Operation Almenrausch
Encyclopedia
Operation Almenrausch was a counter-resistance
operation in occupied Norway
, planned and carried out by the Wehrmacht
and the Nazi-controlled Norwegian Statspolitiet on 13 June 1944. It was named after the Almenrausch
, an "Alp Rose" growing in continental Europe.
, where the banned Communist Party of Norway
had a secret encampment from which their part of the Norwegian resistance
was coordinated. The goal was to raid the main encampment in Skriulægeret in Nord-Aurdal
and other places where resistance members might be. About 800 personnel participated in the operation.
Leading communist figure Peder Furubotn
escaped, so did Ørnulf Egge
, Samuel Titlestad and Roald Halvorsen
. The Germans got their hand on a sizeable amount of secret documents. Eight communists were arrested; one of them was later executed.
Thirty other people were arrested during the operation, as the attacking forces hit non-communist resistance fighters as well. Notably, a skirmish occurred in the valley Tapptjerndalen on 14 June, where five Milorg
members were surprised and two of them killed.
had been brought to the camp for a conference with the central leaders. Two of the women (Eli Aanjesen and Bergljot Løiten) walked over to another cabin about 300 metres apart, in order to get some more food, and there they were surprised by German troops and captured. Einar Støreng, who had been out on a mission, was surprised by Germans troops on his way back and tried to run away, but was captured after gun fire. The gun fire alarmed the remaining group at Buahaugen and Rabalden, and they made a hasty breaking up. A small group of eleven people successfully escaped, including Furubotn, his wife Gina, his daughter Magda and her three months old baby Vigdis, and seven other men. Titlestad and Arne Taraldsen
were security people, armed with a revolver and machine gun. The group managed to escape through the forests, and the Communist Party later established new headquarters, first at Åstad in Vestre Slidre
, and later at Hoverud near Fagernes
. Among the other persons at the camp, Halvorsen managed to escape and continued his resistance work, first in Oslo and later in Sweden. Olaug Karlsen, Titlestad's girlfriend and later wife, was captured by the Germans and incarcerated at Grini concentration camp. Her sister Leikny was shot and wounded by the Germans, and brought to a local hospital, from where she later escaped. Asle Grepp, son of Kyrre
and Rachel Grepp
, was brought to Akershus Fortress
and executed on 10 February 1945.
, Operation Almenrausch was made into a play by Tore Vagn Lid
. It premièred at Agder Teater
in October 2008. The play Operasjon Almenrausch received the Hedda Award
for 2009, category "Event of the year" (in ) .
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:...
operation in occupied Norway
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...
, planned and carried out by the 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:...
and the Nazi-controlled Norwegian Statspolitiet on 13 June 1944. It was named after the Almenrausch
Rhododendron hirsutum
Hairy Alpenrose or Rhododendron hirsutum is one of the species of rhododendron native to the mountains of Europe. It occurs in the eastern and central Alps, in the Tatra and the Balkans. It grows on carbonate-rich soils....
, an "Alp Rose" growing in continental Europe.
The operation
The site of the operation was ValdresValdres
Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.Administratively, Valdres belongs to Oppland. It consists of the municipalities Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal. The main town in the region is...
, where the banned Communist Party of Norway
Communist Party of Norway
The Communist Party of Norway is a political party in Norway without parliamentary representation. It was formed in 1923, following a split in the Norwegian Labour Party. The party played an important role in the resistance to German occupation during the Second World War, and experienced a brief...
had a secret encampment from which their part of the Norwegian 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:...
was coordinated. The goal was to raid the main encampment in Skriulægeret in Nord-Aurdal
Nord-Aurdal
Nord-Aurdal is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Fagernes....
and other places where resistance members might be. About 800 personnel participated in the operation.
Leading communist figure Peder Furubotn
Peder Furubotn
Peder Furubotn was a Norwegian cabinetmaker, politician for the Communist Party and resistance member during World War II.-Early and personal life:...
escaped, so did Ørnulf Egge
Ørnulf Egge
Ørnulf Egge was a Norwegian politician for the Workers' Youth League and Communist Party and resistance member during World War II.-Early political career:He was born in Kristiania, and was a son of writer Peter Egge....
