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

Special Operations Executive Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a British organisation formed in 1940 to conduct espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance in German-occupied Europe and to aid local Resistance during World War II, resistance movements during World War II. ...

(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 th ...

. 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 19 ...

, 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 () are a mountain range in the eastern Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Scotland closely associated with the mountain Cairn Gorm. The Cairngorms became part of Scotland's second national parks of Scotland, national park (the Cairn ...

, Scotland. Their initial raids in 1941 were to

Lofoten Lofoten ( , ; ; ) is an archipelago and a Districts of Norway, 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. T ...

(

Operation Claymore Operation Claymore was a British/Norwegian commando raid on the Lofoten Islands of northern Norway 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 ec ...

) and

Måløy Måløy () is a List of towns and cities in Norway, town in the List of municipalities of Norway, municipality of Kinn in Vestland county, Norway. It is located on the southeastern side of the Vågsøy (island), island of Vågsøy, about northea ...

(

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 o ...

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

Norwegian heavy water sabotage The Norwegian heavy water sabotage (; ) was a series of Allied-led efforts to halt German heavy water (deuterium) production via hydroelectric plants in Nazi Germany-occupied Norway during World War II, involving both Norwegian commandos and Al ...

. Other raids included the

Thamshavnbanen sabotage The Thamshavn Line sabotage was a series of sabotages against the railway Thamshavn Line in Orkdal Municipality, Norway during World War II. There were four separate sabotages, all performed by Norwegian Independent Company 1, Company Linge in an a ...

. 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 ...

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 city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

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 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 adventures and ...

(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 Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. 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 died.

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 of Austria, last Austrian Emperor * Karl (footballer) (born 1993), Karl Cachoe ...

* Knut Aarsæther *

Olav Aarsæther Olaf or Olav (, , or British ; ) is a Dutch, Polish, Scandinavian and German given name. It is presumably of Proto-Norse origin, reconstructed as ''*Anu-laibaz'', from ''anu'' "ancestor, grand-father" and ''laibaz'' "heirloom, descendant". Old Eng ...

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 Johannes Sigfred Andersen (9 July 1898 – 29 July 1970) was a Norwegian resistance fighter during the Second World War, a member of the Norwegian Independent Company 1 (NOR.I.C.1). He was nicknamed "Gulosten"; 'The Yellow Cheese'. He also used ...

* Odd Andersen *

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 ...

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

* 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 () during the Second World War, he was kil ...

* 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, ...

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 ...

* Claus Helberg *

Kasper Idland Kasper Idland Military Medal, MM (21 June 1918 – 25 May 1968) was a Norwegian resistance movement, Norwegian resistance member during World War II. Idland took part in the Norwegian heavy water sabotage in 1943. Early life and education I ...

* 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 ( ...

Claus Gustav Myrin Koren Claus (sometimes Clas) is both a given name and a German, Danish, and Dutch surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name *Claus von Amsberg, Prince Claus of the Netherlands, Jonkheer van Amsberg (1926–2002) * Claus-Casimir of Oran ...

Jan Herman Linge Jan Herman Linge (28 January 1922 in Trondheim, Norway – 25 June 2007 in 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 who was known ...

* 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 Herluf Nygaard (1 October 1916 – 3 December 2001) was a Norwegian military officer. He was born in Lurøy Municipality. He graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy in 1946. He was promoted to Colonel in 1965, and Major General in 1968. ...

* Martin Olsen * George Parker * Alv Kristian Pedersen *

Bjørn Pedersen Bjørn Pedersen (25 March 1933 – 1 March 2024) was a Norwegian chemist. He was research leader at SI (which later merged with SINTEF), and was professor of chemistry at the University of Oslo for 24 years. He also served three years as pro-rec ...

* Arthur Pevik * Johnny Pevik *

Jens-Anton Poulsson Jens-Anton Poulsson DSO (27 October 1918 – 2 February 2010) was a Norwegian military officer. During World War II he was a Norwegian resistance member, especially noted for his role in the heavy water sabotage 1942–1943. He continued ...

Birger Rasmussen Birger Rasmussen Military Cross, MC Medal bar, & Bar (23 August 1920 – 6 December 2007) was a Norwegian businessman, director of Katfos Fabriker, manager of Borregaard's Pulp and paper industry, pulp and paper section, director of Norske Skog ...

* August Rathke (11 December 1925 - 25 December 2022, Last surviving member) *

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 a 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 and broadcaster. He was known for his resistance work during World War II, most notably commanding Operation Gunnerside, and his post-war war informat ...

* Harald Sandvik * Einar Skinnarland * Ingebjørg Skoghaug * Odd Starheim * Inge Steensland * 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 Compa ...

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 member during World War II, especially noted for his role in the heavy water sabotage 1942–1943. Background Strømsheim was born at Ål ...

Operation Seagull agents

* Cpl. Sverre Granlund - had also served as a commando during

Operation Musketoon Operation Musketoon was the codeword for 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 ...

* Sgt. Thorlief Daniel Grong * Lt. Per Getz * Pte. Eivind Dahl Eriksen * Pte.

Hans Rohde Hansen Hans may refer to: __NOTOC__ People * Hans (name), a masculine given name * Hans Raj Hans, Indian singer and politician ** Navraj Hans, Indian singer, actor, entrepreneur, cricket player and performer, son of Hans Raj Hans ** Yuvraj Hans, Punjabi a ...

Tobias Skog Tobias is the transliteration of the , which is a Graecisation of the Hebrew biblical name . With the biblical Book of Tobit being present in the Deuterocanonical books and Biblical apocrypha, Tobias is a popular male given name for both Christi ...

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 Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

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