Aks 13000
Encyclopedia
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
.
"Aks" was short for Aksjonsgruppe—"group of action". Milorg had no such group for the first years of its existence, and on occasions it had to rely on the Osvald Group
to perform important missions. Aks 13000 was created in August 1944 when Svein Blindheim
was appointed as chief of sabotage missions in Milorg's District 13 (D13). Blindheim was later succeeded by William Houlder. Knut Egil Nordahl was the substitute leader during Houlder's absence in March and April 1945. The second-in-command remained the same throughout the period: Per Røed. Important aides-de-camp and orderlies were Arvid Hansen
, Joar Olsen
, Arnfinn Salveson, Finn Gjestvold, Kåre Thoresen, Reidar Andersen and Knut Valstad. Sabotage team leaders were Kjell Bull-Hansen
(who died and was replaced by Odd Isøy
), Richard Andvord
, Rolv Enge
, Jan Müller, Thor Hammerstrøm, Oddvar Felumb, Hermann Høst, Ola Tyvold, Hjalmar Munthe-Kaas Lund and Øystein Jensen. They had several important cooperators among the civil populace, first and foremost physician Per Giertsen
, in addition to people who supplied cover-up apartments and other protection, among them Ørnulf Bast
.
Aks 13000 was the most important sabotage group in Norway in the occupation's latter phase, together with Pellegruppa and Oslogjengen
. The members of Aks 13000 performed about 100 missions of sabotage, explosion or theft. The first mission was an assault on the gasoline depot at Bygdøy
on 31 August 1944. The most active person was Per Røed, although he sometimes oversaw missions instead of seeing violent action. The most active saboteur was Odd Isøy.
The hardest blow to the organization was dealt in February and March 1945. In a coincidental interception of a sabotage planning meeting in February, Gestapo
killed Adolf Bogstad
and arrested Storm Weinholdt
and Frank Olsen
. They proceeded to kill Arvid Hansen
and arrest Erik Bruun, Henry Gundersen, Kåre Olafsen
and Kjell Ramberg on the same evening. The next day Joar Olsen was killed by Statspolitiet. All these arrested persons were executed on 17 March 1945. Only one week later, on 24 March 1945, Kjell Bull-Hansen and Odd Isøy were captured by coincidence; Isøy managed to escape whereas Bull-Hansen was killed escaping. Other personnel, including William Houlder and Per Røed, were wounded during Aks 13000's existence.
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
squad which existed from 1944 to 1945, during parts of the 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...
in 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...
. It was a part of 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:...
, specifically Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
.
"Aks" was short for Aksjonsgruppe—"group of action". Milorg had no such group for the first years of its existence, and on occasions it had to rely on the Osvald Group
Osvald Group
The Osvald Group was a Norwegian sabotage organisation during the Second World War, and led by Asbjørn Sunde, who used Osvald as one of his cover names. The organisation was originally a branch of the Wollweber League, a subsidiary to the Soviet secret police organization NKVD which dissolved when...
to perform important missions. Aks 13000 was created in August 1944 when Svein Blindheim
Svein Blindheim
Svein Blindheim is a Norwegian military officer, known for his resistance work during World War II. He participated in the Norwegian Campaign, and was later a member of the Special Operations Executive branch called Norwegian Independent Company 1. He initiated and was the first leader of the...
was appointed as chief of sabotage missions in Milorg's District 13 (D13). Blindheim was later succeeded by William Houlder. Knut Egil Nordahl was the substitute leader during Houlder's absence in March and April 1945. The second-in-command remained the same throughout the period: Per Røed. Important aides-de-camp and orderlies were Arvid Hansen
Arvid Hansen
Arvid Hansen was a Norwegian resistance member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
, Joar Olsen
Joar Olsen
Joar Ervin Olsen was a Norwegian resistance member who was killed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
, Arnfinn Salveson, Finn Gjestvold, Kåre Thoresen, Reidar Andersen and Knut Valstad. Sabotage team leaders were Kjell Bull-Hansen
Kjell Bull-Hansen
Kjell Bull-Hansen was a Norwegian resistance member who was killed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany.-Pre-war life:He was born in Oslo and lived in Vestre Aker, at Tåsen...
(who died and was replaced by Odd Isøy
Odd Isøy
Odd E. Isøy was a Norwegian resistance member. Among others, he single-handledly placed explosives on the crane of the 3,215 ton Norwegian cargo ship MS Belpamela.-World War II:...
), Richard Andvord
Richard Andvord (born 1920)
Richard Andvord was a Norwegian businessperson and resistance member.-Career:Already before World War II he worked in the family company Rich. Andvord in Oslo, founded by Richard Andvord in 1865...
, Rolv Enge
Rolv Enge
Rolv Øistein Enge is a former Norwegian resistance member and architect.-World War II:During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, he became involved in Milorg. He formed a group called Barlindgjengen , originally consisting of men from Jar in Bærum...
, Jan Müller, Thor Hammerstrøm, Oddvar Felumb, Hermann Høst, Ola Tyvold, Hjalmar Munthe-Kaas Lund and Øystein Jensen. They had several important cooperators among the civil populace, first and foremost 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:...
, in addition to people who supplied cover-up apartments and other protection, among them Ørnulf Bast
Ørnulf Bast
Ørnulf Bast was a Norwegian sculptor and painter particularly known for his public monuments.-Background:...
.
Aks 13000 was the most important sabotage group in Norway in the occupation's latter phase, together with Pellegruppa and Oslogjengen
Oslogjengen
Oslogjengen was a sabotage group operating in Oslo from May 1944 to May 1945, during the last year of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. The group had its basis in both the British Special Operations Executive and the Norwegian Milorg, was coordinated by Gunnar Sønsteby, and had around ten...
. The members of Aks 13000 performed about 100 missions of sabotage, explosion or theft. The first mission was an assault on the gasoline depot 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...
on 31 August 1944. The most active person was Per Røed, although he sometimes oversaw missions instead of seeing violent action. The most active saboteur was Odd Isøy.
The hardest blow to the organization was dealt in February and March 1945. In a coincidental interception of a sabotage planning meeting in February, Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
killed Adolf Bogstad
Adolf Bogstad
Adolf Bogstad was a Norwegian resistance member who was killed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
and arrested Storm Weinholdt
Storm Weinholdt
Storm Willads Weinholdt was a Norwegian resistance member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
and Frank Olsen
Frank Olsen (resistance member)
Frank Olsen was a Norwegian resistance member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
. They proceeded to kill Arvid Hansen
Arvid Hansen
Arvid Hansen was a Norwegian resistance member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
and arrest Erik Bruun, Henry Gundersen, Kåre Olafsen
Kåre Olafsen
Kåre Adolf Olafsen was a Norwegian resistance member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
and Kjell Ramberg on the same evening. The next day Joar Olsen was killed by Statspolitiet. All these arrested persons were executed on 17 March 1945. Only one week later, on 24 March 1945, Kjell Bull-Hansen and Odd Isøy were captured by coincidence; Isøy managed to escape whereas Bull-Hansen was killed escaping. Other personnel, including William Houlder and Per Røed, were wounded during Aks 13000's existence.