Jan Dahm
Encyclopedia
Jan Dahm was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II
. He was among the first group of people to be subject to court-martial during the German occupation of Norway, and later initiated and headed the Secret Intelligence Service
group Theta
, which operated in Bergen
from December 1941 to June 1942.
in April 1940 Jahn Dahm was a nineteen year old engineering student at Bergens Tekniske Skole. He had been an eager radio amateur
and a member of Bergen Radio Relé Liga for years, and at home he also had a workshop for building radios. On 25 June 1940, while he had an examination at the school, he was fetched and brought to the Gestapo office in Bergen, where he was confronted with equipment taken from his home, and told he would be charged for espionage. On 28 June he was transported by bus from Bergen to Oslo together with ten other arrestees, and taken to Møllergaten 19. The German court-martial started in Oslo on 22 August 1940. The court in Oslo consisted of 3rd Senate of Deutsches Reichskriegsgericht in Berlin, and the prosecutor had proposed death sentence to the six defendants, according to paragraphs 2 (espionage) and 89 (treason) of the German penal code. On 28 August three of the six defendants were sentenced to death, while Jan Dahm and another defendant were set free, as the charges could not be proved. This was the first court-martial in Norway after the German occupation, and the first death sentences in Norway since 1876. The convicted were travelling agent Konrad Rendedal, colonel Gabriel Lund and doctor Odd Solem, while policeman Erling Staff was sentenced to five years in prison. The death sentences were later changed to five years imprisonment . Jan Dahm could go back home, but had to report to Gestapo every second week.
, and district leader of the Bergen department of Milorg
, Mons Haukeland
. Along with some friends he also started to prepare a secret room in a building at Bryggen
, which could be used as a working room and cover. As the group had expertise on radio transmission, the next step was to establish contact with allied forces. Group member Bjarne Thorsen
travelled by boat to Lerwick
, and managed to establish contact with the Secret Intelligence Service
in London. Thorsen returned to Bergen bringing a radio transmitter, secret codes and schedules. The station was called Theta
, and started its operation in December 1941. Among the notable messages transmitted by Theta, was a report on the battleship Admiral von Tirpitz
. The Theta group operated until June 1942, when group member Kristian Ottosen
was arrested. Following this arrest, Dahm fled to Sweden via Bodø, Fauske and Junkerdalen, together with Theta member Wenche Stenersen.
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 was among the first group of people to be subject to court-martial during the German occupation of Norway, and later initiated and headed 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...
group Theta
Theta (SIS radio group)
"Theta" was a radio communications group that operated in Bergen, Norway during the German occupation of Norway, communicating with the British Secret Intelligence Service . The group was operative from December 1941 to June 1942.-Background:...
, which operated in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
from December 1941 to June 1942.
German court-martial
At the German attack on 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...
in April 1940 Jahn Dahm was a nineteen year old engineering student at Bergens Tekniske Skole. He had been an eager radio amateur
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
and a member of Bergen Radio Relé Liga for years, and at home he also had a workshop for building radios. On 25 June 1940, while he had an examination at the school, he was fetched and brought to the Gestapo office in Bergen, where he was confronted with equipment taken from his home, and told he would be charged for espionage. On 28 June he was transported by bus from Bergen to Oslo together with ten other arrestees, and taken to Møllergaten 19. The German court-martial started in Oslo on 22 August 1940. The court in Oslo consisted of 3rd Senate of Deutsches Reichskriegsgericht in Berlin, and the prosecutor had proposed death sentence to the six defendants, according to paragraphs 2 (espionage) and 89 (treason) of the German penal code. On 28 August three of the six defendants were sentenced to death, while Jan Dahm and another defendant were set free, as the charges could not be proved. This was the first court-martial in Norway after the German occupation, and the first death sentences in Norway since 1876. The convicted were travelling agent Konrad Rendedal, colonel Gabriel Lund and doctor Odd Solem, while policeman Erling Staff was sentenced to five years in prison. The death sentences were later changed to five years imprisonment . Jan Dahm could go back home, but had to report to Gestapo every second week.
SIS radio station Theta
Dahm continued his studies at Bergens Tekniske Skole, but placed under Gestapo supervision. He noticed that he was often observed by unknown persons, but eventually learned how to escape his shadows. He got contacts among undercover resistance members, such as physicist and radio expert Helmer DahlHelmer Dahl
Helmer Hartmann Dahl was a Norwegian engineer.He graduated as an engineer from the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1931, and was hired at the Chr. Michelsen Institute in 1935. From 1942 to 1945 he was in exile in the United Kingdom...
, and district leader of the Bergen department of Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
, Mons Haukeland
Mons Haukeland
Mons Olai Haukeland was a Norwegian gymnastics teacher and military officer, and district leader of Milorg during World War II until his arrest in 1943. He was imprisoned at Grini concentration camp from 8 to 9 December 1943, then at Sachsenhausen until the camp was liberated...
. Along with some friends he also started to prepare a secret room in a building at Bryggen
Bryggen
Bryggen , also known as Tyskebryggen is a series of Hanseatic commercial buildings lining the eastern side of the fjord coming into Bergen, Norway. Bryggen has since 1979 been on the UNESCO list for World Cultural Heritage sites. The name has the same origin as the Flemish city of Brugge.The city...
, which could be used as a working room and cover. As the group had expertise on radio transmission, the next step was to establish contact with allied forces. Group member Bjarne Thorsen
Bjarne Thorsen
Bjarne Winter Thorsen was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II and later a naval officer.-World War II:...
travelled by boat to Lerwick
Lerwick
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland...
, and managed to establish contact with 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...
in London. Thorsen returned to Bergen bringing a radio transmitter, secret codes and schedules. The station was called Theta
Theta (SIS radio group)
"Theta" was a radio communications group that operated in Bergen, Norway during the German occupation of Norway, communicating with the British Secret Intelligence Service . The group was operative from December 1941 to June 1942.-Background:...
, and started its operation in December 1941. Among the notable messages transmitted by Theta, was a report on the battleship Admiral von Tirpitz
German battleship Tirpitz
Tirpitz was the second of two s built for the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. Named after Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, the architect of the Imperial Navy, the ship was laid down at the Kriegsmarinewerft in Wilhelmshaven in November 1936 and launched two and a half years later in April...
. The Theta group operated until June 1942, when group member Kristian Ottosen
Kristian Ottosen
Kristian Ottosen was a Norwegian non-fiction writer and public servant.While still a student, he was also active in the Norwegian resistance movement during World War II and was imprisoned as a Nacht und Nebel inmate...
was arrested. Following this arrest, Dahm fled to Sweden via Bodø, Fauske and Junkerdalen, together with Theta member Wenche Stenersen.