, Samuel Titlestad and Roald Halvorsen
Roald Halvorsen
Roald Halvorsen was a Norwegian typographer, Communist Party politician and resistance member from World War II....
. The Germans got their hand on a sizeable amount of secret documents. Eight communists were arrested; one of them was later executed.
Thirty other people were arrested during the operation, as the attacking forces hit non-communist resistance fighters as well. Notably, a skirmish occurred in the valley Tapptjerndalen on 14 June, where five Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
members were surprised and two of them killed.
Attack, escape and captures
In June 1944 Furubotn and his men were on the move. They had left Skriulægeret, and were temporarily installed at Buahaugen and Rabalden in Øystre Slidre, around twenty persons altogether. On 13 June two visitors from OsloOslo
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...
had been brought to the camp for a conference with the central leaders. Two of the women (Eli Aanjesen and Bergljot Løiten) walked over to another cabin about 300 metres apart, in order to get some more food, and there they were surprised by German troops and captured. Einar Støreng, who had been out on a mission, was surprised by Germans troops on his way back and tried to run away, but was captured after gun fire. The gun fire alarmed the remaining group at Buahaugen and Rabalden, and they made a hasty breaking up. A small group of eleven people successfully escaped, including Furubotn, his wife Gina, his daughter Magda and her three months old baby Vigdis, and seven other men. Titlestad and Arne Taraldsen
Arne Taraldsen
Arne Taraldsen was a Norwegian artist and resistance member during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. He started his drawing career with underground publications during World War II.-Early and personal life:...
were security people, armed with a revolver and machine gun. The group managed to escape through the forests, and the Communist Party later established new headquarters, first at Åstad in Vestre Slidre
Vestre Slidre
Vestre Slidre is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Slidre...
, and later at Hoverud near Fagernes
Fagernes
is the largest settlement in the valley of Valdres, Norway, with a population of 1,801. Fagernes is the administrative centre of the municipality of Nord-Aurdal.See video from the Fagernes Town : *...
. Among the other persons at the camp, Halvorsen managed to escape and continued his resistance work, first in Oslo and later in Sweden. Olaug Karlsen, Titlestad's girlfriend and later wife, was captured by the Germans and incarcerated at Grini concentration camp. Her sister Leikny was shot and wounded by the Germans, and brought to a local hospital, from where she later escaped. Asle Grepp, son of Kyrre
Kyrre Grepp
Kyrre Grepp Norwegian politician, leader of the Norwegian Labour Party. Grepp became a Communist by the end of his life and was active in the Comintern.A street is named after Grepp in the Sagene borough of Oslo....
and Rachel Grepp
Rachel Grepp
Rachel Grepp, née Helland was a Norwegian journalist and politician for the Norwegian Labour Party.She was among the founders of Bergens Socialdemokratiske Ungdomslag in 1902. From 1923 to 1945 she was a journalist in Arbeiderbladet, a member of Oslo city council as well as international secretary...
, was brought to 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 :...
and executed on 10 February 1945.
Legacy
Based on Samuel Titlestad's autobiography and other sources, notably Meldungen aus NorwegenMeldungen aus Norwegen
Meldungen aus Norwegen is a series of reports on the situation in occupied Norway during World War II, by the Oslo department of the German Sicherheitspolizei and Sicherheitsdienst . The reports were edited by Georg Wolff and distributed to German military leaders in Norway and Germany...
, Operation Almenrausch was made into a play by Tore Vagn Lid
Tore Vagn Lid
Tore Vagn Lid is a Norwegian theatre director, playwright and musician, serving as artistic director of Transiteatret-Bergen. He was born in Bergen.He earned a PhD from the Institute for Applied Theatre Studies in Giessen, Germany...
. It premièred at Agder Teater
Agder Teater
Agder Teater is a Norwegian theatre based in Kristiansand. It was established in 1991, and has been the regional theatre for Agder since 1995....
in October 2008. The play Operasjon Almenrausch received the Hedda Award
Hedda Award
The Hedda Award is a Norwegian theatre award, first awarded in 1998. It is named after the character "Hedda" from Ibsen's play Hedda Gabler. Among the prize categories, which have varied over the years, are best theatre production, best direction, best stage performance, and occasionally an...
for 2009, category "Event of the year" (in ) .