Osvald Group facts for kids

The Osvald Group was a brave Norwegian group during World War II. They were the most active resistance group in Norway from 1941 to 1944. They had over 200 members.

This group carried out at least 110 acts of sabotage. Sabotage means secretly damaging things to hurt the enemy. They targeted Nazi forces and the government led by Vidkun Quisling. This government worked with the Nazis.

The Osvald Group is famous for its first act of resistance. On February 2, 1942, they bombed Oslo East Station. This was a protest against Quisling becoming the leader of Norway.

The group started as part of a larger anti-fascist group called the Wollweber League. This league was founded in 1936 to fight against fascism. It had support from the Soviet secret police.

The first leader of the Norwegian part was Martin Rasmussen Hjelmen. His secret name, or pseudonym, was Osvald. This is where the group got its name. After Hjelmen was arrested, Asbjørn Sunde took over. He also used Osvald as a cover name. The Osvald Group became independent in 1940.

What's in a Name?

The group was named "the Osvald Group" because of its first leader, Martin Hjelmen. He used the secret name Osvald. Later, Asbjørn Sunde, who became the group's leader, also used Osvald as a cover name.

Fighting Back: The Group's Story

Nazi Germany took over Norway on April 9, 1940. The regular Norwegian army stopped fighting on June 10, 1940. But the Osvald Group kept going.

After 1940, the Osvald Group was still active in Oslo. They had lost touch with Moscow and had no money. But they had explosives hidden around Norway.

The group started its sabotage actions after Germany attacked the Soviet Union in June 1941. They continued until 1944, when Moscow ordered them to stop. Their first railway sabotage was on July 20, 1941. They blew up a German army train at Nyland Station in Oslo.

In July 1942, Sunde started a sabotage training course. This was at Rukkedalen, which was their headquarters. Soon after, they attacked companies that helped the Germans in Hadeland.

The Osvald Group believed in "active resistance." This meant directly fighting the enemy. Other groups, like the Communist Party of Norway and Milorg, preferred more passive resistance. But the Osvald Group still worked with other groups. These included 2A, SOE, and XU.

In 1942, Sunde became the military leader for the Communist Party of Norway. This made the Osvald Group even more effective. He set up a training center in Rukkedalen. He also recruited many saboteurs in different areas of Norway.

The Osvald Group was told to stop its operations in 1944. From July 1941 to July 1944, they carried out about 110 known actions. They were the main sabotage group in Norway during this time. Sadly, 35 of their saboteurs were killed.

Saborg's Continued Fight

After the Osvald Group stopped, another group called Saborg continued fighting. Saborg was originally the Bergen part of an international sabotage group. In late 1944, Saborg's leaders were arrested.

How the Group Was Organized

The Osvald Group had more than 200 members.

The "communist sabotage organization in Bergen" was called Saborg. It had about 60 to 65 core members.

Another part of the Osvald Group was the Vågård Group (Vågårdsgruppa). This group was based in the forest north of Hønefoss.

After the War

Many members of the Osvald Group were proud of their actions. Saboteur Josef Monsrud said he was proud to be part of the group. He knew what they had done for Norway.

The Norwegian government later gave Asbjørn Sunde an award. It was the Defence Medal 1940–1945. In 2013, the Minister of Defence honored eight surviving members. The Soviet Union also gave awards to Sunde and his group.

A Monument to Heroes

On April 29, 2015, a special monument was put up in Oslo. It is at Jernbanetorget. The monument is called "Crush Nazism" (Knus nasismen). It shows a hammer crushing a swastika, which was the symbol of the Nazis.

The monument represents fighting for freedom. It has a quote from Asbjørn Sunde: "It was worth fighting for the freedom—for all nations, for all races, for all classes, for all people."

Two plaques are on the monument's base. One lists Osvald members who died. The other lists State Railway employees who died in World War II. Four surviving members of the Osvald Group were at the unveiling.

Key Members of the Osvald Group

Here are some of the people who were part of this brave group:

• Leif Kjemperud
• Rolf Andersen was an instructor and helped with assassinations.
• Ragnar Sollie organized sabotage of cars. He later led another group called the Pelle group.
• Gunnar Knudsen
• Asvor Ottesen
• Harry Sønsterud
• Signe Raassum

Members of Saborg

• August Rathke
• Alf Bjørkman
• Frank Nilsen
• Olaf Rutledal
• Martin Lundberg
• Leif Myrmel
• Martin Hjelmen was the Osvald Group's first leader.
• Norman Iversen was the leader of Saborg when it was stopped.
• Reidar Olsen
• Arvid Abrahamsen helped hide weapons and equipment.

Others Who Helped the Osvald Group

• Oskar Johansen and his wife Karen Helene had a general store. He helped the Osvald Group with their secret work.