Hans "Kyllingen" Storhaug, MM,

DSM DSM or dsm may refer to: Science and technology * Deep space maneuver * Design structure matrix or dependency structure matrix, a representation of a system or project * Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ** DSM-5, the fifth e ...

(23 May 1915 – 8 June 1995) was a

Norwegian resistance The Norwegian resistance (Norwegian: ''Motstandsbevegelsen'') to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms: *Asserting the legitimacy of the exiled government, ...

member during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, especially noted for his role in the heavy water sabotage 1942–1943, and for his participation in the

SOE SOE may refer to: Organizations * State-owned enterprise * Special Operations Executive, a British World War II clandestine sabotage and resistance organisation ** Special Operations Executive in the Netherlands, or Englandspiel * Society of Opera ...

operation ''Grebe'' and '' Grebe Red'' in

Østerdalen Østerdalen () is a valley and traditional district in Innlandet county, in Eastern Norway. This area typically is described as the large Glåma river valley as well as all its tributary valleys. It includes the municipalities Rendalen, Alvdal, F ...

1943–1945.

Personal life

Storhaug was born in Rena, a son of Ludvig Storhaug and Emilie Røed. He was a brother-in-law of singer and songwriter Alf Prøysen, who married his sister Else Storhaug in 1948.

World War II

Following the German invasion of Norway in April 1940 Storhaug participated in the defence of Norway as a soldier. He fought against the Germans in

Solør Solør is a Norwegian traditional district consisting of the valley between Elverum in the north and Kongsvinger in the south. It is part of Innlandet county and it includes the municipalities Våler, Åsnes, and Grue. Glomma valley Glommadal ...

on 18 April, and later took part in skirmishes at Dovre. In December 1940 he traveled from Ålesund to Scotland, where he joined the

Norwegian Independent Company 1 Norwegian Independent Company 1 (NOR.I.C.1, pronounced ''Norisén'' (approx. "noor-ee-sehn") in Norwegian) was a British Special Operations Executive (SOE) group formed in March 1941 originally for the purpose of performing commando raids during ...

( no, Kompani Linge). He took part in

Operation Anklet Operation Anklet was the codename given to a British Commando raid during the Second World War. The raid on the Lofoten Islands was carried out in December 1941, by 300 men from No. 12 Commando and the Norwegian Independent Company 1. The land ...

, the Commando raid on Reine on 26 December 1941. He was recruited a member of the Swallow/Gunnerside team which was parachuted onto the

Hardangervidda Hardangervidda ( en, Hardanger Plateau) is a mountain plateau (Norwegian: ''vidde'') in central southern Norway, covering parts of Vestland, Vestfold og Telemark, and Viken counties. It is the largest plateau of its kind in Europe, with a cold ye ...

plateau on 16 February 1943, along with

Joachim Rønneberg Joachim Holmboe Rønneberg (30 August 1919 – 21 October 2018) was a Norwegian Army Officer (armed forces), officer and broadcaster. He was known for his Norwegian resistance movement, resistance work during World War II, most notably commandin ...

(leader of the group),

Knut Haukelid Knut Haukelid ( May 17, 1911 - March 8, 1994) was a Norwegian military officer. He was a Norwegian resistance movement soldier during World War II, most notable for participating in the Norwegian heavy water sabotage. Early life Knut Anders Ha ...

Fredrik Kayser ) , battles= Norwegian heavy water sabotage, World War II , awards= St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch (twice) Military Medal Légion d'honneur , family= , laterwork= , enteredservice= Fredrik Thorbjørn Kayser, (25 May 1918 – 2 February 2009) ...

Birger Strømsheim Birger Edvin Martin Strømsheim, (11 October 1911 – 10 November 2012) was a Norwegian resistance movement, Norwegian resistance member during World War II, especially noted for his role in the Norwegian heavy water sabotage, heavy water sab ...

and Kasper Idland. After joining the preparatory Grouse team, the combined group succeeded in the destruction of heavy water equipment and stock at

Vemork Vemork is a hydroelectric power plant outside Rjukan in Tinn, Norway. The plant was built by Norsk Hydro and opened in 1911, its main purpose being to fix nitrogen for the production of fertilizer. At opening, it was the world's largest power pl ...

in February 1943. After the mission at Vemork Storhaug escaped by ski to Sweden, together with four of the other Gunnerside members. From Sweden he returned to Britain. He participated in the Operation Grebe, where six SOE soldiers were paradropped in Eastern Norway in October 1943. Three of the six men were killed immediately, drowning after landing in a lightly frozen lake. The other three made their way to Sweden. They returned to Norway in March 1944 (renamed ''Grebe Red''), and operated behind enemy lines in

until the war ended.

Legacy

Storhaug participated in the 1948 film ''

Kampen om tungtvannet ''Operation Swallow: The Battle for Heavy Water'' (original title: ''Kampen om tungtvannet'', French title: ''La Bataille de l'eau lourde'') is a Norwegian-French film from 1948. The history is based on the best known commando raid in Norway durin ...

'', where he played himself. In the 2015 television series ''

The Heavy Water War ''The Heavy Water War'' (original title ' and alternative title ''The Saboteurs'' ( UK)) is a six-episode war drama TV miniseries written by Petter S. Rosenlund and produced by Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. It is a Norwegian/Danish/Bri ...

'', Endre Ellefsen played the character "Hans Storhaug".

Honors

* - St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch * -

Haakon VIIs 70th Anniversary Medal Haakon VII 70th Anniversary Medal is a Norwegian military award, which was instituted by King Haakon VII of Norway on 27 October 1942. It was awarded in recognition of military personnel who served in the Norwegian armed forces in Britain on the ...

* -

Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation. Examples include: *Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in action * Distinguishe ...

* -

Military Medal The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The award ...

* -

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

* - Medal of Freedom

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Storhaug, Hans 1915 births 1995 deaths People from Åmot Norwegian Army personnel of World War II Norwegian expatriates in the United Kingdom Norwegian resistance members Norwegian Special Operations Executive personnel Recipients of the St. Olav's Medal with Oak Branch Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom) Recipients of the Military Medal Recipients of the Legion of Honour Recipients of the Medal of Freedom