Arvid Storsveen
Encyclopedia
Arvid Kristian Storsveen (9 July 1915 - 27 April 1943), was the Norwegian
organizer of XU
, the main intelligence gathering organisation within occupied Norway
during World War II
.
. Storsveen studied engineering at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
in Trondheim
. After graduation in 1939, he was employed at the Norwegian Water Resources and Electricity in Oslo
.
Lt. Storsveen took part in the Norwegian Campaign
against the German
invasion forces in the spring of 1940 and, following the Norwegian surrender, he soon saw the value of an intelligence-gathering organisation for the Allies. This 'XU' organisation was started as early as July 1940 and became a reliable source of information for the Supreme Allied Commander
in London
.
After two years of dangerous work, Storsveen was forced to flee to Sweden
in July 1942, successfully evading the German units who were tracking him down.
He returned to Oslo
in the spring of 1943, but due to an unfortunate accident he was found and killed by the Gestapo
on April 27. Storsveen's discipline was maintained to the very end: the false documentation found on his person meant that, even after his death, the Gestapo never realised the true identity of the man they had killed and so his organisation was able to recover from the incident.
. Arvid Storsveens plass in Blindern
in Oslo, Norway is named for him and a memorial to Storsveen has been unveiled at the site.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
organizer of XU
XU
XU was a clandestine intelligence organisation working on behalf of Allied powers in occupied Norway during World War II...
, the main intelligence gathering organisation within occupied Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
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...
.
Biography
Arvid Kristian Storsveen was born in Aker, NorwayAker, Norway
Aker is a former municipality in Akershus, which lends its name to a municipality and a county in Norway. The name originally belonged to a farm which was located near the current Old Aker Church...
. Storsveen studied engineering at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
. After graduation in 1939, he was employed at the Norwegian Water Resources and Electricity in Oslo
Oslo
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...
.
Lt. Storsveen took part in the Norwegian Campaign
Norwegian 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...
against the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
invasion forces in the spring of 1940 and, following the Norwegian surrender, he soon saw the value of an intelligence-gathering organisation for the Allies. This 'XU' organisation was started as early as July 1940 and became a reliable source of information for the Supreme Allied Commander
Supreme Allied Commander
Supreme Allied Commander is the title held by the most senior commander within certain multinational military alliances. It originated as a term used by the Western Allies during World War II, and is currently used only within NATO. Dwight Eisenhower served as Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
After two years of dangerous work, Storsveen was forced to flee to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in July 1942, successfully evading the German units who were tracking him down.
He returned to Oslo
Oslo
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...
in the spring of 1943, but due to an unfortunate accident he was found and killed by the 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...
on April 27. Storsveen's discipline was maintained to the very end: the false documentation found on his person meant that, even after his death, the Gestapo never realised the true identity of the man they had killed and so his organisation was able to recover from the incident.
Legacy
In 1943, 1st Lt. Storsveen was posthumously awarded Norways's highest decoration for military gallantry, the War Cross with swordWar Cross with sword
The War Cross with Sword is the highest ranking Norwegian gallantry decoration. It is awarded for extraordinary brave actions or extraordinary leadership during combat. A recipient deemed worthy of additional citations will receive up to an additional two swords on the medal ribbon in addition to...
. Arvid Storsveens plass in Blindern
Blindern
Blindern is the main campus of the University of Oslo, located in Nordre Aker in Oslo, Norway.-The campus:Most of the departments of the University of Oslo are located at Blindern; other, smaller campuses include Sentrum , Gaustad , St...
in Oslo, Norway is named for him and a memorial to Storsveen has been unveiled at the site.
Other sources
- Sæter, E. & Sæter, S. (2007) XU: I hemmeleg teneste 1940-45 (Oslo: Det Norske Samlaget)
- Ryeng, N., Føre, O.C.& Ravn, O. (2009) Hemmelig krig i nord. Historien om XU i Nord-Norge (Oslo: Orion Forlag)