Rolv Enge
Encyclopedia
Rolv Øistein Enge is a former Norwegian resistance
member and architect.
, he became involved in Milorg
. He formed a group called Barlindgjengen (the "Yew Gang"), originally consisting of men from Jar
in Bærum
. In May 1944 the gang was summoned for sabotage training under the leadership of Per Røed; the camp was in Bærumsmarka
. The gang became incorporated into District 13's sabotage squad Aks 13000
, where Enge came to serve as one of several team leaders. In the first sabotage mission where Enge participated, however, Per Røed was the team leader. The mission took place on 31 August 1944, and consisted of blowing up 3,000 litres of gasoline stored at Bygdøy
's primary school. This was the first ever mission of Aks 13000.
In addition to Røed and Enge, the participants were Kjell Werenskiold, Kjell Moursund and Kåre Thoresen. They brought 8 kilograms (17.6 lb) of plastic explosive
s, but three of the five were to serve as guards, scattered along the route the saboteurs took to Bygdøy School. Enge was the guard stationed closest to the gasoline tanks, whereas Røed and Thoresen placed the explosives. When they retreated, they had 25 minutes before detonation. It turned out that the intelligence was slightly wrong in that 3,000 litres were stored here; this had in fact been increased to 6,000.
Enge also participated in the failed mission against gasoline tanks at Vestheim School on 14 September 1944. No sabotage damage was dealt, and Aks 13000 nearly lost one saboteur—the first injury sustained during the squad's short history—but the injured saboteur, Reidar Smith, was treated by physician Per Giertsen
. Enge and Røed later returned, hurled six one-kilo loads of plastic over the fence at Vestheim School and managed to blow up seventeen tanks of gasoline.
In October 1944, Aks 13000 prepared for a mission towards a gasoline depot in Hakadal
. Explosives were airdropped, and Enge and Røed brought the gear to Jar. On 13 October, a team of saboteurs travelled by train from Oslo Østbanestasjon, divided in three groups. Enge travelled together with Torgils Oldgard; the second group was Røed and Werenskiold; the third group was Smith, Moursund and Ragnar Sune. The three groups left the train at Hakadal Station
, went into the forest and met there. The target depot was located at a side track north of Elnes Station
. Enge had to guard a team of seven timbermen who worked in the area, so he did not participate in the actual placing of the explosives. At 21:24, the sabotage team left the area, and between 21:25 and 22:30, all the designated targets, 86 tank railcars, exploded.
He was decorated with the Defence Medal 1940 – 1945
and the St. Olav's Medal with Two Oak Branches
.
in 1942 before joining the resistance movement, took higher education in the United States after the war. He did so on a scholarship from Leif Tronstad
's heritage fund. He took the bachelor of architecture degree at the University of Pennsylvania
and the master of architecture degree at the University of Southern California
. He was a member of the fraternities Tau Sigma Delta and Alpha Rho Chi
. After taking his education he worked at Pennsylvania State University
as assisting professor for some time, and also worked in various architect's offices in the US and Norway. In 1968 he was hired in the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency
, and he retired in 1988. From 1974 to 1976 he worked in Zambia
for Norconsult
.
He has resided at Jar in his later life, but now resides at Hosle
.
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 and architect.
World War II
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi GermanyOccupation 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 Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
. He formed a group called Barlindgjengen (the "Yew Gang"), originally consisting of men from Jar
Jar, Norway
Jar is a district in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Its population is 4,868.It is served by the Jar rail station on the Kolsås Line.-References:...
in Bærum
Bærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
. In May 1944 the gang was summoned for sabotage training under the leadership of Per Røed; the camp was in Bærumsmarka
Bærumsmarka
Bærumsmarka is a village in Akershus, Norway....
. The gang became incorporated into District 13's sabotage squad Aks 13000
Aks 13000
Aks 13000 or Aks 13 was a sabotage squad which existed from 1944 to 1945, during parts of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany in World War II. It was a part of the Norwegian resistance movement, specifically Milorg....
, where Enge came to serve as one of several team leaders. In the first sabotage mission where Enge participated, however, Per Røed was the team leader. The mission took place on 31 August 1944, and consisted of blowing up 3,000 litres of gasoline stored at Bygdøy
Bygdøy
Bygdøy or Bygdø is a peninsula on the western side of Oslo, Norway. Administratively, Bygdøy belongs to the borough of Frogner.Bygdøy has several museums, like the Kon-Tiki Museum, which shows all year long the legendary expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl; the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History ; the...
's primary school. This was the first ever mission of Aks 13000.
