Leif Utne
Encyclopedia
Leif Utne was a Norwegian resistance
member during World War II
and later a physician.
as the son of a physician. He finished secondary school in 1938, and enrolled in medicine studies at the University of Oslo
in the same year.
reached Norway on 9 April 1940, with the German invasion
, Utne volunteered and fought for Norway in the battles
of Southern Norway. After Norway capitulated, he was a co-founder of the resistance group "Theta
. The group was self-initiated in a circle of friends, but they lacked contacts, knowledge and materials to actually conduct intelligence work. Other members of the group running "Theta" were Bjarne Thorsen
, Kristian Ottosen
, Helmer Dahl
, Hagbarth Schjøtt, Jr.
and Jan Dahm
. Two members were sent to the United Kingdom: Leif Utne and Bjarne Thorsen. Utne travelled via Sweden
, while Thorsen crossed the Norwegian Sea
. Thorsen returned with the necessary equipment, and a radio post was finally set up in December 1941, with its headquarters at the famous seaside location Bryggen
.
By that time, however, Leif Utne had become stationed in Scotland as a part of the Royal Norwegian Navy
-in-exile. He operated out of Lerwick
in a motor torpedo boat
squadron, among others together with Hugo Munthe-Kaas
. Utne was decorated with the Norwegian War Medal
.
degree in 1950. From 1961 he was a specialist in skin diseases. He worked at Haukeland University Hospital
, in his own clinic as well as the St. Franciscus Hospital in Florida, Bergen. He trained students belonging to the University of Bergen
. He also continued working with the navy, and reached the rank of commander in 1976.
He chaired the local branch of the Norwegian Medical Society
from 1974 to 1975. He was also active in Doktorklubben av 1959, Nasjonalhjelpen and the sports club Bergens TF. He was married and had two daughters. He died in August 2004 at Haukeland University Hospital.
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...
and later a physician.
Early life
Utne was born in BergenBergen
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 , ....
as the son of a physician. He finished secondary school in 1938, and enrolled in medicine studies 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...
in the same year.
World War II
When World War IIWorld 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...
reached Norway on 9 April 1940, with the German invasion
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...
, Utne volunteered and fought for Norway in the battles
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
of Southern Norway. After Norway capitulated, he was a co-founder of the resistance 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:...
. The group was self-initiated in a circle of friends, but they lacked contacts, knowledge and materials to actually conduct intelligence work. Other members of the group running "Theta" were Bjarne Thorsen
Bjarne Thorsen
Bjarne Winter Thorsen was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II and later a naval officer.-World War II:...
, 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...
, Helmer Dahl
Helmer 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...
, Hagbarth Schjøtt, Jr.
Hagbarth Schjøtt, Jr.
Hagbarth Schjøtt, Jr. was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II and later businessperson.He was a son of businessperson Hagbarth Schjøtt, Sr. Before the Second World War he took a tailor's education. When the war reached Norway on 9 April 1940, with the German invasion, Utne...
and Jan Dahm
Jan Dahm
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...
. Two members were sent to the United Kingdom: Leif Utne and Bjarne Thorsen. Utne travelled via Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, while Thorsen crossed the Norwegian Sea
Norwegian Sea
The Norwegian Sea is a marginal sea in the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Norway. It is located between the North Sea and the Greenland Sea and adjoins the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Barents Sea to the northeast. In the southwest, it is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a...
. Thorsen returned with the necessary equipment, and a radio post was finally set up in December 1941, with its headquarters at the famous seaside location 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...
.
By that time, however, Leif Utne had become stationed in Scotland as a part of the Royal Norwegian Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
-in-exile. He operated out of 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...
in a motor torpedo boat
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
squadron, among others together with Hugo Munthe-Kaas
Hugo Munthe-Kaas
Hugo Conrad Munthe-Kaas is a Norwegian former Second World War intelligence agent and resistance fighter, and is the most decorated Norwegian from the Second World War. He was later also active in politics for the Progress Party, the same party of which he is currently an honorary member.-Early...
. Utne was decorated with the Norwegian War Medal
Norwegian War Medal
The War Medal is a Norwegian war decoration for service during Second World War.The Norwegian War Medal was instituted by King Haakon VII of Norway by Royal Decree on 23 May 1941 with the addition of the Royal Decree of 13 November 1942. It may be awarded to Norwegian and foreign members of the...
.
Later career
After the war, Utne resumed his medicine studies. He graduated with the cand.med.Cand.med.
Candidate of Medicine , Candidata Medicinae , abbreviated Cand. Med.) is an academic degree awarded in Denmark, Iceland and Norway following a six-year medical school education....
degree in 1950. From 1961 he was a specialist in skin diseases. He worked at Haukeland University Hospital
Haukeland University Hospital
Haukeland University Hospital is a hospital in Bergen, Norway, and one of the 11 institutions that form the Bergen Hospital Trust. The hospital is the largest in Norway in terms of number of patients, and serves as the local hospital of Bergen, Midthordland and Nordhordland, the central hospital of...
, in his own clinic as well as the St. Franciscus Hospital in Florida, Bergen. He trained students belonging to the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
. He also continued working with the navy, and reached the rank of commander in 1976.
He chaired the local branch of the Norwegian Medical Society
Norwegian Medical Society
The Norwegian Medical Society is a medical organisation in Norway.It has its roots in an informal group created in 1826, which subscribed to and shared foreign medical journals. In 1833 it was formally inaugurated as Lægeforeningen i Christiania, the physician's association in Christiania...
from 1974 to 1975. He was also active in Doktorklubben av 1959, Nasjonalhjelpen and the sports club Bergens TF. He was married and had two daughters. He died in August 2004 at Haukeland University Hospital.