Joar Olsen
Encyclopedia
Joar Ervin Olsen was a Norwegian resistance
member who was killed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
.
He was born in Bærum
as the son of parents from Oslo
and Hammerfest
. He worked in Bærum as a car mechanic. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
he joined Milorg
in 1943. He was a part of a group called Barlindgjengen (the "Yew Gang"), originally consisting of men from Jar
in Bærum. In May 1944 the gang was summoned for sabotage training under the leadership of Per Røed; the camp was in Bærumsmarka
. The gang became incorporated into District 13's sabotage squad Aks 13000
, created in 1944. Olsen became an important aide-de-camp for the Aks 13000 Staff.
Olsen was active in late 1944. Together with Per Røed he blew up six railroad tank cars
with gasoline at Lysaker Station
. Lysaker Station was hit by five such sabotage missions between 16 December 1944 and 13 January 1945. On 10 December 1944, Olsen, Røed and Odd Isøy
was to blow up fifteen railroad tank cars at Filipstad
near Oslo Vestbanestasjon
; two other persons were to be used as guards. However, the two guards became busy when a handful of railway workers were discovered on the location. After placing the explosives, Røed was intercepted as he almost stumbled upon a German guard. Because of this, the sabotage team retreated in silence, and not long after German specialists arrived and removed the explosives. Intelligence later showed that next to the fifteen tanks was a train filled with ammunition, possibly even V-2 parts. Had all of this exploded, it would be disastrous. On 23 December 1944 Olsen participated in an attack at the naval section of the Nazi Hird. When attacking the office, Per Røed was surprised by a Hird gunman, who had probably laid a trap. Olsen stormed in from adjacent room, killed the gunman, and narrowly escaped together with Røed. On another occasion, Olsen and Røed drove a car with illegal weapons, when they were stopped by a German road control. They escaped when Olsen showed a faux document which claimed that the car belonged to the Red Cross.
Olsen's last mission was Aksjon smør on 12 February 1945, in which Milorg men stole foodstuffs from two warehouses, one in the street Tollbugata belonging to German forces, and one in the street Skippergata belonging to Arbeidstjenesten. The foodstuffs were distributed to Milorg men who hid in the forests surrounding Oslo. On 13 February 1945 the Aks 13000 members, and Aksjon smør participants, Arvid Hansen
and Adolf Bogstad
were killed, and six more were arrested. On the next day, Joar Olsen went to pick up weapons from a secret storage garage at Stabekk
. Weapons stock had to be replenished after the attack on the car workshop Brødrene Christensen in Sandvika on 12 February. The first pickup went well, but Statspolitiet officers waited at the second pickup-spot. Olsen drew his Colt revolver, but was shot three times. He died not long after.
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:...
member who was killed during 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...
.
He was born in 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....
as the son of parents from 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...
and Hammerfest
Hammerfest
is a city and municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The municipality encompasses parts of three islands: Kvaløya, Sørøya, and Seiland. Hammerfest was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
. He worked in Bærum as a car mechanic. During 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...
he joined Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
in 1943. He was a part of a group called Barlindgjengen (the "Yew Gang"), originally consisting of men from Jar
Jar, Norway
Jar is a district in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Its population is 4,868.It is served by the Jar rail station on the Kolsås Line.-References:...
in Bærum. In May 1944 the gang was summoned for sabotage training under the leadership of Per Røed; the camp was in Bærumsmarka
Bærumsmarka
Bærumsmarka is a village in Akershus, Norway....
. The gang became incorporated into District 13's sabotage squad Aks 13000
Aks 13000
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....
, created in 1944. Olsen became an important aide-de-camp for the Aks 13000 Staff.
Olsen was active in late 1944. Together with Per Røed he blew up six railroad tank cars
Railroad car
A railroad car or railway vehicle , also known as a bogie in Indian English, is a vehicle on a rail transport system that is used for the carrying of cargo or passengers. Cars can be coupled together into a train and hauled by one or more locomotives...
with gasoline at Lysaker Station
Lysaker Station
Lysaker Station is Norway's third-largest railway station, located at Lysaker on the Drammen Line. It serves express, regional, local and Airport Express trains. The station opened in 1872, and is located west of Oslo S at elevation...
. Lysaker Station was hit by five such sabotage missions between 16 December 1944 and 13 January 1945. On 10 December 1944, Olsen, Røed and 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:...
was to blow up fifteen railroad tank cars at Filipstad
Filipstad, Norway
Filipstad is a neighborhood in the borough Sentrum in Oslo, Norway. It serves as a container port for Oslo.The neighborhood grew from a single property, named after the pharmacist Philip Moth around 1650 - the last element is stad m 'farm'...
near Oslo Vestbanestasjon
Oslo Vestbanestasjon
Oslo West Station or Oslo V, is a former railway station located in Vika in Oslo, Norway. It was the terminus of the Drammen Line between 1872 and 1980, until the Oslo Tunnel opened. The station remained in use until 1989, when all traffic was moved to the new Oslo Central Station...
; two other persons were to be used as guards. However, the two guards became busy when a handful of railway workers were discovered on the location. After placing the explosives, Røed was intercepted as he almost stumbled upon a German guard. Because of this, the sabotage team retreated in silence, and not long after German specialists arrived and removed the explosives. Intelligence later showed that next to the fifteen tanks was a train filled with ammunition, possibly even V-2 parts. Had all of this exploded, it would be disastrous. On 23 December 1944 Olsen participated in an attack at the naval section of the Nazi Hird. When attacking the office, Per Røed was surprised by a Hird gunman, who had probably laid a trap. Olsen stormed in from adjacent room, killed the gunman, and narrowly escaped together with Røed. On another occasion, Olsen and Røed drove a car with illegal weapons, when they were stopped by a German road control. They escaped when Olsen showed a faux document which claimed that the car belonged to the Red Cross.
Olsen's last mission was Aksjon smør on 12 February 1945, in which Milorg men stole foodstuffs from two warehouses, one in the street Tollbugata belonging to German forces, and one in the street Skippergata belonging to Arbeidstjenesten. The foodstuffs were distributed to Milorg men who hid in the forests surrounding Oslo. On 13 February 1945 the Aks 13000 members, and Aksjon smør participants, Arvid Hansen
Arvid Hansen
Arvid Hansen was a Norwegian resistance member who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
and Adolf Bogstad
Adolf Bogstad
Adolf Bogstad was a Norwegian resistance member who was killed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
were killed, and six more were arrested. On the next day, Joar Olsen went to pick up weapons from a secret storage garage at Stabekk
Stabekk
Stabekk is a suburban centre in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Mainly a residential area and have most of the conservative population in Norway the current population is 6,261....
. Weapons stock had to be replenished after the attack on the car workshop Brødrene Christensen in Sandvika on 12 February. The first pickup went well, but Statspolitiet officers waited at the second pickup-spot. Olsen drew his Colt revolver, but was shot three times. He died not long after.