Sverre Midtskau
Encyclopedia
Sverre Midtskau was a Norwegian resistance
member during World War II
. He is best known as leader of the illegal radio post Skylark A.
invaded Norway
as a part of World War II. Midtskau became involved in the subsequent fighting
in Rjukan
. He later went to Northern Norway, and when Norway was overran by Germany, he fled to England together with the Royal Family
and prominent politicians.
In September 1940 the Secret Intelligence Service
established two stations for radio communication; the so-called Skylark A was led by to be Sverre Midtskau in Oslo
while Skylark B
was led by Erik Welle-Strand
in Trondheim
. Midtskau travelled the Norwegian Sea
with the cutter Nordlys, landed in Florø
on 15 September together with Erik Welle-Strand, Sverre Haug
and Finn Juell and continued to Oslo with Haug. Following technical difficulties in the initial phase, Midtskau and Haug travelled to England from Ålesund
to fix the problem. Upon his return to Norway, Midtskau was to be parachuted over Telemark in February 1941 with a new radio. However, he landed at Øyfjell
instead of the designated spot near Langesæ, and in addition the radio was smashed to the ground. Midtskau then contacted Max Manus
, a resistance agent of post-war fame. However, this led to his arrest in Manus' home. He was imprisoned in Åkebergveien.
The Skylark B group in Trondheim managed to establish regular contact with the intelligence in London
in January 1941. They had valuable assistance from Leif Tronstad
, and provided vital information. In September the same year, however, Gestapo
managed to track the Skylark B transmitting activity. Welle-Strand had left Norway, but the new leader Egil Reksten
and others were arrested and shipped to Nacht und Nebel
camps. Gestapo then learned Midtskau's name from the subsequent investigation—having gained access to the secret code, they managed to decipher the transmissions from Skylark B. Midtskau was then sent to the prison Møllergata 19
for torture
.
He managed to escape in December 1941 when a prison assistant managed to copy the keys belonging to a German guard. According to Max Manus, this prison assistant was the imprisoned resistance member Kolbein Lauring
. Midtskau and two others fled Møllergata and hid in rural Lommedalen
. He stayed in a lodge there until January 1942. He then fled, skiing
, via Trysil
and Sweden to England. He quit active service, but spent the rest of the war as a skiing instructor for Allied soldiers as well as an interrogation instructor.
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 is best known as leader of the illegal radio post Skylark A.
World War II
On 9 April Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
invaded Norway
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
as a part of World War II. Midtskau became involved in the subsequent fighting
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
in Rjukan
Rjukan
Rjukan is a town and the administrative center of Tinn municipality in Telemark . It is situated in Vestfjorddalen, between Møsvatn and Tinnsjå, and got its name after Rjukanfossen west of the town. The Tinn municipality council granted township status for Rjukan in 1996. The town has 3 386...
. He later went to Northern Norway, and when Norway was overran by Germany, he fled to England together with the Royal Family
Norwegian Royal Family
The Royal Family of Norway is the family of King Harald V of Norway. In Norway there is a distinction between the Royal House and the Royal Family. The Royal House includes only the King and his spouse, the Queen, the King's eldest son with spouse, being the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and the...
and prominent politicians.
In September 1940 the 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...
established two stations for radio communication; the so-called Skylark A was led by to be Sverre Midtskau in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
while 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 led by Erik Welle-Strand
Erik Welle-Strand
Erik A. L. Welle-Strand was a Norwegian mining engineer and resistance member during World War II. He is best known as leader of the illegal radio post Skylark B.-Early life:...
in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
. Midtskau travelled the Norwegian Sea
Norwegian Sea
The Norwegian Sea is a marginal sea in the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Norway. It is located between the North Sea and the Greenland Sea and adjoins the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Barents Sea to the northeast. In the southwest, it is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a...
with the cutter Nordlys, landed in Florø
Florø
is a town and the administrative centre of Flora municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is also a former municipality that existed for just over 100 years. The town was founded on the Florelandet island between the Botnafjorden and Solheimsfjorden by royal decree in 1860. In...
on 15 September together with Erik Welle-Strand, Sverre Haug
Sverre Haug
Sverre Haug was a Norwegian resistance member and pilot who died during World War II.He was born in Stokke in 1907. He was married and had one child, and had taken radio and telegraph education...
and Finn Juell and continued to Oslo with Haug. Following technical difficulties in the initial phase, Midtskau and Haug travelled to England from Ålesund
Ålesund
is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sunnmøre, and the center of the Ålesund Region. It is a sea port, and is noted for its unique concentration of Art Nouveau architecture....
to fix the problem. Upon his return to Norway, Midtskau was to be parachuted over Telemark in February 1941 with a new radio. However, he landed at Øyfjell
Øyfjell
Øyfjell is a village in Vinje municipality, Norway. As many other rural villages in Norway, Øyfjell has witnessed a decline in population. Currently the village is trying to reverse the development with a project called Øyfjell City, which aims to draw people and businesses to the village.The...
instead of the designated spot near Langesæ, and in addition the radio was smashed to the ground. Midtskau then contacted 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...
, a resistance agent of post-war fame. However, this led to his arrest in Manus' home. He was imprisoned in Åkebergveien.
The Skylark B group in Trondheim managed to establish regular contact with the intelligence in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in January 1941. They had valuable assistance from Leif Tronstad
Leif Tronstad
Leif Hans Larsen Tronstad DSO, OBE was a Norwegian scientist, intelligence officer and military organizer. He graduated from the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1927 and was a prolific researcher and writer of academic publications...
, and provided vital information. In September the same year, however, Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
managed to track the Skylark B transmitting activity. Welle-Strand had left Norway, but the new leader Egil Reksten
Egil Reksten
Egil Reksten was a Norwegian engineer and resistance member during World War II. He is best known as leader of the illegal radio post Skylark B.-World War II:...
and others were arrested and shipped to Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel was a directive of Adolf Hitler on 7 December 1941 signed and implemented by Armed Forces High Command Chief Wilhelm Keitel, resulting in the kidnapping and forced disappearance of many political activists and resistance 'helpers' throughout Nazi Germany's occupied...
camps. Gestapo then learned Midtskau's name from the subsequent investigation—having gained access to the secret code, they managed to decipher the transmissions from Skylark B. Midtskau was then sent to the prison 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...
for torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
.
He managed to escape in December 1941 when a prison assistant managed to copy the keys belonging to a German guard. According to Max Manus, this prison assistant was the imprisoned resistance member Kolbein Lauring
Kolbein Lauring
Kolbein Didrik Lauring was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II.He grew up in Ljan together with later resistance ace Max Manus. The two participated as volunteers in the Winter War, on the Finnish side. When Germany invaded and occupied Norway in 1940, Lauring and Manus returned to...
. Midtskau and two others fled Møllergata and hid in rural Lommedalen
Lommedalen
Lommedalen is a picturesque, rural community in a small valley in Bærum municipality, in the county of Akershus, Norway. The population is about 3000 people. Its name is derived from the river Lomma, which, after joining with Isielva, forms Sandvikselva. Another explantion of the name, is by the...
. He stayed in a lodge there until January 1942. He then fled, skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
, via Trysil
Trysil
Trysil is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Innbygda...
and Sweden to England. He quit active service, but spent the rest of the war as a skiing instructor for Allied soldiers as well as an interrogation instructor.