Gregers Gram
Encyclopedia
Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram MC
MM
(15 December 1917 – 13 November 1944) 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.
in 1917 as the son of Harald Gram
, later known as stipendiary magistrate of Oslo
. He was named after his paternal grandfather Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram
, who served as Norwegian Prime Minister in Stockholm and County Governor of Hedmark.
Gram did not pass his examen artium
at the first try, but later enrolled at the University of Oslo
to study law.
on 9 April 1940, Gregers Gram became active in the resistance movement
. After serving as a soldier in the early battles following the German invasion, he soon became involved in propaganda activity and the illegal press, he had to flee from Norway in 1941. After arriving in Great Britain, he was recruited by the Special Operations Executive
and received military training with the Norwegian Independent Company 1
. He was paradropped
into Norway together with Max Manus
on 12 March 1943, and the two performed a successful sabotage mission (Operation Mardonius). Gram and Manus left Norway after Operation Mardonius, returning to the United Kingdom, where they stayed until October 1943. Gram was awarded the British Military Medal
as a result of his participation in the operation, the recommendation for the award describes how Manus became ill with pneumonia shortly after they arrived in Norway, meaning that Gram had to undertake much of the organisation on the ground, and also nursing Manus during his recovery. The most successful attack was on 28 April 1943 which resulted in the sinking of two ships, and damage to a third, despite the fact it was a very light night, and water conditions were such that the canoes generated a very visible phosphoresence in their wake. Gram was also decorated with Norway's War Cross with sword
in summer 1943, presented to him by King Haakon
at a ceremony at the training school STS 26 in Scotland, near Nethy Bridge
. In addition to Gram, Manus, and Rønneberg
and Poulsson from the Rjukan missions
, also received the War Cross with sword at this ceremony. Also present were Crown Prince Olav
, Minister of Defence Oscar Torp
, and Chief of Defence of Norway
General von Tangen Hansteen
.
In October 1943 Gram (along with Manus, Einar Juvén and C.F. Wiborg) returned to Norway to perform a second operation, known as Bundle, targeting German ships.
Other sabotage missions followed, coordinated within Oslogjengen
, Milorg
's sabotage group in Oslo led by Gunnar Sønsteby
. Parallel to his saboteur activity, Gram continued his involvement with propaganda, including the black propaganda
Operation Derby directed towards German soldiers. In particular he was involved in an attack organised by Sønsteby which destroyed German records about the Norwegian workforce, and his attack on an oil storage depot.
Gram was killed on 13 November 1944 in an ambuscade in a café at Grünerløkka
in Oslo. Together with fellow resistance member Edvard Tallaksen
, Gram was set up at a meeting with faux Nazi deserters
. Shooting ensued, and Gram was killed at the hands of Gestapo
. His father Harald Gram, who was also involved in the resistance movement, survived the war.
was already under way (this medal was not generally awarded posthumously at the time). The recommendation particularly mentions the successful sinking of a German patrol vessel in Oslo harbour in February 1944, and the daring, but unsuccessful, daylight attack on the troopship Monte Rosa. His Military Medal was presented to his father on 7 February 1945 by Sir Victor Mallet
, who was then head of the British Legation
in Stockholm.
To commemorate Gram a bust
was erected near Njårdhallen, in the Ullern
borough of Oslo, in 1994. The road Gregers Grams vei in Oslo has been named after him.
In 2008 he was portrayed in the Norwegian film Max Manus
by actor Nicolai Cleve Broch
.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
(15 December 1917 – 13 November 1944) was a Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
resistance fighter and saboteur
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
. A corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
and later second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in 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...
during the Second World War, he was killed in 1944.
Early life
Gregers Gram was born in Vestre AkerVestre Aker
Vestre Aker is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway.The previous municipality Aker was merged into the city of Oslo in 1948.The borough of Vestre Aker was organized as part of the 1 January 2004 reform. Previous boroughs...
in 1917 as the son of Harald Gram
Harald Gram
Harald Gram was a Norwegian jurist, politician and genealogist. He was secretary general for the Conservative Party of Norway for 22 years, deputy mayor of Aker, member of Parliament from 1928 to 1936, and stipendiary magistrate in Oslo from 1936 to 1957...
, later known as stipendiary magistrate of 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...
. He was named after his paternal grandfather Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram
Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram
Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram was a Norwegian jurist and politician, and international arbitrator. He was a Supreme Court Assessor, Norwegian Prime Minister in Stockholm from 1889 to 1891 and from 1893 to 1898 and County Governor from 1898 to 1915.-Personal life:Gram was born in Moss as the son...
, who served as Norwegian Prime Minister in Stockholm and County Governor of Hedmark.
Gram did not pass 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...
at the first try, but later enrolled at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
to study law.
Second World War
When German troops invaded NorwayOperation 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...
on 9 April 1940, Gregers Gram became active in the resistance movement
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:...
. After serving as a soldier in the early battles following the German invasion, he soon became involved in propaganda activity and the illegal press, he had to flee from Norway in 1941. After arriving in Great Britain, he was recruited by 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...
and received military training with 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...
