Frank Olsen (resistance member)
Encyclopedia
Frank Olsen was a Norwegian resistance
member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
.
He was born in Vestby
, and lived in Oslo
. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
, he became involved in Milorg
, and carried out a series of sabotage missions. On 13 February 1945, Olsen was going to plan a sabotage action to take place on the sme evening, together with Adolf Bogstad
and Storm Weinholdt
, in the latter's home at Kampen
. Before either of these arrived, two Gestapo
officers, one German and one Norwegian, arrived in the Weinholdt family's home to check on Storm Weinholdt's brother Kjell. As Kjell was not home either, the Gestapo officers waited in the living room. Bogstad and Storm Weinholdt soon arrived, and while the Gestapo officers became suspicious of the rendez-vous, the men stated that they were planning an outdoors trip. They were searched, and knew that they had to leave before Frank Olsen showed up, as Olsen carried important documents which would compromise them. When Olsen did arrive, he was spotted by Storm Weinholdt's father through a window, but he was unable to contact Olsen. Olsen rang the doorbell, entered, and the Gestapo officers understood the situation. The three resistance members were held in the house for the time being, but after Adolf Bogstad tried to escape and was killed, Frank Olsen was arrested together with Storm Weinholdt, Weinholdt's father and his brother Kjell, who also had arrived. They were subject to torture at Møllergata 19
. Frank Olsen was sentenced to death on 15 March in an SS
court-martial; prosecutor was Siegfried Fehmer. He was executed by gunshot at Akershus Fortress
on 17 March. His body was lowered in the Oslofjord
. This was the second to last execution of Norwegians by Germans during the war; the last person was an SS-Jäger executed for desertion on 19 April.
Together with eight other resistance members—Adolf Bogstad, Erik Bruun, Henry Gundersen
, Arvid Hansen
, Ingolf Nordstrøm, Kåre Olafsen
, Kjell Ramberg and Storm Weinholdt—he is commemorated with a memorial stone at Sarabråten
in Østmarka
.
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 who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
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...
.
He was born in Vestby
Vestby
Vestby is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Follo traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vestby.-Name:...
, and lived 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...
. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
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...
, he became involved in Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
, and carried out a series of sabotage missions. On 13 February 1945, Olsen was going to plan a sabotage action to take place on the sme evening, together with Adolf Bogstad
Adolf Bogstad
Adolf Bogstad was a Norwegian resistance member who was killed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
and Storm Weinholdt
Storm Weinholdt
Storm Willads Weinholdt was a Norwegian resistance member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
, in the latter's home at Kampen
Kampen, Norway
Kampen is a neighborhood in Oslo, Norway. It is located Gamle Oslo borough, between Tøyen, Hasle, Vålerenga and Galgeberg.-History:The name may come from kamp, meaning outcrop, though it may also come from a military campment. During the 18th century, the home guard had military practices at Kampen...
. Before either of these arrived, two 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...
officers, one German and one Norwegian, arrived in the Weinholdt family's home to check on Storm Weinholdt's brother Kjell. As Kjell was not home either, the Gestapo officers waited in the living room. Bogstad and Storm Weinholdt soon arrived, and while the Gestapo officers became suspicious of the rendez-vous, the men stated that they were planning an outdoors trip. They were searched, and knew that they had to leave before Frank Olsen showed up, as Olsen carried important documents which would compromise them. When Olsen did arrive, he was spotted by Storm Weinholdt's father through a window, but he was unable to contact Olsen. Olsen rang the doorbell, entered, and the Gestapo officers understood the situation. The three resistance members were held in the house for the time being, but after Adolf Bogstad tried to escape and was killed, Frank Olsen was arrested together with Storm Weinholdt, Weinholdt's father and his brother Kjell, who also had arrived. They were subject to torture 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...
. Frank Olsen was sentenced to death on 15 March in an SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
court-martial; prosecutor was Siegfried Fehmer. He was executed by gunshot 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 :...
on 17 March. His body was lowered in the Oslofjord
Oslofjord
The Oslofjord is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the Torbjørnskjær and Færder lighthouses and down to Langesund in the south to Oslo in the north....
. This was the second to last execution of Norwegians by Germans during the war; the last person was an SS-Jäger executed for desertion on 19 April.
Together with eight other resistance members—Adolf Bogstad, Erik Bruun, Henry Gundersen
Henry Gundersen
Henry Gundersen was a Norwegian resistance member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
, Arvid Hansen
Arvid Hansen
Arvid Hansen was a Norwegian resistance member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
, Ingolf Nordstrøm, Kåre Olafsen
Kåre Olafsen
Kåre Adolf Olafsen was a Norwegian resistance member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
, Kjell Ramberg and Storm Weinholdt—he is commemorated with a memorial stone at Sarabråten
Sarabråten
Sarabråten is an area near the lake Nøklevann in Østmarka, Oslo, Norway.Now a recreational area, it was owned by Thomas Johannessen Heftye and his descendants from 1856 to 1911, and after that by Oslo municipality. It was first recorded under the name Jørgensrud in 1578, when owned by the Diocese...
in Østmarka
Østmarka
Østmarka is a forested area to the east of Oslo and part of the congregation of woodland areas known as Oslomarka. The area is situated within the municipalities Oslo, Lørenskog, Rælingen, Ski and Enebakk...
.