In addition to Røed and Enge, the participants were Kjell Werenskiold, Kjell Moursund and Kåre Thoresen. They brought 8 kilograms (17.6 lb) of plastic explosive
Plastic explosive
Plastic explosive is a specialised form of explosive material. It is a soft and hand moldable solid material. Plastic explosives are properly known as putty explosives within the field of explosives engineering....
s, but three of the five were to serve as guards, scattered along the route the saboteurs took to Bygdøy School. Enge was the guard stationed closest to the gasoline tanks, whereas Røed and Thoresen placed the explosives. When they retreated, they had 25 minutes before detonation. It turned out that the intelligence was slightly wrong in that 3,000 litres were stored here; this had in fact been increased to 6,000.
Enge also participated in the failed mission against gasoline tanks at Vestheim School on 14 September 1944. No sabotage damage was dealt, and Aks 13000 nearly lost one saboteur—the first injury sustained during the squad's short history—but the injured saboteur, Reidar Smith, was treated by physician Per Giertsen
Per Giertsen
Per Egeberg Giertsen was a Norwegian physician, especially known for helping members of the Norwegian resistance movement during and after World War II.-Pre-war career:...
. Enge and Røed later returned, hurled six one-kilo loads of plastic over the fence at Vestheim School and managed to blow up seventeen tanks of gasoline.
In October 1944, Aks 13000 prepared for a mission towards a gasoline depot in Hakadal
Hakadal
Hakadal is a village in Akershus, Norway....
. Explosives were airdropped, and Enge and Røed brought the gear to Jar. On 13 October, a team of saboteurs travelled by train from Oslo Østbanestasjon, divided in three groups. Enge travelled together with Torgils Oldgard; the second group was Røed and Werenskiold; the third group was Smith, Moursund and Ragnar Sune. The three groups left the train at Hakadal Station
Hakadal Station
Hakadal Station is a railway station on the Gjøvik Line at Hakadal in Norway. The station was opened as Hakedal in 1900 as a stop for passengers and freight two years ahead of the opening of the Gjøvik Line in 1902. In 1971, the station became fully automatized and remote controlled...
, went into the forest and met there. The target depot was located at a side track north of Elnes Station
Elnes Station
Elnes Station is an abandoned railway station on the Gjøvik Line at Elnes in Lunner, Norway. The station opened in 1932. After NSB Gjøvikbanen took over operations of the line on 11 June 2006, services to the station were terminated and it was closed....
. Enge had to guard a team of seven timbermen who worked in the area, so he did not participate in the actual placing of the explosives. At 21:24, the sabotage team left the area, and between 21:25 and 22:30, all the designated targets, 86 tank railcars, exploded.
He was decorated with the Defence Medal 1940 – 1945
Defence Medal 1940 – 1945
The Defence Medal 1940 – 1945 is the award rewarded to those military and civilian personnel who participated in the fight against the German invasion and occupation of Norway between 1940 and 1945....
and the St. Olav's Medal with Two Oak Branches
St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
St. Olav's Medal with Oak Branch is a Norwegian military award, which was instituted by King Haakon VII of Norway on 6 February 1942. In Norway, the medal is considered as a separate award from the civilian St...
.
Post-war life
Enge, who had taken the examen artiumExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1942 before joining the resistance movement, took higher education in the United States after the war. He did so on a scholarship from Leif Tronstad
Leif Tronstad
Leif Hans Larsen Tronstad DSO, OBE was a Norwegian scientist, intelligence officer and military organizer. He graduated from the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1927 and was a prolific researcher and writer of academic publications...
's heritage fund. He took the bachelor of architecture degree at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and the master of architecture degree at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. He was a member of the fraternities Tau Sigma Delta and Alpha Rho Chi
Alpha Rho Chi
Alpha Rho Chi is a professional co-educational college fraternity for students studying architecture and related professions. The fraternity's name is derived from the first three letters of the Greek word for architecture, αρχιτεκτονική.-Founding:...
. After taking his education he worked at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
as assisting professor for some time, and also worked in various architect's offices in the US and Norway. In 1968 he was hired in the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency
Norwegian Defence Estates Agency
The Norwegian Defence Estates Agency is a Norwegian government agency responsible for the real estate belonging to the Military of Norway. It is not part of the military operations, but is instead directly subordinate the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, and established on January 1, 2002...
, and he retired in 1988. From 1974 to 1976 he worked in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
for Norconsult
Norconsult
Norconsult is Norway's and one of Scandinavia's largest multidisciplinary engineering and design consultancies. The company was founded in 1929, and has its headquarters in Sandvika, just outside Oslo, Norway. Norconsult has about 1850 employees, of which about 400 work outside of Norway...
.
He has resided at Jar in his later life, but now resides at Hosle
Hosle
Hosle is a district in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Its population is 5,713.-References:...
.