Martin Jensen Linge

Martin Linge was a Norwegian actor who, in World War II, became the commander of the Norwegian Independent Company 1 (NOR.I.C.1) (pronounced as Norisen by the Norwegians), formed in March 1941 for operations on behalf of the Special Operations Executive. He was also a pioneer aviator, a sailor, and a recipient of the War Cross with sword (Norway) and the Distinguished Service Cross (UK). He was born in Norddal, Møre og Romsdal County, Norway, and graduated as a non-commissioned officer from the military school in Trondheim in 1915. He studied at the Trondheim Theatre (1917–1918) and debuted on the stage at the Central Theatre in Oslo in 1921. He appeared in both theatre and films during the 1920s and 1930s. He married Margit F. Vogt and had one son, Jan Herman Linge, who became an engineer and boat designer. He was also the grandfather of Norwegian novelist Espen Haavardsholm. Shortly after the German attack on Norway on 9 April 1940, he traveled to Åndalsnes to join his regiment. He had previously attained the rank of Lieutenant (in the reserve forces), and was also one of the first Norwegians to obtain a pilot's licence. When British troops landed at Åndalsnes from 17 April, Linge became liaison officer between the local regiment and the British. Åndalsnes was at this time still unoccupied territory and the only port with railway connections to the East Norway and the campaign there. The King, the crown prince, the cabinet, Norway's gold and cash holdings, and finally general Otto Ruge with staff, escaped through Åndalsnes. During German air bombing of a makeshift airfield at Setnesmoen, he was wounded and evacuated by boat to Britain. He was the first wounded Norwegian soldier to arrive in Britain. Among exiled Norwegians, Linge along with Nordahl Grieg and Olav Rytter were the first to propose ideas for resistance against the German occupation. "Our land is perfect for secret resistance and guerrilla warfare" he declared in June 1940. In August 1940 he was appointed as liaison officer to the War Office and soon began recruiting men and organizing what became Norwegian Independent Company 1. Linge was killed during Operation Archery, a British Combined Operations raid at Måløy against German military positions on Vågsøy Island. He was buried at Vestnes Churchyard, where a memorial stone was erected in his honour. He is regarded as one of the heroes of the Norwegian resistance movement and a symbol of patriotism and courage.