Norwegian Independent Company 1 (NOR.I.C.1, pronounced ''Norisén'' (approx. "noor-ee-sehn") in Norwegian) was a British

Special Operations Executive The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a secret British World War II organisation. It was officially formed on 22 July 1940 under Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton, from the amalgamation of three existing secret organisations. Its pu ...

(SOE) group formed in March 1941 originally for the purpose of performing commando raids during the

occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany during the Second World War began on 9 April 1940 after Operation Weserübung. Conventional armed resistance to the German invasion ended on 10 June 1940, and Nazi Germany controlled Norway until the ...

. Organized under the leadership of Captain

Martin Linge Martin Jensen Linge, (11 December 1894 – 27 December 1941) was a Norwegian actor who, in World War II, became the commander of the Norwegian Independent Company 1 (NOR.I.C.1) (pronounced as ''Norisen'' by the Norwegians), formed in March 194 ...

, it soon became a pool of talent for a variety of special operations in Norway.

History

The original English-language administrative title did not have much resonance in Norwegian and they soon became better known as Kompani Linge (''Linge's Company''). Martin Linge's death early in the war came to enhance the title, which became formalised as Lingekompaniet in his honour. The members of the unit were trained at various locations in the United Kingdom, including at the SOE establishment at Drumintoul Lodge in the

Cairngorms The Cairngorms ( gd, Am Monadh Ruadh) are a mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland closely associated with the mountain Cairn Gorm. The Cairngorms became part of Scotland's second national park (the Cairngorms National Park) on 1 S ...

, Scotland. Their initial raids in 1941 were to

Lofoten Lofoten () is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Lofoten has distinctive scenery with dramatic mountains and peaks, open sea and sheltered bays, beaches and untouched lands. There are two towns, Svolvær ...

(

Operation Claymore Operation Claymore was a British commando raid on the Norwegian Lofoten Islands during the Second World War. The Lofoten Islands were an important centre for the production of fish oil and glycerine, used in the German war economy. The landings ...

) and

Måløy Måløy () is a town in the municipality of Kinn in Vestland county, Norway. Måløy is located on the southeastern side of the island of Vågsøy, about northeast of the village of Holvika and about south of the village of Raudeberg. The M� ...

(

Operation Archery Operation Archery, also known as the Måløy Raid, was a British Combined Operations raid during World War II against German positions on the island of Vågsøy, Norway, on 27 December 1941. British Commandos of No. 3 Commando, two troops of ...

), where Martin Linge was killed. Their best known raids were probably the

Norwegian heavy water sabotage The Norwegian heavy water sabotage ( nb, Tungtvannsaksjonen; nn, Tungtvassaksjonen) was a series of Allied-led efforts to halt German heavy water production via hydroelectric plants in Nazi Germany-occupied Norway during World War II, involvi ...

. Other raids included the Thamshavnbanen sabotage. In the capital area, the

Oslogjengen Oslogjengen (lit. ''The Oslo Gang'', also called Kompani Linge's Oslo Detachment) was a sabotage group operating in Oslo from May 1944 to May 1945, during the last year of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. The group had its basis in both the ...

carried out several sabotage missions. In cooperation with

Milorg Milorg (abbreviation of militær organisasjon – military organization) was the main Norwegian resistance movement during World War II. Resistance work included intelligence gathering, sabotage, supply-missions, raids, espionage, transport of ...

, the main Norwegian resistance organisation, communication lines with

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

were gradually improved during the war, so that by 1945, 64 radio operators were spread throughout Norway. According to ''Mitt liv'', the autobiography of

Max Manus Maximo Guillermo "Max" Manus DSO, MC & Bar (9 December 1914 – 20 September 1996) was a Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II, specialising in sabotage in occupied Norway. After the war he wrote several books about his adventure ...

(1995. N.W. Damm), the Linge Company was for a time counted amongst the most decorated military forces in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

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 ...

. The veterans from the company were also amongst the first to welcome King Haakon home. A total of 530 Norwegians served in NOR.I.C.1, of whom 57 lost their lives.

Members

* Alf Aakre *

Karl Johan Aarsæther Karl may refer to: People * Karl (given name), including a list of people and characters with the name * Karl der Große, commonly known in English as Charlemagne * Karl Marx, German philosopher and political writer * Karl of Austria, last Austria ...

