Olaf Helset
Encyclopedia
Olaf Helset was a Norwegian Major General
and a sports administrator.
He was born in Nannestad
. Helset grew up in Romerike
and graduated from a private school in Kristiania
in 1911. After graduation, he attended Military Academy from (1912-15), the State gymnastics school (1915-17) and the military college (1917-19). In the 1920s he had studied briefly in France and Japan. In addition, he served in various departments and 1938-39 was second in command of Infantry Regiment No. 6
During the Norwegian Campaign
in 1940 Helset was in command at the Battle of Midtskogen
. As a sports leader he fronted the sports boycott against the Nazi authorities. He was also a leader in the military organization Milorg
, the main Norwegian resistance movement during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
. Helset was arrest during 1941, but was released from prison after a time and then fled to Sweden. There, he worked first as a refugee chief 1943-44 and then 1944-45 as head of the Norwegian police forces in Sweden
For his war efforts, he was decorated with the Norwegian War Cross with Sword
(1949), Finnish Freedom Cross in gold, the British King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom
and several other foreign decorations. In 1947 he was awarded the title of Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for his war contributions. He was made a Commander of the French Légion d'honneur
and received the Swedish Order of the Sword
.
After the war he became Chief of the Army of the Norwegian Army
, but resigned in 1948 after a conflict with the government on defense policy. He was a leader of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports
from 1946 to 1948. Helset was appointed Chief of the Southern District Command with Major General rank. He was chief of the Viken District Command and commander of the Fredriksten
fortress (1951-53).
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and a sports administrator.
He was born in Nannestad
Nannestad
Nannestad is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Teigebyen...
. Helset grew up in Romerike
Romerike
Romerike is a traditional district located north-east of Oslo, in what is today south-eastern Norway. It consists of the Akershus municipalities Fet, Lørenskog, Nittedal, Rælingen, Skedsmo, Sørum and Aurskog-Høland in the southern end , and Ullensaker, Gjerdrum, Nannestad, Nes, Eidsvoll and Hurdal...
and graduated from a private school in Kristiania
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 1911. After graduation, he attended Military Academy from (1912-15), the State gymnastics school (1915-17) and the military college (1917-19). In the 1920s he had studied briefly in France and Japan. In addition, he served in various departments and 1938-39 was second in command of Infantry Regiment No. 6
During 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...
in 1940 Helset was in command at the Battle of Midtskogen
Battle of Midtskogen
The Battle of Midtskogen was the battle fought on the night between 9 and 10 April 1940 during the Second World War between a German raiding party and an improvised Norwegian force. the site of the battle was Midtskogen farm, situated approximately west of the town Elverum at the mouth of the...
. As a sports leader he fronted the sports boycott against the Nazi authorities. He was also a leader in the military organization Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
, the main Norwegian resistance movement 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...
. Helset was arrest during 1941, but was released from prison after a time and then fled to Sweden. There, he worked first as a refugee chief 1943-44 and then 1944-45 as head of the Norwegian police forces in Sweden
For his war efforts, he was decorated with the Norwegian War Cross with Sword
War 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...
(1949), Finnish Freedom Cross in gold, 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...
and several other foreign decorations. In 1947 he was awarded the title of Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for his war contributions. He was made a Commander of the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and received the Swedish Order of the Sword
Order of the Sword
The Order of the Sword is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on February 23, 1748, together with the Order of the Seraphim and the Order of the Polar Star.Awarded to officers, and originally intended as an award for bravery and particularly long or useful service, it...
.
After the war he became Chief of the Army of the Norwegian Army
Norwegian Army
Norway achieved full independence in 1905, and in the first century of its short life has contributed to two major conflicts, the Cold War and the War on Terror. The Norwegian Army currently operates in the north of Norway and in Afghanistan as well as in Eastern Europe. The Army is the oldest of...
, but resigned in 1948 after a conflict with the government on defense policy. He was a leader of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports
Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports
The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports is the umbrella organization for sport in Norway. It is the largest volunteering organization in Norway, with more than 2 million members, and 12000 sports clubs, in 19 region confederatons and 56 national federations...
from 1946 to 1948. Helset was appointed Chief of the Southern District Command with Major General rank. He was chief of the Viken District Command and commander of the Fredriksten
Fredriksten
-History:This Fortresses was constructed ny Denmark-Norway in the 17th century as a replacement for the border fortress at Bohus, which had been lost when the province of Bohuslän was ceded to Sweden by the terms of the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658...
fortress (1951-53).