Sverre Granlund
Encyclopedia
Corporal Sverre Granlund (9 November 1918 – 1943) was a Norwegian
commando during the Second World War
.
, to a father from Øyer
and a mother from Høyland
. He lived initially in Saltdal
and later, Bodø
. His job was at the Nordland Line. He was a member of the Norwegian Red Cross Youth, and served in the Norwegian Army
during the Battle of Narvik in 1940.
He fled Norway for Sweden in 1941, and later continued to the United Kingdom. Here he joined the Special Operations Executive
and underwent training for the Norwegian Independent Company 1
. His first operation was on 27 May 1941 when he set the Frostfile machine room of the factory in Bodø on fire.
generator plant in Operation Musketoon
. Granlund and Cpl. Erling Djupdraet were the two Norwegians in the twelve man team, the rest of whom were British.
He and Captain Joseph Houghton had the role of scouts, ascending the Svartisen
. Granlund was the only member of the team who had to kill a German, shooting a guard at the plant. After the explosions had torn apart the local dam, he sought refuge at Fykandalen, a mountain resort where he was given a map to a bridge that would lead him further up on the mountain. Unable to find the bridge by nightfall, he met up with Houghton and Sergant Erling Djupdraet and the three returned to the resort where a scuffle broke out between the group and some Germans who had come to question the owners. After the fight, with Djupdraet wounded by a bayonet, Trigg, O'Brien, Granlund and Fairclough split off and managed to avoid capture, escaping to Stockholm
, then London
.
Djupdraet died on 24 September at the hospital in Bodø and of the rest, only O'Brien and Fairclough survived the war.
The distance from Bjærangfjord to Sweden
walked on foot by Granlund was 250 kilometres and took him over seven days. A very long distance with practically no food and only wearing his uniform.
hit a German minefield southwest of Fugløyvær, carrying his team as part of Operation Seagull
. He was 25.
The mines had been laid by the German minelayer Cobra and some years after the end of the war, the Royal Norwegian Navy
located HNoMS Uredd in Fugløyfjord south-west of Bodø, by studying German maps of minefields along the Norwegian coast.
. He also received the War Medal and the British Distinguished Conduct Medal
. In 1995, the Norwegian artist Laila Lorentzen commemorated his role in the war with a bust
constructed for Saltdal Museum in Rognan
.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
commando during the Second World War
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...
.
Early life and World War II
He was born in SauheradSauherad
Sauherad is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Midt-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Akkerhaugen...
, to a father from Øyer
Øyer
Øyer is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tingberg....
and a mother from Høyland
Høyland
Høyland is a former municipality in Rogaland county, Norway.The parish of Høiland was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 2,286. On 6 April 1861 the city Sandnes was separated from Høyland to contstitute a municipality of...
. He lived initially in Saltdal
Saltdal
-Transportation:European route E6 passes through the entire length of Saltdal, with the Nordlandsbanen railway running alongside it. A road running east through the Junkerdalen valley leads to Sweden. The nearest main airport is in Bodø, a nearly two hour drive from Rognan.- Economy :Saltdal has a...
and later, Bodø
Bodø
is a city and a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Salten region.The city of Bodø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Bodin was merged with Bodø on 1 January 1968. Skjerstad was merged with Bodø on 1 January 2005...
. His job was at the Nordland Line. He was a member of the Norwegian Red Cross Youth, and served in 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...
during the Battle of Narvik in 1940.
He fled Norway for Sweden in 1941, and later continued to the United Kingdom. Here he joined the 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...
and underwent training for the Norwegian Independent Company 1
Norwegian Independent Company 1
Norwegian Independent Company 1 was a British SOE group formed in March 1941 originally for the purpose of performing commando raids during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. It was organized under the leadership of Captain Martin Linge...
. His first operation was on 27 May 1941 when he set the Frostfile machine room of the factory in Bodø on fire.
Operation Musketoon
In 1942 he participated in the commando raid against the GlomfjordGlomfjord
Glomfjord is an industrial community at the head of a small fjord of the same name in Meløy municipality, northern Norway, above the Arctic Circle. The population is 1,204.-Heavy industry:...
generator plant in Operation Musketoon
Operation Musketoon
Operation Musketoon was the codeword for an Anglo-Norwegian raid in the Second World War. The operation was mounted against the German-held Glomfjord power plant in Norway between 11–21 September 1942....
. Granlund and Cpl. Erling Djupdraet were the two Norwegians in the twelve man team, the rest of whom were British.
He and Captain Joseph Houghton had the role of scouts, ascending the Svartisen
Svartisen
Svartisen is a collective term for two glaciers located in northern Norway. The system consists of two separate glaciers,* Vestre Svartisen , which is the second largest glacier on the Norwegian mainland after Jostedalsbreen* Østre Svartisen , which...
. Granlund was the only member of the team who had to kill a German, shooting a guard at the plant. After the explosions had torn apart the local dam, he sought refuge at Fykandalen, a mountain resort where he was given a map to a bridge that would lead him further up on the mountain. Unable to find the bridge by nightfall, he met up with Houghton and Sergant Erling Djupdraet and the three returned to the resort where a scuffle broke out between the group and some Germans who had come to question the owners. After the fight, with Djupdraet wounded by a bayonet, Trigg, O'Brien, Granlund and Fairclough split off and managed to avoid capture, escaping to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, then London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Djupdraet died on 24 September at the hospital in Bodø and of the rest, only O'Brien and Fairclough survived the war.
The distance from Bjærangfjord to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
walked on foot by Granlund was 250 kilometres and took him over seven days. A very long distance with practically no food and only wearing his uniform.
Operation Seagull
He died at sea on 10 February 1943 in transit to Norway, when the Norwegian submarine HNoMS UreddHNoMS Uredd (P-41)
HMS P41 was a Royal Navy U-class submarine built by Vickers-Armstrong. She was transferred to the exiled Royal Norwegian Navy before completion and renamed HNoMS Uredd. She has so far been the only Norwegian submarine ever lost.-Career:...
hit a German minefield southwest of Fugløyvær, carrying his team as part of Operation Seagull
Operation Seagull
Operation Seagull was a British action during the Second World War to destroy several Nazi-controlled industrial targets including a smelter at Arendal, with the help of Kompani Linge agents from Norway....
. He was 25.
The mines had been laid by the German minelayer Cobra and some years after the end of the war, the Royal Norwegian Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
located HNoMS Uredd in Fugløyfjord south-west of Bodø, by studying German maps of minefields along the Norwegian coast.
Legacy
Granlund was awarded Norways's highest decoration for military gallantry, the War Cross with SwordWar 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...
. He also received the War Medal and the British Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
. In 1995, the Norwegian artist Laila Lorentzen commemorated his role in the war with a bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
constructed for Saltdal Museum in Rognan
Rognan
Rognan is the centre of the municipality of Saltdal in Norway, with 2,532 inhabitants . The town is located innermost in the Salten fjord. Local industry includes the optical cable factory of Nexans Norway and Hepro...
.