Arnold Rørholt
Encyclopedia
Arnold Rørholt was a Norwegian military officer, known as a resistance
member during World War II
. He was also the secretary-general of the Royal Norwegian Automobile Club for many years.
. He finished his secondary education in 1901 and graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy
in 1905. He also graduated from the Norwegian Military College
in 1907, and started working for the General Staff. He worked in Oslo Militære Samfund
from 1909 to 1926. From 1918 to 1920 he was the secretary of the Association of Regular Officers and edited their periodical Vår Hær. In 1926 he moved to the Royal Norwegian Automobile Club, where he was secretary-general from 1929 to 1949 and chief executive from 1949 to 1953. He edited their magazine Motorliv as well as their yearbook. After retiring from the Royal Norwegian Automobile Club he was hired in the Norwegian Armed Forces
department of war history. He had already released a book about Oslo Militære Samfund; in 1925. In 1955 he became chairman of the pensioners' association Landslaget for statspensjonister, succeeding Per Skotte. Rørholt was deputy chairman from 1953 to 1955.
In the military he reached the rank of lieutenant colonel
, and was a member of the illegal resistance
group Milorg
during the German occupation of Norway. He became a member of the inner circle Rådet in May 1943, but had to flee to Sweden in January 1945. He continued the resistance from Stockholm
until the May 1945 liberation of Norway, and was a member of the police troops in Sweden
. His son Bjørn
, whom he had together with Luise Fredrikke Lund (1891–1965), was also involved in the resistance, as a Secret Intelligence Service
officer. When Rørholt's group Skylark B
was unveiled by the Germans in September 1941, Arnold Rørholt was arrested by the Nazi authorities as a hostage. He was incarcerated at Møllergata 19
from 12 September 1941 to 23 April 1942, then at Grini concentration camp until 9 November 1942.
, Knight First Class of the Order of the Dannebrog
, Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland
, and also with the Order of the Crown of Italy
.
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
member during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was also the secretary-general of the Royal Norwegian Automobile Club for many years.
Career
He was born in HamarHamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
. He finished his secondary education in 1901 and graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy
Norwegian Military Academy
The Norwegian Army Academy was established in 1750. It is the oldest university-level educational institution in Norway, and one of the oldest active military academies in the world. Krigsskolen primarily educates officers for the Norwegian Army. There are separate academies for the Royal...
in 1905. He also graduated from the Norwegian Military College
Norwegian Military College
The Norwegian Military College was a military educational institution in Norway.It was established on 16 February 1817, with headquarters at Akershus Fortress...
in 1907, and started working for the General Staff. He worked in Oslo Militære Samfund
Oslo Militære Samfund
Oslo Militære Samfund is a society founded in 1825. The society has published the magazine Norsk Militært Tidsskrift since 1835. Its location at Myntgt. 3 in Oslo was built in 1878, and designed by architect Wilhelm von Hanno....
from 1909 to 1926. From 1918 to 1920 he was the secretary of the Association of Regular Officers and edited their periodical Vår Hær. In 1926 he moved to the Royal Norwegian Automobile Club, where he was secretary-general from 1929 to 1949 and chief executive from 1949 to 1953. He edited their magazine Motorliv as well as their yearbook. After retiring from the Royal Norwegian Automobile Club he was hired in the Norwegian Armed Forces
Norwegian Armed Forces
The Norwegian Armed Forces numbers about 23,000 personnel, including civilian employees. According to mobilisation plans , the strength during full mobilisation would be approximately 83,000 combatant personnel. Norway has mandatory military service for men and voluntary service for women...
department of war history. He had already released a book about Oslo Militære Samfund; in 1925. In 1955 he became chairman of the pensioners' association Landslaget for statspensjonister, succeeding Per Skotte. Rørholt was deputy chairman from 1953 to 1955.
In the military he reached the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, and was a member of the illegal resistance
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
group Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
during the German occupation of Norway. He became a member of the inner circle Rådet in May 1943, but had to flee to Sweden in January 1945. He continued the resistance from Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
until the May 1945 liberation of Norway, and was a member of the police troops in Sweden
Norwegian police troops in Sweden during World War II
The Norwegian police troops in Sweden during World War II consisted of around 13,000 troops, recruited from Norwegian refugees and trained at a number of secret camps in Sweden.-Background:...
. His son Bjørn
Bjørn Rørholt
Bjørn Arnold Rørholt was a Norwegian engineer, military officer, Secret Intelligence Service agent and resistance member during World War II.-Early life:...
, whom he had together with Luise Fredrikke Lund (1891–1965), was also involved in the resistance, as a Secret Intelligence Service
Secret Intelligence Service
The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
officer. When Rørholt's group Skylark B
Skylark B
Skylark B was a radio communications group that operated in Trondheim during the German occupation of Norway. The group was established and led by Erik Welle-Strand, who was a student in Trondheim. Preparations were done in 1940, when a transmitter was brought in from the United Kingdom, and the...
was unveiled by the Germans in September 1941, Arnold Rørholt was arrested by the Nazi authorities as a hostage. He was incarcerated at Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
from 12 September 1941 to 23 April 1942, then at Grini concentration camp until 9 November 1942.
Decorations
Arnold Rørholt held the Defence Medal 1940–1945. He was decorated as a Knight of the Order of the Polar StarOrder of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
, Knight First Class of the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
, Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland
Order of the Lion of Finland
There are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland . The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a...
, and also with the Order of the Crown of Italy
Order of the Crown of Italy
The Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861...
.