Operation Bittern
Encyclopedia
Operation Bittern was a military operation in occupied Norway
planned and carried out in 1942 by the British Special Operations Executive
(SOE) and the Norwegian government-in-exile in London.
Four SOE agents and instructors—Thor Helliessen, Jan Allan, Ruben Langmo and Johannes S. Andersen
—were sent to Norway and parachuted into Nordmarka
north of Oslo
in October 1942. Their primary mission was to help the resistance movement Milorg
with the assassinations of Norwegian Nazis and informers by training selected Milorg personnel for the task. If asked by Milorg they would also help as executioners. According to Chief of Defence, General Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen
, the group should only act upon decisions by the Home Forces, and they brought no liquidation lists from the UK. The problem was that the operation had not been approved by Milorg in advance. In a meeting between Milorg leaders Jens Christian Hauge
and Arthur Hansson and the expedition leader, it turned out that Bittern operated with a list of persons that SOE wanted to get rid of. The list contained 62 names, which not only included informers and torture
rs, but also Nazi politicians such as the government
"ministers" Hagelin
, Lie
and Fuglesang
. Milorg feared that the reprisals might be terribly harsh compared with the benefits of such assassinations, based on recent experience from Telavåg
and Majavatn
. It was decided that the agents should be used as instructors for military training and hand-to-hand combat, and the four persons were split into two teams. While one team solved its tasks satisfactorily, the other team's behaviour led to a scandal. After episodes of heavy drinking, too much talking, and other hazardous behaviour, Milorg demanded the two SOE agents to be called back to the United Kingdom.
Operation Bittern was severely criticized by the Norwegian Home Forces in letters and other communications to the Norwegian government-in-exile in London. The government in London was distinctly unimpressed that SOE, with the tacit acceptance of Norwegian High Command
, had selected a former notorious criminal to take part in such a task. The incidents led to a long-lasting conflict between Milorg
, the government-in-exile and SOE, although eventually a more cooperative climate developed between them.
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...
planned and carried out in 1942 by the British Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
(SOE) and the Norwegian government-in-exile in London.
Four SOE agents and instructors—Thor Helliessen, Jan Allan, Ruben Langmo and Johannes S. Andersen
Johannes S. Andersen
Johannes Sigfred Andersen was a Norwegian resistance fighter during the Second World War, a member of the Norwegian Independent Company 1 . He was nicknamed "Gulosten"; 'The Yellow Cheese'. He also used the surname Ostein during the war...
—were sent to Norway and parachuted into 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...
north of 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...
in October 1942. Their primary mission was to help the resistance movement Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
with the assassinations of Norwegian Nazis and informers by training selected Milorg personnel for the task. If asked by Milorg they would also help as executioners. According to Chief of Defence, General Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen
Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen
Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen was a Norwegian Army officer.From 1937 to 1941, Hansteen served as Norwegian Military attaché to Helsinki...
, the group should only act upon decisions by the Home Forces, and they brought no liquidation lists from the UK. The problem was that the operation had not been approved by Milorg in advance. In a meeting between Milorg leaders Jens Christian Hauge
Jens Christian Hauge
Jens Christian Hauge , often written Jens Chr. Hauge, was a Norwegian World War II resistance figure and politician who was the leader of the secret military organization Milorg during WWII...
and Arthur Hansson and the expedition leader, it turned out that Bittern operated with a list of persons that SOE wanted to get rid of. The list contained 62 names, which not only included informers and torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
rs, but also Nazi politicians such as the government
Quisling regime
The Quisling regime, or the Quisling government are common names used to refer to the collaborationist government led by Vidkun Quisling in occupied Norway during the Second World War. The official name of the regime from 1 February 1942 until its dissolution in May 1945 was Nasjonale regjering...
"ministers" Hagelin
Albert Viljam Hagelin
Albert Viljam Hagelin was a Norwegian businessman and opera singer who became the Minister of Domestic Affairs in the Quisling regime, the puppet government headed by Vidkun Quisling during Germany's World War II occupation of Norway....
, Lie
Jonas Lie (government minister)
Jonas Lie was a Norwegian councillor of state in the Nasjonal Samling government of Vidkun Quisling in 1940, then acting councillor of state 1940–1941, and Minister of Police between 1941 and 1945 in the new Quisling government...
and Fuglesang
Rolf Jørgen Fuglesang
Rolf Jørgen Fuglesang was a Norwegian secretary to the NS government of Vidkun Quisling 1940–1941 and minister 1941–1942 and 1942–1945...
. Milorg feared that the reprisals might be terribly harsh compared with the benefits of such assassinations, based on recent experience from Telavåg
Telavåg
Telavåg is a small village in the municipality of Sund, located 39 km south west of Bergen, Norway, with a population of about 600.-Telavåg tragedy:...
and Majavatn
Majavatn
Majavatn is a village in the municipality of Grane in Nordland county, Norway. It is located on the eastern shore of the lake Majavatnet, just west of the boundary of Børgefjell National Park...
. It was decided that the agents should be used as instructors for military training and hand-to-hand combat, and the four persons were split into two teams. While one team solved its tasks satisfactorily, the other team's behaviour led to a scandal. After episodes of heavy drinking, too much talking, and other hazardous behaviour, Milorg demanded the two SOE agents to be called back to the United Kingdom.
Operation Bittern was severely criticized by the Norwegian Home Forces in letters and other communications to the Norwegian government-in-exile in London. The government in London was distinctly unimpressed that SOE, with the tacit acceptance of Norwegian High Command
Norwegian High Command
The Norwegian High Command was Norway's top military leadership from 1970 to 2003. It was first established in Northern Norway in 1940 by General Otto Ruge. It was then re-established by the Norwegian Government-in-exile in London in 1942, lasting until 1946...
, had selected a former notorious criminal to take part in such a task. The incidents led to a long-lasting conflict between Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
, the government-in-exile and SOE, although eventually a more cooperative climate developed between them.