Henry Gundersen
Encyclopedia
Henry Gundersen was a Norwegian resistance
member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
.
He was born in Glemmen
, and lived in Oslo
. He was educated at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
, and worked at the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority, then known as Norges Geografiske Oppmåling. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
, he became involved in Milorg
, and was involved in several sabotage missions. His last mission was Aksjon smør, in which Milorg men stole foodstuffs from two warehouses, one in the street Tollbugata belonging to German forces, and one in the street Skippergata belonging to Arbeidstjenesten. The foodstuffs were distributed to Milorg men who hid in the forests surrounding Oslo.
He was arrested by Gestapo
on 13 February 1945, during a crackdown which began when two Gestapo officers intercepted a resistance meeting in Storm Weinholdt
's home. Storm Weinholdt and Frank Olsen
were arrested, and Adolf Bogstad
was killed. Gundersen was sentenced to death on 15 March in an SS
court-martial; prosecutor was Siegfried Fehmer. He and several others were executed by gunshot at Akershus Fortress
on 17 March. 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, Arvid Hansen
, Ingolf Nordstrøm, Kåre Olafsen
, Frank Olsen, 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 Glemmen
Glemmen
Glemmen is a parish and former municipality with the city of Fredrikstad, Østfold county, Norway.-History:The parish of Glemminge was established as a municipality 1 January 1838 . A part of Glemmen with 2,013 inhabitants was moved to Fredrikstad 1 January 1867...
, 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...
. He was educated at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
The Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry was established in 1818.In 1996 the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts .-Noted alumni:-External links:*...
, and worked at the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority, then known as Norges Geografiske Oppmåling. 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 was involved in several sabotage missions. His last mission was Aksjon smør, in which Milorg men stole foodstuffs from two warehouses, one in the street Tollbugata belonging to German forces, and one in the street Skippergata belonging to Arbeidstjenesten. The foodstuffs were distributed to Milorg men who hid in the forests surrounding Oslo.
He was arrested by 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...
on 13 February 1945, during a crackdown which began when two Gestapo officers intercepted a resistance meeting in Storm Weinholdt
Storm Weinholdt
Storm Willads Weinholdt was a Norwegian resistance member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
's home. Storm Weinholdt and Frank Olsen
Frank Olsen (resistance member)
Frank Olsen was a Norwegian resistance member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
were arrested, and Adolf Bogstad
Adolf Bogstad
Adolf Bogstad was a Norwegian resistance member who was killed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
was killed. Gundersen 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 and several others were 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. 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, 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....
, Frank Olsen, 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...
.