Hjelm Waage Thurn-Basberg
Encyclopedia
Hjelm Waage Thurn-Basberg (3 November 1917 – 29 November 2006) was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II
. He fled Norway twice due to his resistance to the German occupation, but returned both times to work with intelligence
for the British Secret Intelligence Service
(MI6).
. When World War II
reached Norway
in 1940, he fought for his country as part of the Norwegian Campaign
. When fighting subsided he joined the Norwegian resistance movement Milorg
. He fled to Sweden in 1943, but soon returned to participate in illegal radio and intelligence work for the Norwegian Secret Intelligence Service
. His nom de guerre was "Per", a common Norwegian variant of the name Peter.
Thurn-Basberg was first based in Kristiansand
to work with Oluf Reed-Olsen
. In the autumn of 1943 he operated the radio station codenamed Meton together with Reed-Olsen in Lommedalen
. After fleeing again, to England, in January 1944 via Sweden, he received parachute training and returned to Bærum
. Thurn-Basberg was then in charge of the radio station Gullfaks, named after Gullfaxi
of Norse mythology
. It was operated from different places in Bærumsmarka
and Nordmarka
until the liberation on 8 May 1945
. He especially became known for a telegram sent in June 1944, where he described how the Wehrmacht
believed false reports that the Allies were planning an invasion in central Norway, and thus kept large German forces away from the actual war theatre in continental Europe
.
group, as a part of the Cold War
. He was active in this group for 28 years. In his civil life he worked as a small-scale businessman, with import of French wine
(inherited from his father) as well as miscellaneous gas station equipment. He lived in Ullern
, Oslo, and died in November 2006, 89 years old.
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...
. He fled Norway twice due to his resistance to the German occupation, but returned both times to work with intelligence
Intelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
for the British Secret Intelligence Service
Secret Intelligence Service
The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
(MI6).
World War II
Thurn-Basberg was born in KristianiaOslo
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...
. 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
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
in 1940, he fought for his country as part of 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...
. When fighting subsided he joined the Norwegian resistance movement Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
. He fled to Sweden in 1943, but soon returned to participate in illegal radio and intelligence work for the Norwegian Secret Intelligence Service
Secret Intelligence Service
The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
. His nom de guerre was "Per", a common Norwegian variant of the name Peter.
Thurn-Basberg was first based in Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
to work with Oluf Reed-Olsen
Oluf Reed-Olsen
Oluf Bernhard Reed-Olsen was a Norwegian resistance member and pilot during World War II. As a resistance member he is best known for the Lysaker Bridge sabotage as well as operating illegal radio transmitters. After the war he was a businessman and Scouting leader...
. In the autumn of 1943 he operated the radio station codenamed Meton together with Reed-Olsen in Lommedalen
Lommedalen
Lommedalen is a picturesque, rural community in a small valley in Bærum municipality, in the county of Akershus, Norway. The population is about 3000 people. Its name is derived from the river Lomma, which, after joining with Isielva, forms Sandvikselva. Another explantion of the name, is by the...
. After fleeing again, to England, in January 1944 via Sweden, he received parachute training and returned to 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....
. Thurn-Basberg was then in charge of the radio station Gullfaks, named after Gullfaxi
Gullfaxi
Gullfaxi is a horse in Norse mythology. Its name means Golden mane.It was originally owned by Hrungnir, and was later given to Magni by Thor as a reward for helping him in the fight against Hrungnir:...
of Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
. It was operated from different places in Bærumsmarka
Bærumsmarka
Bærumsmarka is a village in Akershus, Norway....
and Nordmarka
Nordmarka
Nordmarka is the mostly forested region which makes up the northern part of Oslo, Norway. The area called "Nordmarka" also extends into the municipalities of Hole, Ringerike, Lunner, Jevnaker and Nittedal. It is the largest part of the Marka borough. The forests are popular sites for hiking and...
until the liberation on 8 May 1945
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
. He especially became known for a telegram sent in June 1944, where he described how the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
believed false reports that the Allies were planning an invasion in central Norway, and thus kept large German forces away from the actual war theatre in continental Europe
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
.
Later life
After the war Thurn-Basberg co-founded a Norwegian stay-behindStay-behind
In a stay-behind operation, a country places secret operatives or organisations in its own territory, for use in the event that the territory is overrun by an enemy. If this occurs, the operatives would then form the basis of a resistance movement, or would act as spies from behind enemy lines...
group, as a part of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. He was active in this group for 28 years. In his civil life he worked as a small-scale businessman, with import of French wine
French wine
French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world's second-largest total vineyard area, behind Spain, and is in the position of being the world's largest wine producer...
(inherited from his father) as well as miscellaneous gas station equipment. He lived in Ullern
Ullern
Ullern is an affluent borough of the city of Oslo, Norway.- History :The borough has its name from an old farm, Norse Ullarin. The first element is the genitive case of the name of the Norse god Ullr. The last element is vin, meaning pasture or meadow. In Medieval times, the farm belonged to the...
, Oslo, and died in November 2006, 89 years old.