A a member of the Norwegian resistance movement during the German occupation of Norway in World War II. He is also known for being the most highly decorated person in Norway, including being the only one to have been awarded the War Cross with three swords.[5]
Contents
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* 1 Second World War
* 2 Post-war activities
* 3 In popular culture
* 4 References
* 5 External links
[edit] Second World War
He was decorated for his work as a Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II. Known also as Kjakan (The Chin) and No. 24, he participated in the resistance effort from 1940. At the time of the German invasion of Norway Sønsteby was living in Oslo and fought in Philip Hansteens Skiløperkompani. After Norway had been occupied he involved himself in the underground resistance, both through Milorg and the illegal press. In 1942 he became agent 24 in the Special Operations Executive. After saboteur training in England in 1943, he became the contact for all SOE agents in eastern Norway and head of the Norwegian Independent Company 1 group in Oslo. This group performed several spectacular acts of sabotage; among them smuggling out plates for the printing of Norwegian kroner from the Norwegian Central Bank and blowing up the office for Norwegian forced labour, thereby stopping the Nazis' plan of sending young Norwegian men to the Eastern Front.[3] In 1945 he was awarded the British Distinguished Service Order. In addition to the attack on the labour office the recommendation for this award mentions the theft of 75, 000 ration books, which allowed pressure to be placed on authorities, stopping a threatened cut in rations; the destruction of sulfuric acid manufacturing facilities in Lysaker; destroying or seriously damaging over 40 aircraft, and related equipment which were being repaired at a tram company depot in Korsvoll; destroying a railway locomotive which was under repair at Skabo; destroying a number of Bofors guns, a field gun and vital machine tools at the Kongsberg arms factory; and starting a large fire in an oil storage depot at Oslo harbour which destroyed large quantities of lubricating oil and other specialist oils.[6]
Operating in occupied territory, and being high on the Gestapo list of wanted men, Sønsteby became a master of disguise. He operated under 30 to 40 different names and identities, and the Germans did not acquire his real name until near the end of the war. They were never able to catch him.
[edit] Post-war activities
After the war Sønsteby moved to the United States where he enrolled in Harvard Business School. He also worked in the oil business before returning to Norway where he continued a career in private business. Throughout the post-war years and particularly after reaching retirement age Sønsteby has engaged in an extensive information and lecturing activity to pass on the lessons of the Second World War to future generations.[3]
Captain (Kaptein) Sønsteby is the only person awarded the War Cross with Three Swords. All three awards were made in 1946.[1][4]
In 2001 he was awarded the American-Scandinavian Foundation's prestigious culture award.[4]
On 13 May a statue of him was erected on Solli Plass in Oslo. The statue was sculpted by Per Ung and portrays a 25-year-old Sønsteby standing next to his bicycle. The statue was unveiled by King Harald of Norway.[7]
As Sønsteby celebrated his 90th birthday on 11 January he was honoured with a reception at Akershus Fortress attended by King Harald V of Norway and the other members of the Royal Family.[4]
In 2008 he was the first non-American awarded the United States Special Operations Command Medal.[3]
[edit] In popular culture
Gunnar Sønsteby and Knut Joner being interviewed by Nettavisen on location in Oslo for the film Max Manus
* Gunnar Sønsteby is portrayed by Knut Joner in the 2008 Norwegian World War II-biopic Max Manus.
* In 2010 an anonymous donor commissioned a portrait of Sønsteby from the well-known Norwegian artist, Knut André Vikshåland. The portrait was unveiled at Grev Wedels Plass Kunsthandel on 8 September by Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and will hang in the prominent Frognerseteren restaurant in Oslo alongside others such as Wenche Foss and Helge Ingstad.[8]
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