Alv Johnsen
Encyclopedia
Alv Marius Johnsen was a Norwegian resistance member
, physician and military leader.
as a son of Alv I. Johnsen (1885–1943) and Else Marie Johnsen (1890–1969). He took his examen artium
in 1938. When World War II
reached Norway in 1940, Johnsen participated in the Battle of Bagn. After Norway lost, he helped start an illegal newspaper. In the autumn of 1941 he had to flee to England, but he took a very unusual route, via Sweden, Russia, India and Canada. He joined the Norwegian Independent Company 1
, and served on a motor torpedo boat
from May to December 1944, and was parachuted to Norway in early 1945. He was an instructor for Milorg
until the war's end.
He met his wife in the United Kingdom in 1944, Birgit "Tullen" Lützow-Holm. She worked as a secretary at the intelligence office FO II in London during the war, and she was decorated with the Defence Medal 1940–1945. The couple had three children. Birgit was a daughter of aviation pioneer and commander Finn Lützow-Holm
and granddaughter of Ole Arntzen Lützow-Holm
.
degree, and he was a specialist in rheumatology
from 1963. He worked at Lillehammer Hospital, Ullevål Hospital
and Diakonhjemmet Hospital from 1954 to 1958, then at the Rheumatic Hospital from 1958 to 1963.
He started working as a physician for the Norwegian Army
in 1953, and became assisting chief physician in the Army Staff in 1957. He held the rank of Captain, advanced to Lieutenant Colonel in 1958 and Major General in 1972. He served as sanitary leader for the United Nations Operation in Gaza
(1958) and United Nations Operation in the Congo
(1960). From 1972 to 1979 he served as the leader of Norwegian Armed Forces Medical Corps. He was also a member of the disaster preparedness council Norsk Katastroferåd.
From World War II he held several decorations; the Defence Medal 1940–1945, the Haakon VII 70th Anniversary Medal, the British Defence Medal, the 1939–45 Star and the France and Germany Star
. He was also decorated as a Commander of the Order of St. Olav. He died in January 1986 and was buried at Vestre gravlund
.
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:...
, physician and military leader.
Early life and World War II
He was born in LierLier, Norway
Lier is an affluent municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lier. The municipality of Lier was established on 1 January 1838...
as a son of Alv I. Johnsen (1885–1943) and Else Marie Johnsen (1890–1969). He took his examen artium
Examen 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 1938. When 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...
reached Norway in 1940, Johnsen participated in the Battle of Bagn. After Norway lost, he helped start an illegal newspaper. In the autumn of 1941 he had to flee to England, but he took a very unusual route, via Sweden, Russia, India and Canada. He joined 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...
, and served on a motor torpedo boat
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
from May to December 1944, and was parachuted to Norway in early 1945. He was an instructor for Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
until the war's end.
He met his wife in the United Kingdom in 1944, Birgit "Tullen" Lützow-Holm. She worked as a secretary at the intelligence office FO II in London during the war, and she was decorated with the Defence Medal 1940–1945. The couple had three children. Birgit was a daughter of aviation pioneer and commander Finn Lützow-Holm
Finn Lützow-Holm
Finn Trond Lützow-Holm was a Norwegian military officer, aviation pioneer and polar explorer.He was born in Nesseby as a son of priest and politician Ole Arntzen Lützow-Holm and Anne Marie Riddervold Jensen . His mother was a daughter of Peter Andreas Jensen and granddaughter of Hans Riddervold...
and granddaughter of Ole Arntzen Lützow-Holm
Ole Arntzen Lützow-Holm
Ole Arntzen Lützow-Holm was a Norwegian priest and politician for the Conservative Party.He was a son of priest and politician Peter Holm. Together with Anne Marie Riddervold Jensen he had the son Finn Lützow-Holm, an aviator. His wife was a daughter of Peter Andreas Jensen and granddaughter of...
.
Post-war career and life
In 1950 Alv Johnsen graduated with the cand.med.Cand.med.
Candidate of Medicine , Candidata Medicinae , abbreviated Cand. Med.) is an academic degree awarded in Denmark, Iceland and Norway following a six-year medical school education....
degree, and he was a specialist in rheumatology
Rheumatology
Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Clinicians who specialize in rheumatology are called rheumatologists...
from 1963. He worked at Lillehammer Hospital, 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...
and Diakonhjemmet Hospital from 1954 to 1958, then at the Rheumatic Hospital from 1958 to 1963.
He started working as a physician for the Norwegian Army
Norwegian Army
Norway achieved full independence in 1905, and in the first century of its short life has contributed to two major conflicts, the Cold War and the War on Terror. The Norwegian Army currently operates in the north of Norway and in Afghanistan as well as in Eastern Europe. The Army is the oldest of...
in 1953, and became assisting chief physician in the Army Staff in 1957. He held the rank of Captain, advanced to Lieutenant Colonel in 1958 and Major General in 1972. He served as sanitary leader for the United Nations Operation in Gaza
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
(1958) and United Nations Operation in the Congo
United Nations Operation in the Congo
Opération des Nations unies au Congo, abbreviated ONUC, was a United Nations peacekeeping force in Congo that was established after United Nations Security Council Resolution 143 of July 14, 1960...
(1960). From 1972 to 1979 he served as the leader of Norwegian Armed Forces Medical Corps. He was also a member of the disaster preparedness council Norsk Katastroferåd.
From World War II he held several decorations; the Defence Medal 1940–1945, the Haakon VII 70th Anniversary Medal, the British Defence Medal, the 1939–45 Star and the France and Germany Star
France and Germany Star
The France and Germany Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.The medal was awarded for operational service in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany from 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945...
. He was also decorated as a Commander of the Order of St. Olav. He died in January 1986 and was buried at Vestre gravlund
Vestre gravlund
Vestre gravlund is a cemetery in the Frogner borough of Oslo, Norway, located next to the Borgen metro station. At , it is the largest cemetery in Norway...
.