Birger Strømsheim

Birger Strømsheim
Birger Strømsheim
Born	11 October 1911; Ålesund, Norway
Died	10 November 2012 (aged 101); Oslo, Norway
Allegiance	Norway
Service/branch	Norwegian Army
Years of service	1941–1945
Unit	Norwegian Independent Company 1
Battles/wars	Norwegian Campaign
Awards	St. Olav's Medal with Oak Branch ; Defence Medal with rosette ; Haakon VIIs 70th Anniversary Medal ; Military Medal ; Medal of Freedom with bronze palm ; Legion of Honour ; Croix de guerre with bronze palm

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.

Strømsheim worked as a building contractor, and together with his wife Aase, in 1941 he fled by boat to Shetland, determined to join the war effort. After the war, he returned to civilian life, but had a role in preparations for the stay-behind effort in Norway.[1]

World War II

Heavy water sabotage

Strømsheim served in the Norwegian Independent Company 1 (Norwegian: Kompani Linge) during World War II. As a member of the Gunnerside team he parachuted in Telemark on 16 February 1943. After five days of struggling through snowstorms on skis, the team managed to join forces with the Grouse team, previously deployed in the area.[1] The combined team succeeded in the destruction of heavy water equipment and stock at Vemork in February 1943. Strømsheim was one of four who entered the actual factory building.

Operation Gunnerside was later claimed by Special Operations Executive leadership to be the most successful act of sabotage of the Second World War.[1] The leader of Gunnerside, Joachim Rønneberg, described Strømsheim as “beyond doubt the best member of the party”.

Strømsheim was awarded Norway's St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch after his return to United Kingdom in 1943. It was presented to him by King Haakon at a ceremony at the training school STS 26 in Scotland, near Nethy Bridge.[2]

Operation Fieldfare

As a member of a four-man team from Norwegian Independent Company 1, Strømsheim participated in establishing a cabin that was used as base for sabotage actions against German supply lines in valley of Romsdal.

Awards

For his war contributions Strømsheim was decorated with the Defence Medal with rosette and Haakon VIIs 70th Anniversary Medals, as well as the St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch and foreign awards.

Death

Strømsheim died 10 November 2012, in Oslo, Norway, at the age of 101.[3][1]

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References

"Birger Stromsheim". The Telegraph. London. 15 November 2012.
Manus, Max (1995). Mitt liv (in Norwegian). Oslo: Damm. pp. 176–177. ISBN 82-04-09571-6.
Yardley, William (9 December 2012). "Birger Stromsheim, Hero on Skis in an Anti-Nazi Raid, Dies at 101". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 February 2016.

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[telegraph-1] "Birger Stromsheim". The Telegraph. London. 15 November 2012.

[manus-mittliv-2] Manus, Max (1995). Mitt liv (in Norwegian). Oslo: Damm. pp. 176–177. ISBN 82-04-09571-6.

[3] Yardley, William (9 December 2012). "Birger Stromsheim, Hero on Skis in an Anti-Nazi Raid, Dies at 101". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 February 2016.