Per Giertsen
Encyclopedia
Per Egeberg Giertsen was a Norwegian physician, especially known for helping members of the Norwegian resistance movement
during and after World War II
.
(Oslo), and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
with the cand.med.
degree in 1932. He worked as a municipal physician in Nedre Eiker
from 1932 to 1934, and then moved back to Oslo where he had his own physician's office.
, he became involved in the Norwegian resistance movement
. Starting on 14 September 1944 he was a contact of the sabotage squad Aks 13000
. During a saboteur attack against gasoline tanks at Vestheim School, the saboteur Reidar Smith was shot, but managed to crawl home to his aunt Frieda Smith who contacted Giertsen. Giertsen went to Smith's home, then brought the injured saboteur to his own home the following morning, and kept him there for three weeks. This pattern, with Giertsen both making "field visits" as well as providing housing, continued. Giertsen helped with almost all in-battle injuries of Aks 13000. He also helped with injuries sustained elsewhere, such as Per Røed's arm injury caused by horse bite.
in May 1945, when Aks 13000 became Sentralledelsens Aksjonskommando under the temporary Home Front rule, Giertsen continued to serve. Without payment he performed medical checks of all sabotage personnel in the district, at a hotel in Frogner
together with Ole Øyseth. He later struggled to gain recognition and acknowledgement of certain saboteurs' injuries as war injuries eligible for welfare benefits. One particular case, in which a saboteur was ultimately granted veteran's welfare, lasted from 1950 to 1958. Giertsen also continued his physician career, and worked part-time in the companies Fred. Olsen & Co.
from 1935 to 1947, Aftenposten
from 1945 to 1973, Esso Norway
from 1945 to 1955, Leif Höegh & Co
from 1955 to 1975 as well as the Norwegian royal court administration from 1945 to 1984. He was also a physician at the 1952 Winter Olympics
as well as Holmenkollen
events.
He was decorated with the Defence Medal 1940 – 1945
and the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He also received an award plaque
from the Association for the Promotion of Skiing. He died in September 1990.
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:...
during and after 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...
.
Pre-war career
He 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...
(Oslo), and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
with the cand.med.
Cand.med.
Candidate of Medicine , Candidata Medicinae , abbreviated Cand. Med.) is an academic degree awarded in Denmark, Iceland and Norway following a six-year medical school education....
degree in 1932. He worked as a municipal physician in Nedre Eiker
Nedre Eiker
Nedre Eiker is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Eiker. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Mjøndalen. The old municipality of Eiker was divided into Nedre Eiker and Øvre Eiker on 1 July 1885.-Name:The Old Norse form of...
from 1932 to 1934, and then moved back to Oslo where he had his own physician's office.
World War II
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi GermanyOccupation 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 became involved in the Norwegian 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:...
. Starting on 14 September 1944 he was a contact of the 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....
. During a saboteur attack against gasoline tanks at Vestheim School, the saboteur Reidar Smith was shot, but managed to crawl home to his aunt Frieda Smith who contacted Giertsen. Giertsen went to Smith's home, then brought the injured saboteur to his own home the following morning, and kept him there for three weeks. This pattern, with Giertsen both making "field visits" as well as providing housing, continued. Giertsen helped with almost all in-battle injuries of Aks 13000. He also helped with injuries sustained elsewhere, such as Per Røed's arm injury caused by horse bite.
Post-war career
After the liberation of NorwayVictory 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...
in May 1945, when Aks 13000 became Sentralledelsens Aksjonskommando under the temporary Home Front rule, Giertsen continued to serve. Without payment he performed medical checks of all sabotage personnel in the district, at a hotel in Frogner
Frogner
Frogner is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. In addition to traditional Frogner, the borough incorporates Bygdøy, Uranienborg and Majorstuen....
together with Ole Øyseth. He later struggled to gain recognition and acknowledgement of certain saboteurs' injuries as war injuries eligible for welfare benefits. One particular case, in which a saboteur was ultimately granted veteran's welfare, lasted from 1950 to 1958. Giertsen also continued his physician career, and worked part-time in the companies Fred. Olsen & Co.
Fred. Olsen & Co.
Fred. Olsen & Co. is a large shipping company based in Oslo, Norway. The company was founded by Petter Olsen in 1848. Today it is the holding company that controls the Olsen family's interest through Bonheur and Ganger Rolf.-History:...
from 1935 to 1947, Aftenposten
Aftenposten
Aftenposten is Norway's largest newspaper. It retook this position in 2010, taking it from the tabloid Verdens Gang which had been the largest newspaper for several decades. It is based in Oslo. The morning edition, which is distributed across all of Norway, had a circulation of 250,179 in 2007...
from 1945 to 1973, Esso Norway
Esso
Esso is an international trade name for ExxonMobil and its related companies. Pronounced , it is derived from the initials of the pre-1911 Standard Oil, and as such became the focus of much litigation and regulatory restriction in the United States. In 1972, it was largely replaced in the U.S. by...
from 1945 to 1955, Leif Höegh & Co
Leif Höegh & Co
Leif Höegh & Co is an international shipping company, founded in 1927 by Norwegian Leif Høegh . Since 2006 the company has been structured as two separate entities, Höegh Autoliners and Höegh LNG, with Leif Höegh & Co acting as a common holding company.-See also: -External links:***...
from 1955 to 1975 as well as the Norwegian royal court administration from 1945 to 1984. He was also a physician at the 1952 Winter Olympics
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
as well as Holmenkollen
Holmenkollen
Holmenkollen is a neighborhood in the Vestre Aker borough of Oslo, Norway. In addition to being a residential area, the area has been a ski recreation area since the late 19th century, with its famous, eponymous, ski jump arena hosting competitions since 1892...
events.
He was decorated with the Defence Medal 1940 – 1945
Defence Medal 1940 – 1945
The Defence Medal 1940 – 1945 is the award rewarded to those military and civilian personnel who participated in the fight against the German invasion and occupation of Norway between 1940 and 1945....
and the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He also received an award plaque
Commemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
from the Association for the Promotion of Skiing. He died in September 1990.