Knut Aarsæther Knut (Norwegian and Swedish), Knud (Danish), or Knútur (Icelandic) is a Scandinavian, German, and Dutch first name, of which the anglicised form is Canute. In Germany both "Knut" and "Knud" are used. In Spanish and Portuguese Canuto is used whi ...

Olav Aarsæther Olaf or Olav (, , or British ; Old Norse: ''Áleifr'', ''Ólafr'', ''Óleifr'', ''Anleifr'') is a Scandinavian and German given name. It is presumably of Proto-Norse origin, reconstructed as ''*Anu-laibaz'', from ''anu'' "ancestor, grand-father" a ...

Jan Allan Jan Bertil Allan (born 7 November 1934) is a Swedish jazz trumpeter and composer. He is the winner of a Grammis Award, the Swedish equivalent of the Grammys. He has also composed for several films such as ''The Adventures of Picasso'' (1978), '' ...

* Johannes S. Andersen *

Odd Andersen Odd Andersen (30 May 1920 – 24 September 2007) was a Norwegian footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, Ameri ...

Gunnar Bjålie Gunnar is a male first name of Nordic origin (''Gunnarr'' in Old Norse). The name Gunnar means fighter, soldier, and attacker, but mostly is referred to by the Viking saying which means Brave and Bold warrior (''gunnr'' "war" and ''arr'' "warrior ...

* Svein Blindheim *

Jan Baalsrud Jan Sigurd Baalsrud, MBE (13 December 1917 – 30 December 1988) was a commando in the Norwegian resistance trained by the British during World War II. Biography Early life Jan Baalsrud was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway and moved wi ...

Erik Gjems-Onstad Erik-Ørn Gjems-Onstad, MBE (22 February 1922 – 18 November 2011) was a Norwegian resistance member, officer, lawyer, sports official, politician, author and anti-immigration activist. Gjems-Onstad joined the Norwegian resistance movement a ...

* Arne Gjestland *

Gregers Gram Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram (15 December 1917 – 13 November 1944) was a Norwegian resistance fighter and saboteur. A corporal and later second lieutenant in the Norwegian Independent Company 1 ( no, Kompani Linge) during the Second World ...

* Evald Hansen *

Nils Uhlin Hansen Nils Uhlin Hansen (6 May 1919 – 11 January 1945) was a Norwegian long jumper and resistance member during World War II. He had a successful athletics career before the war; setting a Nordic long jump record which was not surpassed for 20 ...

Knut Haugland Knut Magne Haugland, DSO, MM, (23 September 1917 – 25 December 2009) was a resistance fighter and noted explorer from Norway, who accompanied Thor Heyerdahl on his famous 1947 ''Kon-Tiki'' expedition. Early life and World War II Haugland, bo ...

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 ...

Claus Helberg Claus Helberg (31 January 1919 – 6 March 2003) was a Norwegian resistance fighter and mountain guide. He was a member of Company Linge, a resistance commando unit that was best known for carrying out Norwegian heavy water sabotage during World Wa ...

Kasper Idland Kasper Idland MM, (21 June 1918 – 25 May 1968) was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II. Idland took part in the Norwegian heavy water sabotage in 1943. Early life and education Idland was born in Figgjo, the second child of ...

* Fredrik Kayser *

Arne Kjelstrup Arne Kjelstrup, MM (30 October 1913 – 5 May 1995) was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II, especially noted for his role in the heavy water sabotage 1942–1943, and for being military leader of Milorg section D-161 (Ko ...

* Claus Gustav Myrin Koren *

Jan Herman Linge Jan Herman Linge (28 January 1922 in Trondheim, Norway – 25 June 2007 Asker, Norway) was a Norwegian engineer and boat designer. Early life and career Linge was born in Trondheim, Norway. He was the son of Martin Linge Martin Jen ...

* Erling Sven Lorentzen *

Alf Malland Alf Malland (24 January 1917 – 16 August 1997) was a Norwegian actor. Biography He was born in Bergen, Norway. He began his acting career as a student at the Det Norske Teatret in Oslo. Following the German occupation of Norway during W ...