. He was paradropped
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
into Norway together 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...
on 12 March 1943, and the two performed a successful sabotage mission (Operation Mardonius). Gram and Manus left Norway after Operation Mardonius, returning to the United Kingdom, where they stayed until October 1943. Gram was awarded the British Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
as a result of his participation in the operation, the recommendation for the award describes how Manus became ill with pneumonia shortly after they arrived in Norway, meaning that Gram had to undertake much of the organisation on the ground, and also nursing Manus during his recovery. The most successful attack was on 28 April 1943 which resulted in the sinking of two ships, and damage to a third, despite the fact it was a very light night, and water conditions were such that the canoes generated a very visible phosphoresence in their wake. Gram was also decorated with Norway's War Cross with sword
War Cross with sword
The War Cross with Sword is the highest ranking Norwegian gallantry decoration. It is awarded for extraordinary brave actions or extraordinary leadership during combat. A recipient deemed worthy of additional citations will receive up to an additional two swords on the medal ribbon in addition to...
in summer 1943, presented to him by King Haakon
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
at a ceremony at the training school STS 26 in Scotland, near Nethy Bridge
Nethy Bridge
Nethy Bridge is a small village in Strathspey in the Highland Council Area of Scotland. It is located in the historical parish of Abernethy and Kincardine...
. In addition to Gram, Manus, and Rønneberg
Joachim Rønneberg
Joachim Holmboe Rønneberg, DSO is a retired Norwegian officer and broadcaster. He is known for his resistance work during World War II and his post-war war information work.-Personal life:...
and Poulsson from the Rjukan missions
Norwegian heavy water sabotage
The Norwegian heavy water sabotage was a series of actions undertaken by Norwegian saboteurs during World War II to prevent the German nuclear energy project from acquiring heavy water , which could be used to produce nuclear weapons...
, also received the War Cross with sword at this ceremony. Also present were Crown Prince Olav
Olav V of Norway
Olav V was the king of Norway from 1957 until his death. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Olav was born in the United Kingdom as the son of King Haakon VII of Norway and Queen Maud of Norway...
, Minister of Defence Oscar Torp
Oscar Torp
was a Norwegian politician for the Norwegian Labour Party. He was party leader from 1923 to 1945, and mayor of Oslo in 1935 and 1936. In 1935 he became acting Minister of Defence in the government of Johan Nygaardsvold. He was also Minister of Social Affairs from 1936 to 1939, and then Minister of...
, and Chief of Defence of Norway
Chief of Defence of Norway
The Chief of Defence of Norway is the highest ranking officer of the Military of Norway, second only to the King of Norway. Even though he holds the same rank as the King of Norway, according to the Norwegian Constitution the King holds the highest command of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Home...
General von Tangen Hansteen
Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen
Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen was a Norwegian Army officer.From 1937 to 1941, Hansteen served as Norwegian Military attaché to Helsinki...
.
In October 1943 Gram (along with Manus, Einar Juvén and C.F. Wiborg) returned to Norway to perform a second operation, known as Bundle, targeting German ships.
Other sabotage missions followed, coordinated within 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...
, Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
's sabotage group in Oslo led by Gunnar Sønsteby
Gunnar Sønsteby
Gunnar Fridtjof Thurmann Sønsteby DSO was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement during the German occupation of Norway in World War II...
. Parallel to his saboteur activity, Gram continued his involvement with propaganda, including the black propaganda
Black propaganda
Black propaganda is false information and material that purports to be from a source on one side of a conflict, but is actually from the opposing side. It is typically used to vilify, embarrass or misrepresent the enemy...
Operation Derby directed towards German soldiers. In particular he was involved in an attack organised by Sønsteby which destroyed German records about the Norwegian workforce, and his attack on an oil storage depot.
Gram was killed on 13 November 1944 in an ambuscade in a café at Grünerløkka
Grünerløkka
Grünerløkka is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. Grünerløkka became part of the city of Oslo in 1858.Grünerløkka was named after Friedrich Grüner who bought a mill in the area from king Christian V of Denmark in 1672 . During the 19th century, Grünerløkka became a working class area...
in Oslo. Together with fellow resistance member 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:...
, Gram was set up at a meeting with faux Nazi deserters
Desertion
In military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
. Shooting ensued, and Gram was killed at the hands of 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...
. His father Harald Gram, who was also involved in the resistance movement, survived the war.
Legacy
At the time of his death, the process of recommending Gram for the British Military CrossMilitary Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
was already under way (this medal was not generally awarded posthumously at the time). The recommendation particularly mentions the successful sinking of a German patrol vessel in Oslo harbour in February 1944, and the daring, but unsuccessful, daylight attack on the troopship Monte Rosa. His Military Medal was presented to his father on 7 February 1945 by Sir Victor Mallet
Victor Mallet
Sir Victor Alexander Louis Mallet GCMG was a British diplomat and author.The son of Sir Bernard Mallet and Marie Adeane, and the godson of Queen Victoria, he was educated at Winchester College and Balliol College, Oxford. He married Christiana Jean Andreae in 1925; they had three sons and a...
, who was then head of the British Legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
in Stockholm.
To commemorate Gram a bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
was erected near Njårdhallen, in the Ullern
Ullern
Ullern is an affluent borough of the city of Oslo, Norway.- History :The borough has its name from an old farm, Norse Ullarin. The first element is the genitive case of the name of the Norse god Ullr. The last element is vin, meaning pasture or meadow. In Medieval times, the farm belonged to the...
borough of Oslo, in 1994. The road Gregers Grams vei in Oslo has been named after him.
In 2008 he was portrayed in the Norwegian 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...
by actor Nicolai Cleve Broch
Nicolai Cleve Broch
Nicolai Cleve Broch is a Norwegian actor of theatre and film. He rose to national fame playing one of the leading roles in the 2002 drama series Lekestue, which aired on NRK in 2002. He is also known for playing the protagonist in Buddy, a romantic comedy from 2003. Other major film credits...
.