Nils Uhlin Hansen
Encyclopedia
Nils Uhlin Hansen was a Norwegian long jump
er and resistance
member during World War II
. He had a successful athletics career before the war; holding the Nordic
record in the event. He was killed less than four months before the end of the war, as he was surprised by Wehrmacht
forces following a sabotage mission.
as the son of Haakon Hansen and Swedish citizen Agnes Collin. Representing the sports club SK Freidig
, he had a successful career in the long jump
; only nineteen years old he won the Norwegian championships. Jumping 7.39 metres, he was 25 centimetres ahead of runner-up Kaare Strøm. In 1939, Hansen won a silver medal behind Kaare Strøm. On 11 September 1939, Hansen established a new Norwegian record. Jumping 7.54 metres at Bislett stadion
, he broke the two-year old record of Otto Berg
with two centimetres. This was also a Nordic
record.
His sporting career was cut short by World War II
. As Norway was invaded by Germany
in 1940, regular sports events and championships were discontinued. The 1940 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo
, Japan
were also cancelled.
in 1940. He had to flee the country, arriving in Sweden on 8 November 1941. He then escaped to England in 1942, where he became enrolled in the Norwegian Independent Company 1
, a part of the British Special Operations Executive
. He conducted several sabotage missions in Norway, including one against the rail road Røros Line in January 1945. Saboteurs were active in Central Norway in late 1944 and early 1945; with sabotages towards the Nordland Line, the Dovre Line and the Rauma Line in addition to the Røros Line. This was of high strategic importance, as German forces were retreating from Northern Norway, using the rail roads for troop transport. Although the war tide was going against Germany at the time, there were rumours that they would not leave Norway without an Allied
invasion, thus, pockets of Norwegian forces were prepared for warfare.
On 10 January 1945, German forces reacted, and began searching for militants under the codename Aktion Hengst. They had only vague knowledge on the whereabouts of Norwegian militants, but on 11 January they found a lone skier in Singsås
. They questioned him, and then released him, only to follow his tracks. The tracks led the German task force to a cabin at Forsetvollan in Budal
. Nils Uhlin Hansen stayed in the cabin at the time, and when shooting ensued, Hansen was killed. Two days after his death Norwegian saboteurs carried out the drastic Jørstad River bridge sabotage
.
, the Defence Medal 1940–1945 and then the Norwegian War Medal with Star
. A road in Trondheim has been named for him.
His national long jump record stood until 1959, when it was broken by Roar Berthelsen
with eleven centimetres.
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
er and resistance
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...
. He had a successful athletics career before the war; holding the Nordic
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
record in the event. He was killed less than four months before the end of the war, as he was surprised by Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
forces following a sabotage mission.
Pre-war life
He was born in TrondheimTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
as the son of Haakon Hansen and Swedish citizen Agnes Collin. Representing the sports club SK Freidig
SK Freidig
Sportsklubben Freidig is a Norwegian sports club from Trondheim.It was founded in 1903. It has sections for association football, team handball, orienteering and Nordic skiing. In football it won the League of Norway 1947–48, in handball the league in 1971 and 1985. The club has also won several...
, he had a successful career in the long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
; only nineteen years old he won the Norwegian championships. Jumping 7.39 metres, he was 25 centimetres ahead of runner-up Kaare Strøm. In 1939, Hansen won a silver medal behind Kaare Strøm. On 11 September 1939, Hansen established a new Norwegian record. Jumping 7.54 metres at Bislett stadion
Bislett stadion
Bislett Stadion is a sports stadium in Oslo, Norway. Bislett is Norway's most well known sports arena internationally, with 15 speed skating world records and more than 50 track and field world records having been set here...
, he broke the two-year old record of Otto Berg
Otto Berg (athlete)
Otto Berg was a Norwegian long jumper.At the 1936 Summer Olympics he finished tenth in the long jump final with a jump of 7.30 metres. He won the silver medal at the 1934 European Championships in Athletics...
with two centimetres. This was also a Nordic
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
record.
His sporting career was cut short by 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...
. As Norway was invaded by Germany
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...
in 1940, regular sports events and championships were discontinued. The 1940 Summer Olympics
1940 Summer Olympics
The anticipated 1940 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XII Olympiad and originally scheduled to be held from September 21 to October 6, 1940, in Tokyo, Japan, were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
were also cancelled.
Resistance work
Hansen joined the Norwegian resistance movementNorwegian 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:...
in 1940. He had to flee the country, arriving in Sweden on 8 November 1941. He then escaped to England in 1942, where he became enrolled 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...
, a part of the British 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...
. He conducted several sabotage missions in Norway, including one against the rail road Røros Line in January 1945. Saboteurs were active in Central Norway in late 1944 and early 1945; with sabotages towards the Nordland Line, the Dovre Line and the Rauma Line in addition to the Røros Line. This was of high strategic importance, as German forces were retreating from Northern Norway, using the rail roads for troop transport. Although the war tide was going against Germany at the time, there were rumours that they would not leave Norway without an Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
invasion, thus, pockets of Norwegian forces were prepared for warfare.
On 10 January 1945, German forces reacted, and began searching for militants under the codename Aktion Hengst. They had only vague knowledge on the whereabouts of Norwegian militants, but on 11 January they found a lone skier in Singsås
Singsås
Singsås is a village and former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It encompassed the eastern part of the present-day municipality of Midtre Gauldal. The administrative center was the village of Singsås, where the Singsås Church is also located...
. They questioned him, and then released him, only to follow his tracks. The tracks led the German task force to a cabin at Forsetvollan in Budal
Budal
Budal is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It encompassed the Bua and Ena river valleys in the south-central part of the present-day municipality of Midtre Gauldal...
. Nils Uhlin Hansen stayed in the cabin at the time, and when shooting ensued, Hansen was killed. Two days after his death Norwegian saboteurs carried out the drastic Jørstad River bridge sabotage
Jørstad River bridge sabotage
The Jørstad River bridge sabotage was an operation carried out on 13 January 1945 by members of the Norwegian Independent Company 1 during World War II. The operation bore the code-name "Woodlark". The aim was to blow up a railway bridge in order to disrupt the railway Nordland Line in Snåsa, Norway...
.
Awards and legacy
Uhlin Hansen was awarded the Norwegian War MedalNorwegian 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...
, the Defence Medal 1940–1945 and then the Norwegian War Medal with Star
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...
. A road in Trondheim has been named for him.
His national long jump record stood until 1959, when it was broken by Roar Berthelsen
Roar Berthelsen
Roar Berthelsen was a Norwegian long jumper. He represented Mandal og Halse IL and IK Tjalve.At the 1954 European Championships he finished eleventh in the long jump final with a jump of 7.16 metres. He also competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics without qualifying for the final. He became...
with eleven centimetres.