Thore Horve
Encyclopedia
Thore Horve was a Norwegian naval officer and businessperson. He is best known for his naval commands and efforts during World War II
, for leading the Royal Norwegian Navy
from 1946 to 1949 and in 1951, and for his work to compensate war sailors many years later.
. He graduated from the Norwegian Naval Academy
in 1920, and served on various ships. In 1927 he married Bergljot Sollie (1903–1994), daughter of politician Harald Bredo Sollie
.
in April 1940, setting off war, Horve was the commander of HNoMS Draug. During the night of 9 April, Draug was patrolling and watching shipping in the Karmsund
. At about 0200hrs, Horve was notified that Oslofjord Fortress was engaging an unknown enemy force in the Oslofjord
, leading to the crew being ordered to full combat stations. At 0400hrs, an unknown ship, flying no national flag, was observed sailing northwards through the Karmsund. The ship refused to stop after both flares and warning shots had been fired and Draug had to give chase and capture the vessel. After leading the unknown ship into Haugesund
, its identity was found to be the 7,624 ton German
vessel Main. The two ships left Haugesund at about 0900hrs, but soon came under attack from a Luftwaffe bomber around 40 nautical miles (74.1 km) off the Norwegian coast. The bombs, aimed at the Main, missed but the German captain immediately scuttled his vessel and ordered his crew to abandon ship.
Horve remained commander of Draug until 3 November 1941. He was also commander of HNoMS Sleipner from 28 June 1940 to December 1941. He also had command of Glaisdale. He worked in the Royal Norwegian Navy High Command in London from 1941 to 1942, headed the Norwegian MTB Flotilla in Shetland from 1943 to 1944, and worked again at the Navy High Command from 1944 to 1945 and the Navy Special Service (Marinens Spesialtjeneste) in 1945.
in 1946 and Vice Admiral
in 1947, and from 1946 to 1949 Horve headed the entire Royal Norwegian Navy. He then headed the Navy Command of Northern Norway from 1949 to 1951, and the Royal Norwegian Navy again in 1951. He resigned in the same year in protest of Defence Minister Jens Christian Hauge
's political priorities, which Horve felt had given the Royal Norwegian Navy an inferior role within NATO (of which Norway was a founding member in 1949).
Horve retreated, working in the kelp
harvesting company Protan from 1951 to 1954. From 1954 he worked for the Imperial Ethiopian Navy, a project aided by the Norwegian state, but Horve resigned in 1956. The reason was that the project did not go in the preferred direction. From 1961 to 1964 he was the CEO of Philips Norway
. Also, in the 1960s Horve picked up the work to improve the treatment of Norwegian war sailors. The work had been started by sailors such as Leif Vetlesen
, but stagnated. Horve's work for the war sailors bore fruits in that the Parliament of Norway granted payments to crew in the merchant fleet Nortraship
in 1972. To Horve's dismay naval sailors did not benefit.
He was decorated with the War Cross with Sword in 1942 and in 1947 as a Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav. Horve died in August 1990 in Oslo, almost 91 years old.
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...
, for leading 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...
from 1946 to 1949 and in 1951, and for his work to compensate war sailors many years later.
Early life and career
He was born in HetlandHetland
Hetland is a former municipality in Rogaland county, Norway.It was created as Hetland formannskapsdistrikt in 1837. On 1 July 1922, Randaberg was separated from Hetland to create a municipality of its own. The split left Hetland with a population of 10,167...
. He graduated from the Norwegian Naval Academy
Norwegian Naval Academy
- External links :*...
in 1920, and served on various ships. In 1927 he married Bergljot Sollie (1903–1994), daughter of politician Harald Bredo Sollie
Harald Bredo Sollie
Harald Bredo Sollie was a Norwegian jurist, naval officer and politician for the Conservative Party.He was born in Horten as a son of Hans Paulsen Sollie and Bredine Andrea Løes . He was an uncle of politician Hans Johan Sollie...
.
