Poul Ib Gjessing
{{Infobox person
| name = Poul Ib Gjessing
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Paul Ib Gjessing
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1909|03|31}}
| birth_place = Præstemarken, Silkeborg
| spouse = (married)
| parents = Ejnar Gjessing and Ane Dorthea Jørgine Hansen
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1944|6|23|1909|03|31}}{{cite news |title= 23. Juni - 8 Frihedskæmpere henrettet |trans-title=23 June - 8 freedom fighters executed |url= http://www.illegalpresse.dk/#/paper?paper=34&page=313 |newspaper= Frit Danmark |date= January 1945 |page= 9 |quote= stud. theol. Chr. U. Hansen, Laandmaaler E. Balslev, Købmand B. Lauritsen, Købmand J. Ryder, Kleinsmed J. P. Funk Lind, Købmand M. Vestergaard Jensen, Kaptajn P. Gjessing og Mejerist H. J. Henriksen |accessdate= 23 November 2014 |language=Danish}}
| death_place = Ryvangen
| death_cause = Execution by firing squad
| resting_place = Ryvangen Memorial Park
| other_names =
| occupation = Sea captain
| known_for = Executed as member of the Danish resistance movement
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website = {{cite web | url= http://modstand.natmus.dk/Person.aspx?7438 |title=Modstandsdatabasen |location= Copenhagen |publisher= Nationalmuseet |work= Poul Ib Gjessing |trans-title=Resistance Database | accessdate=2014-12-04 |language=Danish}}
}}
Poul Ib Gjessing (31 March 1909 – 23 June 1944) was a sea captain and member of the Danish resistance executed by the German occupying power.
Biography
In March 1944 the Gestapo made an "incredible number of arrests" including ten arrests in the region of Års. The presumed leader of the Års group was the 35-year-old sea Captain Gjessing, who was found to have in his Hasseris home a large weapons cache and about 50 fake police badges.{{cite news |title= Utrolig mange Arrestationer |url= http://www.illegalpresse.dk/#/paper?paper=70&page=757 |newspaper= De frie Danske |date= 18 March 1944 |page= 10 |quote= I Aars har der været stor Razzia, der har resulteret i en halv Snes Anholdelser, bl.a. af Landinspektør Emil Balslev, Grosserer Westergaard Jensen, Landsrs. Torrild Thomsen. Hovedmanden i Sagen menes at være den 35-aarige Skibskaptajn Gjessing, Hasseris, i hvis Hjem Tyskerne fandt et stort Vaabenforraad og ca. 50 falske Politiskilte. |accessdate= 24 November 2014 |trans-title=Incredibly many arrests |language=Danish}}
On 23 June 1944 Gjessing and seven other members of the resistance were executed in Ryvangen.
After his death
The January 1945 issue of the resistance newspaper Frit Danmark (Free Denmark) reported on the execution of the eight resistance members including Gjessing.
On 29 August 1945 Gjessing and 105 other victims of the occupation were given a state funeral in the memorial park founded at the execution site in Ryvangen. Bishop Hans Fuglsang-Damgaard led the service with participation from the royal family, the government and representatives of the resistance movement.{{cite web |url= http://www.mindelundenryvangen.dk/historie.html |title= Historie - Mindelunden Ryvangen |trans-title= History - Ryvangen Memorial Park |publisher= Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs |access-date= 2014-11-16 |language= Danish |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141129045124/http://www.mindelundenryvangen.dk/historie.html |archive-date= 2014-11-29 }}