Edvard Tallaksen
Encyclopedia
Johan Edvard Tallaksen (17 August 1918 - 29 November 1944) was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II, as an ensign in the Oslo Gang
and Norwegian Independent Company 1
.
as the son of the wholesale merchant Rasmus Tallaksen and Ludmila Eleonora.
He grew up with an older brother and sister. After graduation from Kristiansand Cathedral School, he studied in Germany
where he acquired fluent German
. He became a corporal
in 1936 after having completed mandatory military service.
When Norway was occupied, Tallaksen along with five friends, sailed across the North Sea to England where he joined Norwegian Independent Company 1
.
After receiving training in Scotland, he parachuted over Norway, together with his companions Birger Rasmussen og Armand Trønnes, on 12 November 1943.
A few days later, on 21 November, they accomplished "Operating Company", where five generators at Arendal Smelters were blown up, nobody was killed during the sabotage mission. For this achievement Tallaksen and Rasmussen received the Military Cross, while Trønnes received the Military Medal. After lying low for two weeks - hiding from the Germans -
Tallaksen and his companions walked the whole way to Oslo, where they joined "Operation Goldfinch", which consisted of training Milorg personnel.
From the summer of 1944 on, Tallaksen was associated with the Oslo Gang.
He took part in several sabotage missions, among others the sabotage against the Labour Service, the bombing of an important locomotive on the Thamshavn Line, and the bursting of the oil bearing on Sørenga, which destroyed 200,000 litres of oil.
went to Plasskafeen at Olaf Ryes Plass
, where they were supposed to meet some German deserters. Gram, who worked with his "Operation Derby", whose main aim was to accomplish Psychological warfare
by spreading black propaganda, thought he could use these deserters in his work. However, both Gram and Tallaksen were led into a trap.
The "deserters" turned out to be provocateurs; the meeting was staged at Victoria Terrasse, the headquarters of the Gestapo. It all ended with a shootout, were Gram was killed and Tallaksen was shot in the jaw.
After two weeks at Aker hospital, he was transferred to the Akershus Fortress, where he committed suicide 29 November 1944 to avoid betraying his comrades in Oslogjengen
.
. In addition to the Military Cross
and Bar
, after having participated in Operation Company he also received St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
, the Norwegian War Medal
and the Defence Medal 1940 - 1945.
In 2008, Edvard Tallaksen was made known to a broader audience when his character was included in the film Max Manus
, portrayed by the actor Mads Eldøen.
Oslogjengen
Oslogjengen 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 British Special Operations Executive and the Norwegian Milorg, was coordinated by Gunnar Sønsteby, and had around ten...
and Norwegian Independent Company 1
Norwegian Independent Company 1
Norwegian Independent Company 1 was a British SOE group formed in March 1941 originally for the purpose of performing commando raids during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. It was organized under the leadership of Captain Martin Linge...
.
Early life
Tallaksen was born in KristiansandKristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
as the son of the wholesale merchant Rasmus Tallaksen and Ludmila Eleonora.
He grew up with an older brother and sister. After graduation from Kristiansand Cathedral School, he studied in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
where he acquired fluent German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
. He became a corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
in 1936 after having completed mandatory military service.
World War II
When Germany attacked Norway, Tallaksen fought in Southern-Norway.When Norway was occupied, Tallaksen along with five friends, sailed across the North Sea to England where he joined Norwegian Independent Company 1
Norwegian Independent Company 1
Norwegian Independent Company 1 was a British SOE group formed in March 1941 originally for the purpose of performing commando raids during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. It was organized under the leadership of Captain Martin Linge...
.
After receiving training in Scotland, he parachuted over Norway, together with his companions Birger Rasmussen og Armand Trønnes, on 12 November 1943.
A few days later, on 21 November, they accomplished "Operating Company", where five generators at Arendal Smelters were blown up, nobody was killed during the sabotage mission. For this achievement Tallaksen and Rasmussen received the Military Cross, while Trønnes received the Military Medal. After lying low for two weeks - hiding from the Germans -
Tallaksen and his companions walked the whole way to Oslo, where they joined "Operation Goldfinch", which consisted of training Milorg personnel.
From the summer of 1944 on, Tallaksen was associated with the Oslo Gang.
He took part in several sabotage missions, among others the sabotage against the Labour Service, the bombing of an important locomotive on the Thamshavn Line, and the bursting of the oil bearing on Sørenga, which destroyed 200,000 litres of oil.
Death
On Monday 13 November 1944, Tallaksen and his fellow companion Gregers GramGregers Gram
Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram MC MM 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 killed in 1944....
went to Plasskafeen at Olaf Ryes Plass
Olaf Ryes plass
Olaf Ryes plass is a square and park placed centrally in the Grünerløkka borough of Oslo, Norway. It is more or less quadratic in shape.-History:...
, where they were supposed to meet some German deserters. Gram, who worked with his "Operation Derby", whose main aim was to accomplish Psychological warfare
Psychological warfare
Psychological warfare , or the basic aspects of modern psychological operations , have been known by many other names or terms, including Psy Ops, Political Warfare, “Hearts and Minds,” and Propaganda...
by spreading black propaganda, thought he could use these deserters in his work. However, both Gram and Tallaksen were led into a trap.
The "deserters" turned out to be provocateurs; the meeting was staged at Victoria Terrasse, the headquarters of the Gestapo. It all ended with a shootout, were Gram was killed and Tallaksen was shot in the jaw.
After two weeks at Aker hospital, he was transferred to the Akershus Fortress, where he committed suicide 29 November 1944 to avoid betraying his comrades in Oslogjengen
Oslogjengen
Oslogjengen 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 British Special Operations Executive and the Norwegian Milorg, was coordinated by Gunnar Sønsteby, and had around ten...
.
Honours and awards
In 1947, Tallaksen was posthumously awarded with the highest Norwegian military award;, the War Cross with swordWar Cross with sword
The War Cross with Sword is the highest ranking Norwegian gallantry decoration. It is awarded for extraordinary brave actions or extraordinary leadership during combat. A recipient deemed worthy of additional citations will receive up to an additional two swords on the medal ribbon in addition to...
. In addition to the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, after having participated in Operation Company he also received St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
St. Olav's Medal with Oak Branch is a Norwegian military award, which was instituted by King Haakon VII of Norway on 6 February 1942. In Norway, the medal is considered as a separate award from the civilian St...
, the Norwegian War Medal
Norwegian War Medal
The War Medal is a Norwegian war decoration for service during Second World War.The Norwegian War Medal was instituted by King Haakon VII of Norway by Royal Decree on 23 May 1941 with the addition of the Royal Decree of 13 November 1942. It may be awarded to Norwegian and foreign members of the...
and the Defence Medal 1940 - 1945.
In 2008, Edvard Tallaksen was made known to a broader audience when his character was included in the film Max Manus
Max Manus
Maximo Guillermo "Max" Manus DSO, MC & Bar was a Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II.Manus was born in Bergen to a Norwegian father and a Danish mother...
, portrayed by the actor Mads Eldøen.