World War II
When Nazi Germany attacked NorwayOperation 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...
in April 1940, setting off war, Horve was the commander of HNoMS Draug. During the night of 9 April, Draug was patrolling and watching shipping in the Karmsund
Karmsund
Karmsund is a strait dividing Karmøy and Haugesund municipalities in western Norway. The Karmsund Bridge linking Karmøy to the mainland was completed in 1955....
. At about 0200hrs, Horve was notified that Oslofjord Fortress was engaging an unknown enemy force in the Oslofjord
Oslofjord
The Oslofjord is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the Torbjørnskjær and Færder lighthouses and down to Langesund in the south to Oslo in the north....
, leading to the crew being ordered to full combat stations. At 0400hrs, an unknown ship, flying no national flag, was observed sailing northwards through the Karmsund. The ship refused to stop after both flares and warning shots had been fired and Draug had to give chase and capture the vessel. After leading the unknown ship into Haugesund
Haugesund
is a town and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.-Location:Haugesund was separated from Torvastad as a town and municipality of its own in 1855. The rural municipality of Skåre was merged with Haugesund on January 1, 1958. Haugesund is a small municipality, only 73 km²...
, its identity was found to be the 7,624 ton German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
vessel Main. The two ships left Haugesund at about 0900hrs, but soon came under attack from a Luftwaffe bomber around 40 nautical miles (74.1 km) off the Norwegian coast. The bombs, aimed at the Main, missed but the German captain immediately scuttled his vessel and ordered his crew to abandon ship.
Horve remained commander of Draug until 3 November 1941. He was also commander of HNoMS Sleipner from 28 June 1940 to December 1941. He also had command of Glaisdale. He worked in the Royal Norwegian Navy High Command in London from 1941 to 1942, headed the Norwegian MTB Flotilla in Shetland from 1943 to 1944, and worked again at the Navy High Command from 1944 to 1945 and the Navy Special Service (Marinens Spesialtjeneste) in 1945.
Post-war career
After the war ended in May 1945, Horve headed the Navy Command of Southern Norway briefly, and then the planning department of the Navy High Command. He reached the ranks of Counter AdmiralCounter Admiral
Counter admiral is a rank found in many navies of the world, but no longer used in English-speaking countries, where the equivalent rank is rear admiral...
in 1946 and Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
in 1947, and from 1946 to 1949 Horve headed the entire Royal Norwegian Navy. He then headed the Navy Command of Northern Norway from 1949 to 1951, and the Royal Norwegian Navy again in 1951. He resigned in the same year in protest of Defence Minister 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...
's political priorities, which Horve felt had given the Royal Norwegian Navy an inferior role within NATO (of which Norway was a founding member in 1949).
Horve retreated, working in the kelp
Kelp
Kelps are large seaweeds belonging to the brown algae in the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera....
harvesting company Protan from 1951 to 1954. From 1954 he worked for the Imperial Ethiopian Navy, a project aided by the Norwegian state, but Horve resigned in 1956. The reason was that the project did not go in the preferred direction. From 1961 to 1964 he was the CEO of Philips Norway
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
. Also, in the 1960s Horve picked up the work to improve the treatment of Norwegian war sailors. The work had been started by sailors such as Leif Vetlesen
Leif Vetlesen
Leif Vetlesen was a Norwegian sailor, political worker, organizational worker and writer.He was born in Kristiania as a son of engineer Alf Vetlesen and teacher Aagot Bugge . He was a great-grandson of Frederik Moltke Bugge. He finished his secondary education at Oslo Cathedral School in 1939,...
, but stagnated. Horve's work for the war sailors bore fruits in that the Parliament of Norway granted payments to crew in the merchant fleet Nortraship
Nortraship
The Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission was established in London in April 1940 to administer the Norwegian merchant fleet outside German-controlled areas. Nortraship operated some 1,000 vessels and was the largest shipping company in the world. It is credited for giving a major contribution to...
in 1972. To Horve's dismay naval sailors did not benefit.
He was decorated with the War Cross with Sword in 1942 and in 1947 as a Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav. Horve died in August 1990 in Oslo, almost 91 years old.