Tikken Manus
Encyclopedia
Ida Nikoline "Tikken" Manus, née Ida Nikoline Lie Lindebrække, formerly married Bernardes (28 June 1914 – 12 October 2010) was a Norwegian resistance member.
She was a daughter of County Governor Gjert Lindebrække (1879–1960) and Ida Bessesen Lie (1881–1944), and a sister of Sjur Lindebrække
. She was a niece of writer Bernt Bessesen Lie
.
She hailed from Kalfaret
in Bergen
, and tried different ventures before the Second World War. She worked an office job in England, and attended French classes while socializing in Paris. She returned to England where she married diplomat George Bernardes, and had the son George Jr. in 1939. They moved to Norway, where her husband was a consul
in Haugesund
. When the Second World War reached Norway on 9 April 1940 with the German invasion
, Tikken was in Bergen. Her husband was injured while visiting Åndalsnes
, and when he was operated in Sweden, Tikken followed and was hired at the British legation in Stockholm in 1943. Here, she was tasked with coordinating the contact with Norwegian resistance members
who had fled German-occupation Norway for neutral Sweden, and the political and military authorities in Great Britain. Her codename was "Tante" ("Aunt").
While working here, she met resistance member Max Manus
(1914–1996). After a lengthy process of divorcing her husband, she married Max Manus in March 1947 and took his last name. After the war, Tikken Manus was hired by resistance member Harald Grieg
in the publishing house Gyldendal
, but eventually joined him in running a small company in the office machine business. They lived at Landøya
in Asker
. Her husband died in 1996, and she died in October 2010. In addition to George Jr, the two had the children Max Jr. and Mette.
A book about Tikken Manus was published in February 2009, Tikken Manus. Sabotørenes hemmelige medspiller. In 2008, she was made famous to a broader audience when her character was included in the film Max Manus
. She was portrayed by actor Agnes Kittelsen
.
She was a daughter of County Governor Gjert Lindebrække (1879–1960) and Ida Bessesen Lie (1881–1944), and a sister of Sjur Lindebrække
Sjur Lindebrække
Sjur Lindebrække was a Norwegian banker and Conservative Party of Norway politician. From 1940 he worked as assistant manager in Bergens Privatbank, and became bank manager in 1945, administrative director in 1959, and from 1969 he was working chairman...
. She was a niece of writer Bernt Bessesen Lie
Bernt Lie
Bernt Bessesen Lie was a Norwegian novelist.He was born in Mandal as a son of stipendiary magistrate Emil Bernhard Lie and Nicoline Bessesen. Through his sister Ida, he was the brother-in-law of Gjert Lindebrække and an uncle of Sjur Lindebrække and Tikken Manus. Through his brother Vilhelm Lie...
.
She hailed from Kalfaret
Kalfaret
Kalfaret is an affluent neighbourhood of the city of Bergen, Norway, located in Bergenhus borough, adjacent to the city centre.-History:Until the end of the 19th century, wealthy citizens of Bergen had lived side by side with the rest of the city's population...
in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, and tried different ventures before the Second World War. She worked an office job in England, and attended French classes while socializing in Paris. She returned to England where she married diplomat George Bernardes, and had the son George Jr. in 1939. They moved to Norway, where her husband was a consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
in 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...
. When the Second World War reached Norway on 9 April 1940 with the German invasion
Operation 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...
, Tikken was in Bergen. Her husband was injured while visiting Åndalsnes
Åndalsnes
is a town in the municipality of Rauma in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Åndalsnes is the administrative center of Rauma. The town has a population of 2,207...
, and when he was operated in Sweden, Tikken followed and was hired at the British legation in Stockholm in 1943. Here, she was tasked with coordinating the contact with Norwegian resistance members
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:...
who had fled German-occupation Norway for neutral Sweden, and the political and military authorities in Great Britain. Her codename was "Tante" ("Aunt").
While working here, she met resistance member Max Manus
Max Manus
Maximo Guillermo "Max" Manus DSO, MC & Bar was a Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II.Manus was born in Bergen to a Norwegian father and a Danish mother...
(1914–1996). After a lengthy process of divorcing her husband, she married Max Manus in March 1947 and took his last name. After the war, Tikken Manus was hired by resistance member Harald Grieg
Harald Grieg
Harald Grieg was a Norwegian publisher.He was a relative of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Harald's brother Nordahl Grieg was a writer and an active member of the Free Norwegian Forces during the German occupation of Norway...
in the publishing house Gyldendal
Gyldendal
Gyldendal may refer to:*Gyldendal, a Danish publishing house*Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, a Norwegian publishing house founded as a demerger from the Danish one*Søren Gyldendal, the founder of the Danish publishing house...
, but eventually joined him in running a small company in the office machine business. They lived at Landøya
Landøya
Landøya is a half island situated on the north-western part of Asker, in the province of Akershus just outside of Oslo, Norway.The Norwegian figure skating star Sonia Henie lived on Landøya, and one of the roads, the Sonja Henies vei, is named after her...
in Asker
Asker
Asker is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Viken traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Asker. The municipality is a suburb of Oslo, the national capital...
. Her husband died in 1996, and she died in October 2010. In addition to George Jr, the two had the children Max Jr. and Mette.
A book about Tikken Manus was published in February 2009, Tikken Manus. Sabotørenes hemmelige medspiller. In 2008, she was made famous to a broader audience when her character was included in the film Max Manus
Max Manus (film)
Max Manus is a Norwegian 2008 biographic war film based on the real events of the life of resistance fighter Max Manus . The story follows Manus from the Winter War against the Soviet Union, through the outbreak of World War II and the German occupation of Norway until peacetime in 1945...
. She was portrayed by actor Agnes Kittelsen
Agnes Kittelsen
Agnes Elisabet Hilden Kittelsen is a Norwegian actress. She is known for her role as "Anneli" in the TV-series Skolen and as the title character's wife "Tikken" in the 2008 film Max Manus...
.