* Oskar Johan Nordvik * Herluf Nygaard * Martin Olsen * George Parker * Alv Kristian Pedersen * Bjørn Pedersen * Arthur Pevik * Johnny Pevik *

Jens-Anton Poulsson Jens-Anton Poulsson Distinguished Service Order, DSO, (27 October 1918 – 2 February 2010) was a Norwegian military officer. During World War II he was a Norwegian resistance movement, Norwegian resistance member, especially noted for his role in ...

Birger Rasmussen Birger Rasmussen MC & Bar (23 August 1920 – 6 December 2007) was a Norwegian businessman, director of Katfos Fabriker, manager of Borregaard's pulp and paper section, director of Follum Fabrikker, and president of the Federation of Norwegian ...

* August Rathke (11 december 1925 - 25 december 2022, Last surviving member)https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/JQrBx8/motstandsmannen-august-rathke-er-doed *

Boy Rist Boy Roald Rist (1 January 1912 – 16 November 1972) was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement during the German occupation of Norway in World War II. He was an naval officer, and a member Norwegian Independent Company 1 a part of Specia ...

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 ...

* Harald Sandvik * Einar Skinnarland *

Ingebjørg Skoghaug Ingeborg is a Germanic feminine given name, mostly used in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, derived from Old Norse ''Ingiborg, Ingibjǫrg'', combining the theonym ''Yngvi, Ing'' with the element ''borg'' "stronghold, protection". Ingebjørg is ...

* Odd Starheim *

Inge Steensland Inge Steensland (26 November 1923 – 18 September 2010) was a Norwegian resistance leader and shipping magnate. As a member of Kompani Linge, he participated in several commando raids during the German occupation of Norway, and was also part of th ...

* Kjell Stordalen * Hans Storhaug * Harald Stuve *

Gunnar Sønsteby Gunnar Fridtjof Thurmann Sønsteby DSO ( 1918 – 10 May 2012) was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement during the German occupation of Norway in World War II. Known by the nickname "Kjakan" ("The Chin") and as "Agent No. 24", ...

* Edvard Tallaksen * Anton Telnes *

Ragnar Ulstein Ragnar Leif Ulstein MM (19 April 1920 – 3 December 2019) was a Norwegian journalist, writer and resistance member. He wrote several documentary books from the Second World War, including surveys of the SOE group Norwegian Independent Compan ...

Knut Wigert Knut Kirsebom Wigert (3 October 1916 – 14 June 2006) was a Norwegian actor, known for his many Ibsen roles and the establishment of an Ibsen museum in Oslo. Personal life Knut Hansen was born in Skien as a son of Major Sigvald Hansen (188 ...

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 ...

Operation Seagull agents

* Cpl.

Sverre Granlund Corporal Sverre Granlund, DCM (9 November 1918 – 10 February 1943) was a Norwegian commando during the Second World War. Early life and World War II He was born in Sauherad in Telemark, to a father from Øyer and a mother from Høland. He l ...

- had also served as a commando during

Operation Musketoon Operation Musketoon was the codeword of a British–Norwegian commando raid in the Second World War. The operation was mounted against the German-held Glomfjord power plant in Norway from 11 to 21 September 1942. The raiders consisted of two of ...

* Sgt. Thorlief Daniel Grong * Lt.

Per Getz Per is a Latin Preposition and postposition, preposition which means "through" or "for each", as in per capita. Per or PER may also refer to: Places * IOC country code for Peru * Pér, a village in Hungary * Chapman code for Perthshire, histor ...

* Pte. Eivind Dahl Eriksen * Pte. Hans Rohde Hansen * Tobias Skog

Telavåg agents

* Emil Gustav Hvaal (codename ''Anchor'') * Arne Vaerum (codename ''Penguin'')

References

Sources

* Jensen, Erling; Ratvik, Per; Ulstein, Ragnar (1995) ''Kompani Linge'' (Oslo: LibriArte) * Manus, Max (1995) ''Mitt liv'' (N.W. Damm) {{ISBN, 978-82-517-9399-5 Special Operations Executive

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

Military units and formations established in 1941 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 1941 establishments in the United Kingdom 1945 disestablishments in Norway Commando units and formations Military units and formations of World War II