welle-Strand was a Norwegian mining engineer and resistance member during World War II. He is best known as leader of the illegal radio post Skylark B.-Early life:...
. Skylark B was operated by students at the Institute of Technology, and after technical difficulties in the initial phase, they established regular contact with the intelligence in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in January 1941. Leif Tronstad was also affiliated with the group. When Welle-Strand left the country, Reksten took over as leader of Skylark B.
Among others, the group helped spread vital information about German
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
activity at Vemork
Vemork
Vemork is the name of a hydroelectric power plant outside Rjukan in Tinn, Norway. The plant was built by Norsk Hydro and opened in 1911, its main purpose being to fix nitrogen for the production of fertilizer. Vemork was later the site of the first plant in the world to mass-produce heavy water...
heavy water
Heavy water
Heavy water is water highly enriched in the hydrogen isotope deuterium; e.g., heavy water used in CANDU reactors is 99.75% enriched by hydrogen atom-fraction...
plant. The link between heavy water and a German nuclear energy project
German nuclear energy project
The German nuclear energy project, , was an attempted clandestine scientific effort led by Germany to develop and produce the atomic weapons during the events involving the World War II...
was established later. After less than a year, however, Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
managed to track the Skylark B transmitting activity. Reksten was arrested by the Nazi authorities in September 1941. He was incarcerated at Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
from 14 September 1941 to 10 March 1942, then at Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
, then at Grini concentration camp from 7 July to 29 July 1943. He was then shipped to Germany with eleven others. Seven of these people died, but after stays in six different Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel was a directive of Adolf Hitler on 7 December 1941 signed and implemented by Armed Forces High Command Chief Wilhelm Keitel, resulting in the kidnapping and forced disappearance of many political activists and resistance 'helpers' throughout Nazi Germany's occupied...
camps, Reksten returned to Norway after the war's end. He was decorated for his efforts.
Post-war life
In 1947 Reksten started his own engineering company, Argo, together with Erik Welle-Strand and other friends. He spent the rest of his professional career there. He was married, and celebrated his diamond wedding in 2007. He resided in BekkestuaBekkestua
Bekkestua is a town in the municipality of Bærum, Norway, with a busy bus terminal and a station on one of Oslo's westbound T-bane lines, Kolsåsbanen. It also has its own library, McDonalds, police station and fire station...
. He died in 2009.