Helge Hansen
Encyclopedia
Helge Hansen was a Norwegian resistance member during the German occupation of Norway
, and later a politician, chemist and factory manager.
, and he was attending the Stavanger Cathedral School at the outbreak of World War II. His father, a member of the Norwegian Communist Party, was imprisoned and incarcerated at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp
during the war. His brother Johan was sent to Nacht und Nebel
camp Natzweiler. He was also the brother of later politician and government minister Vesla Vetlesen.
, while his family lived in Stavanger
, Hansen became involved both in intelligence and in production of illegal newspapers. He was arrested by the Gestapo in November 1942, and imprisoned at the Lagårdsveien prison. He became famous for his escape from custody in December 1942, and managed to flee to Sweden. In Sweden he was trained in use of arms and in sabotage
. He returned to Stavanger in September 1944, with the aim of establishing a sabotage group in the Stavanger district. 29 November 1944 the factory Hillevåg Knottfabrikk was burnt down by the group. Shortly after, the two and only assassinations in the Stavanger district were carried out, when the denouncer Herbert Geiche and Stapo torturist Leonard Wickstrøm were shot.
After being involved in a shooting incident 15 January 1945, where he was hit in the shoulder, he decided to try to flee to Sweden by crossing the mountains on ski. During this travel he came across Knut Haukelid
's Milorg
group. He joined Haukelid's group, and took part in Operation Sunshine
, an anti-demolition operation intended to protect essential Norwegian industry against possible German sabotage operations towards the end of the war.
. He completed his education as a chemist in Stockholm. From 1947 he worked at the soap factory Nordkronen in Stavanger, first as a chemist, and later as manager of the factory.
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...
, and later a politician, chemist and factory manager.
Personal life
He was born in as the son of Peder Håkon Jarl Hansen (1890-1986) and Sigrid Berger (1898-1994). The family settled in StavangerStavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, and he was attending the Stavanger Cathedral School at the outbreak of World War II. His father, a member of the Norwegian Communist Party, was imprisoned and incarcerated at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen or Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg was a Nazi concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany, used primarily for political prisoners from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in May, 1945. After World War II, when Oranienburg was in the Soviet Occupation Zone, the structure was used as an NKVD...
during the war. His brother Johan was sent to 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. He was also the brother of later politician and government minister Vesla Vetlesen.
Second World War
During the World War IIWorld 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...
, while his family lived in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, Hansen became involved both in intelligence and in production of illegal newspapers. He was arrested by the Gestapo in November 1942, and imprisoned at the Lagårdsveien prison. He became famous for his escape from custody in December 1942, and managed to flee to Sweden. In Sweden he was trained in use of arms and in sabotage
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...
. He returned to Stavanger in September 1944, with the aim of establishing a sabotage group in the Stavanger district. 29 November 1944 the factory Hillevåg Knottfabrikk was burnt down by the group. Shortly after, the two and only assassinations in the Stavanger district were carried out, when the denouncer Herbert Geiche and Stapo torturist Leonard Wickstrøm were shot.
After being involved in a shooting incident 15 January 1945, where he was hit in the shoulder, he decided to try to flee to Sweden by crossing the mountains on ski. During this travel he came across 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 Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
group. He joined Haukelid's group, and took part in Operation Sunshine
Operation Sunshine
The Operation Sunshine was an anti-demolition operation in occupied Norway from October 1944 to May 1945. Planned by Norwegian military personnel in the United Kingdom in cooperation with British forces, and part of an effort to protect essential installations and industry, in particular large...
, an anti-demolition operation intended to protect essential Norwegian industry against possible German sabotage operations towards the end of the war.
Later career
After the war Hansen was engaged in politics. He was elected to the Stavanger City council, representing the Communist Party. He was later expelled from the Communist Party, and some years later joined the Labour PartyNorwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
. He completed his education as a chemist in Stockholm. From 1947 he worked at the soap factory Nordkronen in Stavanger, first as a chemist, and later as manager of the factory.