Leif Utne (1919 – 25 August 2004) 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 and later a physician.

Early life

Utne was born in Bergen as the son of a physician. He finished secondary school in 1938, and enrolled in medicine studies at the University of Oslo in the same year.

World War II

When World War II reached Norway on 9 April 1940, with the

German invasion German invasion may refer to: Pre-1900s * German invasion of Hungary (1063) World War I * German invasion of Belgium (1914) * German invasion of Luxembourg (1914) World War II * Invasion of Poland * German invasion of Belgium (1940) ...

, Utne volunteered and fought for Norway in the battles of Southern Norway. After Norway capitulated, he was a co-founder of the resistance group " Theta". The group was self-initiated in a circle of friends, but they lacked contacts, knowledge and materials to actually conduct intelligence work. Other members of the group running "Theta" were Bjarne Thorsen,

Kristian Ottosen Kristian Ottosen (15 January 1921, Solund – 1 June 2006, Oslo) was a Norwegian non-fiction writer and public servant. While still a student, he was also active in the Norwegian resistance movement during World War II and was imprisoned as a Nach ...

Helmer Dahl Helmer Hartmann Dahl (17 June 1908 – 29 March 1999) was a Norwegian electrical engineer and director of research at the Chr. Michelsen Institute. Biography Dahl was born at Sarpsborg in Østfold, Norway. He was the son of Karl Theodor Dahl (186 ...

, Hagbarth Schjøtt, Jr. and

Jan Dahm Jan Dahm (5 April 1921 – 16 February 2013) was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II. He was among the first group of people to be subject to court-martial during the German occupation of Norway, and later initiated and headed the Sec ...

. Two members were sent to the United Kingdom: Leif Utne and Bjarne Thorsen. Utne travelled via

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

, while Thorsen crossed the Norwegian Sea. Thorsen returned with the necessary equipment, and a radio post was finally set up in December 1941, with its headquarters at the famous seaside location Bryggen. By that time, however, Leif Utne had become stationed in Scotland as a part of the Royal Norwegian Navy-in-exile. He operated out of

Lerwick Lerwick (; non, Leirvik; nrn, Larvik) is the main town and port of the Shetland archipelago, Scotland. Shetland's only burgh, Lerwick had a population of about 7,000 residents in 2010. Centred off the north coast of the Scottish mainland ...

in a motor torpedo boat squadron, among others together with

Hugo Munthe-Kaas Hugo Conrad Munthe-Kaas Distinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom), DSM (3 February 1922 – 19 March 2012) was a Norway, Norwegian intelligence agent and resistance fighter during World War II. He received seventeen decorations for his war ser ...

. Utne was decorated with the

Norwegian War Medal __NOTOC__ The War Medal ( no, Krigsmedaljen) is a Norwegian war decoration for service during Second World War, and later for meritous service during war. Criteria The Norwegian War Medal was instituted by King Haakon VII of Norway by Royal Decre ...

Later career

After the war, Utne resumed his medicine studies. He graduated with the

cand.med. Candidate of Medicine ( la, candidatus medicinae (male), ''candidata medicinae'' (female), abbreviated cand. med.) is an academic degree awarded in Denmark, Iceland, and Norway following a six-year medical school education. Medical students in ...

degree in 1950. From 1961 he was a specialist in skin diseases. He worked at

Haukeland University Hospital Haukeland University Hospital ( no, Haukeland universitetssjukehus) is a hospital in Bergen, Norway, and one of the eleven institutions that make up Bergen Hospital Trust. Haukeland is the largest in Norway in terms of number of patients, and serv ...

, in his own clinic as well as the St. Franciscus Hospital in Florida, Bergen. He trained students belonging to the University of Bergen. He also continued working with the navy, and reached the rank of commander in 1976. He chaired the local branch of the

Norwegian Medical Society The Norwegian Medical Society ( no, Det norske medicinske Selskab, la, Societas Medica Norvegica) is a medical organisation in Norway. It has its roots in an informal group created in 1826, which subscribed to and shared foreign medical journa ...

from 1974 to 1975. He was also active in ''Doktorklubben av 1959'', Nasjonalhjelpen and the sports club Bergens TF. He was married and had two daughters. He died in August 2004 at Haukeland University Hospital.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Utne, Leif 1919 births 2004 deaths Norwegian resistance members Norwegian Army personnel of World War II Norwegian expatriates in the United Kingdom Norwegian dermatologists University of Oslo alumni Physicians from Bergen Royal Norwegian Navy personnel of World War II Norwegian military doctors Military personnel from Bergen