Per Jacobsen
Encyclopedia
Per Jacobsen was a Norwegian figure skater
(national champion
in 1931 and 1932), and a resistance
member who was killed during World War II
.
as the son of Sigval Jacobsen (1867-1928) and Agathe, née Backer Røed (1876-1925). His father hailed from Kristiania and his mother from Holmestrand
. Jacobsen studied economics and auditing. He was Norwegian champion in figure skating in 1931, and again in 1932.
, he fought for Norway in battles in the Oppland
district. During the subsequent occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
, he became involved in the Norwegian resistance movement
. Among others, he was a member during the brief existence of the group Skylark A, established by the Secret Intelligence Service
in September 1940. He travelled from Oslo to Knut Haukelid
's mountain cabin at Langesæ, where he informed Haukelid that Sverre Midtskau
had returned from England, and asked him to join the group in Oslo. He played a central role when Max Manus
escaped from custody at Ullevål Hospital
in February 1941, by smuggling in the fishline which was used to pull up the rope used for descending, and organize car transport for the escape. After the Skylark A group was unveiled by the Nazi authorities, Jacobsen started working with underground newspapers, but was soon arrested. He spent time in prison at Åkebergveien from 18 March to 1 April 1941, for "having opposed a German decree". He was arrested for the second time on 18 June and incarcerated in Møllergata 19
. He then sat at Grini concentration camp from 7 August 1942 to 29 July 1943. While incarcerated at Grini, Jacobsen took part in the prisoners' self-administration, and had a central position at the so-called Kammeret, which was under German supervision, but the labour was done by prisoners. He was shipped to Germany on 29 July 1943, and sent directly to the Nacht und Nebel
camp Natzweiler
in occupied France, where he died in June 1944.
In his memoir book Det demrer en dag, Knut Haukelid described Jacobsen as the most indefatigable idealist he met during the early war years. In his post-war book Det vil helst gå godt, Max Manus described Jacobsen as a grand companion, an ardent idealist, one of the silent heroes that undertook the biggest efforts.
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
(national champion
Norwegian Figure Skating Championships
The Norwegian Figure Skating Championships are the figure skating national championships held annually to crown the national champions of Norway. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing, across different levels. Not every event has been...
in 1931 and 1932), and a resistance
Resistance movement
A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to opposing an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign state. It may seek to achieve its objects through either the use of nonviolent resistance or the use of armed force...
member who was killed 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...
.
Early and personal life
Jacobsen was born in KristianiaOslo
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...
as the son of Sigval Jacobsen (1867-1928) and Agathe, née Backer Røed (1876-1925). His father hailed from Kristiania and his mother from Holmestrand
Holmestrand
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Holmestrad. The city was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . The neighboring rural municipality of Botne was merged into the municipality of Holmestrand on 1 January...
. Jacobsen studied economics and auditing. He was Norwegian champion in figure skating in 1931, and again in 1932.
World War II
During the Norwegian CampaignNorwegian 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...
, he fought for Norway in battles in the Oppland
Oppland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The county administration is in Lillehammer. Oppland is, together with Hedmark, one of the only two landlocked counties of Norway....
district. During the subsequent 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 the Norwegian resistance movement
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:...
. Among others, he was a member during the brief existence of the group Skylark A, established by 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 September 1940. He travelled from Oslo to Knut Haukelid
Knut Haukelid
Knut Haukelid was a Norwegian resistance movement soldier during World War II, most notable for participating in the Norwegian heavy water sabotage...
's mountain cabin at Langesæ, where he informed Haukelid that Sverre Midtskau
Sverre Midtskau
Sverre Midtskau was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II. He is best known as leader of the illegal radio post Skylark A.-World War II:...
had returned from England, and asked him to join the group in Oslo. He played a central role when Max Manus
Max Manus
Maximo Guillermo "Max" Manus DSO, MC & Bar was a Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II.Manus was born in Bergen to a Norwegian father and a Danish mother...
escaped from custody at Ullevål Hospital
Ullevål University Hospital
Ullevaal, Oslo University Hospital was opened in 1887. From January 1, 2009, the hospital is part of the Oslo University Hospital.Ullevål has more than 8,600 employees. 940 of them are doctors and 2,400 nurses. With a total of 1,200 beds Ullevål, admits some 45,000 patients per year and its...
in February 1941, by smuggling in the fishline which was used to pull up the rope used for descending, and organize car transport for the escape. After the Skylark A group was unveiled by the Nazi authorities, Jacobsen started working with underground newspapers, but was soon arrested. He spent time in prison at Åkebergveien from 18 March to 1 April 1941, for "having opposed a German decree". He was arrested for the second time on 18 June and incarcerated in Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
. He then sat at Grini concentration camp from 7 August 1942 to 29 July 1943. While incarcerated at Grini, Jacobsen took part in the prisoners' self-administration, and had a central position at the so-called Kammeret, which was under German supervision, but the labour was done by prisoners. He was shipped to Germany on 29 July 1943, and sent directly to the Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel was a directive of Adolf Hitler on 7 December 1941 signed and implemented by Armed Forces High Command Chief Wilhelm Keitel, resulting in the kidnapping and forced disappearance of many political activists and resistance 'helpers' throughout Nazi Germany's occupied...
camp Natzweiler
Natzweiler-Struthof
Natzweiler-Struthof was a German concentration camp located in the Vosges Mountains close to the Alsatian village of Natzwiller in France, and the town of Schirmeck, about 50 km south west from the city of Strasbourg....
in occupied France, where he died in June 1944.
In his memoir book Det demrer en dag, Knut Haukelid described Jacobsen as the most indefatigable idealist he met during the early war years. In his post-war book Det vil helst gå godt, Max Manus described Jacobsen as a grand companion, an ardent idealist, one of the silent heroes that undertook the biggest efforts.
Results
| Event | 1931 | 1932 |
|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Championships Norwegian Figure Skating Championships The Norwegian Figure Skating Championships are the figure skating national championships held annually to crown the national champions of Norway. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing, across different levels. Not every event has been... |
1st | 1st |