Arne Kjelstrup
{{Short description|Norwegian resistance member (1913–1995)}}
{{Use dmy dates | date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Arne Kjelstrup
| image =
| caption = Arne Kjelstrup, 1940
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1913|10|13|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1995|05|05|1913|10|30|df=yes}}
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial =
| birth_place = Rjukan, Norway
| death_place =
| placeofburial_coordinates =
| nickname =
| allegiance = Norway
| branch = Norwegian Army
| serviceyears = 1940–1945
| rank = Sergeant
| unit = Norwegian Independent Company 1
| commands =
| battles = Norwegian Campaign
| awards =
| relations =
| laterwork = Plumber
}}
Arne Kjelstrup, MM (30 October 1913 – 5 May 1995) was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II, especially noted for his role in the heavy water sabotage 1942–1943, and for being military leader of Milorg section D-161 (Kongsberg/Numedal) during the anti-demolition operation Sunshine 1944–1945.
Personal life
Kjelstrup was born in Rjukan.{{cite book |title= Tungtvannssabotasjen |first=Jens-Anton |last=Poulsson |author-link=Jens-Anton Poulsson |page=67 |year=2006 |publisher=Orion |language=no |location=Oslo |isbn=82-458-0803-2}} He later moved with his parents to Bærum, where he worked as a plumber at the outbreak of World War II. After the war Kjesltrup married Tulla Irgens, who had participated in the Operation Starlight, the Kongsberg-Numedal-Nore subsection of Operation Sunshine.{{cite book |title=Soldaten som ikke ville gi seg |pages=247–258 |first=John |last=Berg |chapter=Fred |year=1986|publisher=Metope|language=no | isbn=82-403-0002-2}} Kjelstrup took further education in Stockholm, and settled in Bærum, working in the plumbing business.
World War II
Following the German invasion of Norway in April 1940 Kjelstrup participated in the defence of Norway as a soldier. He was hit by a German bullet, but saved his life because he was carrying a pair of wire cutters that the bullet hit before entering his body. The bullet stayed in his body for the duration of his life.{{cite book |title=Soldaten som ikke ville gi seg |pages=37 |first=John |last=Berg |chapter=Bollom |year=1986|publisher=Metope|language=no |isbn=82-403-0002-2}} When the battles were over he travelled to Sweden, and after a long journey, via Moscow, Odessa, Istanbul, Suez, Durban, Cape Town, Trinidad, Halifax and Liverpool he ended up in London, where he became a member of the Norwegian Independent Company 1 ({{langx|no|Kompani Linge}}).{{cite book |title=Soldaten som ikke ville gi seg |pages=85–96 |first=John |last=Berg |chapter=Kompani Linge |year=1986|publisher=Metope|language=no |isbn=82-403-0002-2}} He was recruited a member of the Grouse team which was parachuted onto the Hardangervidda plateau on 18 October 1942, along with Jens-Anton Poulsson (leader of the group), Knut Haugland and Claus Helberg.{{cite encyclopedia|last=Kraglund |first=Ivar |editor=Dahl |editor-link=Hans Fredrik Dahl |editor2=Hjeltnes |editor2-link=Guri Hjeltnes |editor3=Nøkleby |editor3-link=Berit Nøkleby |editor4=Ringdal |editor4-link=Nils Johan Ringdal |editor5=Sørensen |editor5-link=Øystein Sørensen |encyclopedia=Norsk krigsleksikon 1940-45 |title=tungtvannssabotasjen |url=http://mediabase1.uib.no/krigslex/t/t3.html#tungtvannssabotasjen |pages=425–426 |year=1995 |publisher=Cappelen |location=Oslo |isbn=82-02-14138-9 |language=no |access-date=5 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105050321/http://mediabase1.uib.no/krigslex/t/t3.html |archive-date=5 January 2010 }}{{cite book |editor1=Erling Jensen |editor2=Per Ratvik |editor3=Ragnar Ulstein |editor3-link=Ragnar Ulstein |title=Kompani Linge |year=1948 |publisher=Gyldendal |volume=I |location=Oslo |language=no |pages=156–192 }} The team landed at Fjarefit in Songadalen, and relocated to Møsvatn where they prepared to receive British troops, the Operation Freshman. The Freshman operation was a failure, as the two gliders plus one of the towing planes crashed. The Grouse team spent several winter months hidden at Hardangervidda, waiting for the replacement operation, Gunnerside. The combined Grouse and Gunnerside team finally succeeded in the destruction of heavy water equipment and stock at Vemork in February 1943
After the sabotage Kjelstrup stayed in Norway together with Knut Haukelid, and participated in building up Milorg troops in the Western Telemark district (the Bonzo group).{{cite book |title=Det demrer en dag |first=Knut |last=Haukelid|author-link=Knut Haukelid |year=1947 |publisher=Nasjonalforlaget |language=no |location=Oslo }} He later returned to the United Kingdom via Sweden. As a sergeant in the Linge company he joined various military courses, receiving training in explosives and sabotage. In 1944 he participated in Operation Sunshine led by major Leif Tronstad. This was an anti-demolition operation to prevent destruction by the Germans of vital industry in Norway towards the end of the war. Kjelstrup was a leader of the Nore section (Operation Starlight), which could mobilize a military force of 900 soldiers at the end of the war.{{cite book |title=Tungtvannssabotasjen |first=Jens-Anton |last=Poulsson |author-link=Jens-Anton Poulsson |chapter=Antisabotasje |pages=139–181 |year=2006 |publisher=Orion |language=no |location=Oslo |isbn=82-458-0803-2}}{{cite book |editor1=Erling Jensen |editor2=Per Ratvik |editor3=Ragnar Ulstein |title=Kompani Linge |year=1948 |publisher=Gyldendal |volume=2 |location=Oslo |language=no |pages=201–212 }}
He lived his later life in Bærum, and died on 5 May 1995, just days before the 50-year anniversary of the liberation of Norway.{{cite news|title=Arne Kjelstrup (obituary)|first=Jens-Anton |last=Poulsson |author-link=Jens-Anton Poulsson|date=12 May 1995|work=Aftenposten|page=11|language=no}}
Honors
{{Expand list|date=September 2013}}
- {{flag|Norway}} - St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch (1943)
- {{flag|Norway}} - Defence Medal 1940–1945
- {{flag|Norway}} - Haakon VIIs 70th Anniversary Medal
- {{flag|United Kingdom}} - 1939–1945 Star
- {{flag|United Kingdom}} - Military Medal
- {{flag|France}} - Legion of Honor
- {{flag|France}} - Croix de Guerre
Biography
- {{cite book |title=Soldaten som ikke ville gi seg |first=John |last=Berg |year=1986|publisher=Metope| isbn=82-403-0002-2}} The biography covers only 1940-1945
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kjelstrup, Arne}}
Category:Norwegian Army personnel of World War II
Category:Norwegian expatriates in the United Kingdom
Category:Norwegian resistance members