Kolbein Lauring
Encyclopedia
Kolbein Didrik Lauring was a Norwegian resistance
member during World War II
.
He grew up in Ljan (until 1948 a part of Aker
) together with later resistance ace Max Manus
. The two participated as volunteers in the Winter War
, on the Finnish side. When Germany invaded
and occupied Norway
in 1940, Lauring and Manus returned to Norway. They first participated in the Norwegian Campaign
, where Lauring was taken prisoner-of-war at Akershus Fortress
in the early phase. Lauring could be facing a death penalty, but then Germany released the prisoners-of-war to gain acceptance for their occupation. Lauring and Manus then travelled north together, attempting to reach the Battles of Narvik
via Sweden. However, Norway capitulated before they could reach the northern front lines. Instead the two joined the secret resistance movement
.
In February 1941 Lauring was arrested by the Nazi authorities for carrying a weapon. He was imprisoned in Åkebergveien from 16 February to 1 March, then in Møllergata 19
until 18 March, then at Åkebergveien until 13 May and Møllergata until 8 September 1942. During his stay in Møllergata 19, he reportedly helped Secret Intelligence Service
officer Sverre Midtskau
escape (in December 1941) as he managed to copy the door keys belonging to a German guard. Lauring spent a final year at Grini concentration camp, from 8 September 1942 to 9 October 1943, before being released. Max Manus has later referred to his release as a "miraculous mistake" by the Germans.Quote by Manus: In English: "Then, by some miraculous mistake he was released." Reference: M. Manus, Aftenposten, 1984. Lauring then rejoined the resistance fight, meeting up with Max Manus who had arrived from the United Kingdom by parachute a few days earlier. Among others, he helped in ship sabotage (Operation Bundle).
Another major incident took place on 4 April 1945, when his apartment at Ljan was surrounded by Wehrmacht. This was a part of the German exposure of Operation Derby. There was a shoot-out, but Lauring managed to escape to a safe house. During the shoot-out Kolbein's wife Kari telephoned Max Manus and other associated people about the imminent crackdown, saving many lives. From their branch of the resistance, only Roy Nielsen
and Olav Ringdal
were caught and shot. Kari Lauring was taken prisoner in Grini for the rest of World War II, but was later decorated with the British King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom
. Kolbein Lauring was decorated with the St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
. Also, when Crown Prince Olav of Norway
returned from exile after the war, Lauring served as his bodyguard for a period. He died in 1987, followed by his wife in 1993.
In 2008, Kolbein Lauring was made famous to a broader audience when his character was included in the film Max Manus
. He was portrayed by actor Christian Rubeck.
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 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...
.
He grew up in Ljan (until 1948 a part of Aker
Aker, 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...
) together with later resistance ace Max Manus
Max Manus
Maximo Guillermo "Max" Manus DSO, MC & Bar was a Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II.Manus was born in Bergen to a Norwegian father and a Danish mother...
. The two participated as volunteers in the Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
, on the Finnish side. When Germany invaded
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...
and occupied Norway
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...
in 1940, Lauring and Manus returned to Norway. They first participated 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...
, where Lauring was taken prisoner-of-war at Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
in the early phase. Lauring could be facing a death penalty, but then Germany released the prisoners-of-war to gain acceptance for their occupation. Lauring and Manus then travelled north together, attempting to reach the Battles of Narvik
Battles of Narvik
The Battles of Narvik were fought from 9 April-8 June 1940 as a naval battle in the Ofotfjord and as a land battle in the mountains surrounding the north Norwegian city of Narvik as part of the Norwegian Campaign of the Second World War....
via Sweden. However, Norway capitulated before they could reach the northern front lines. Instead the two joined the secret resistance movement
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:...
.
In February 1941 Lauring was arrested by the Nazi authorities for carrying a weapon. He was imprisoned in Åkebergveien from 16 February to 1 March, then in Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
until 18 March, then at Åkebergveien until 13 May and Møllergata until 8 September 1942. During his stay in Møllergata 19, he reportedly helped 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...
officer Sverre Midtskau
Sverre Midtskau
Sverre Midtskau was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II. He is best known as leader of the illegal radio post Skylark A.-World War II:...
escape (in December 1941) as he managed to copy the door keys belonging to a German guard. Lauring spent a final year at Grini concentration camp, from 8 September 1942 to 9 October 1943, before being released. Max Manus has later referred to his release as a "miraculous mistake" by the Germans.Quote by Manus: In English: "Then, by some miraculous mistake he was released." Reference: M. Manus, Aftenposten, 1984. Lauring then rejoined the resistance fight, meeting up with Max Manus who had arrived from the United Kingdom by parachute a few days earlier. Among others, he helped in ship sabotage (Operation Bundle).
Another major incident took place on 4 April 1945, when his apartment at Ljan was surrounded by Wehrmacht. This was a part of the German exposure of Operation Derby. There was a shoot-out, but Lauring managed to escape to a safe house. During the shoot-out Kolbein's wife Kari telephoned Max Manus and other associated people about the imminent crackdown, saving many lives. From their branch of the resistance, only Roy Nielsen
Roy Nielsen
Roy Nielsen was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II, a member of Milorg and involved in propaganda and sabotage. Among his sabotage operations was the destruction of 25 Messerschmitt fighter aircraft and 150 engines stored in a bus garage in Oslo, on 14 August 1944, together with Max...
and Olav Ringdal
Olav Ringdal
Olav Ringdal was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II.He was born in Sandefjord to parents from Larvik. He had gone through commerce school as well as an average adjuster's exam, and studied law at the University of Oslo during World War II. During the war he also became a member of...
were caught and shot. Kari Lauring was taken prisoner in Grini for the rest of World War II, but was later decorated with the British King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom
King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom
The King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom is a British medal instituted on 23 August 1945 to reward those, mainly foreigners, who during the Second World War with the danger of life had contributed to helping British military personnel to escape the enemy and escape from occupied areas...
. Kolbein Lauring was decorated with the St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
St. Olav's Medal with Oak Branch is a Norwegian military award, which was instituted by King Haakon VII of Norway on 6 February 1942. In Norway, the medal is considered as a separate award from the civilian St...
. Also, when Crown Prince Olav of Norway
Olav V of Norway
Olav V was the king of Norway from 1957 until his death. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Olav was born in the United Kingdom as the son of King Haakon VII of Norway and Queen Maud of Norway...
returned from exile after the war, Lauring served as his bodyguard for a period. He died in 1987, followed by his wife in 1993.
In 2008, Kolbein Lauring was made famous to a broader audience when his character was included in the film Max Manus
Max Manus (film)
Max Manus is a Norwegian 2008 biographic war film based on the real events of the life of resistance fighter Max Manus . The story follows Manus from the Winter War against the Soviet Union, through the outbreak of World War II and the German occupation of Norway until peacetime in 1945...
. He was portrayed by actor Christian Rubeck.