Sigurd Roll
{{Short description|Norwegian sprinter and diplomat}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sigurd Emil Roll
| image = Sigurd Emil Roll.JPG
| alt = Sigurd Emil Roll
| caption = Sigurd Emil Roll, diplomat and sportsman
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1893|10|14}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, USA
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1944|06|24|1893|10|14}}{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}
| death_place = Oslo, Norway
| nationality = Norwegian
| other_names =
| known_for = Olympic sprinter; silver medalist
| occupation = Diplomat
}}
Sigurd Emil Roll (14 October 1893 – 24 June 1944) was a Norwegian diplomat and former sprinter who was executed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. His brother William was a US diplomat.
Early life and family
Roll was born in Chicago to Wilhelm Jørgen Roll (born 1864 in Asker, Norway) and Sofia Jensen (born 1868 in Asker, Norway). Roll was married in 1918, and had four children. His son Finn joined the Devil's Brigade during World War II.
Olympic athlete
As an athlete he became Norwegian champion in the 400 metres event in 1917.[http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/nm/m400.htm Norwegian championships, men's 400 metres] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930202623/http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/nm/m400.htm |date=2007-09-30 }} – Norwegian Athletics Association He broke the Norwegian record this year, clocking in 50.9 seconds. He improved his own record to 50.7 seconds in 1920, but lost it to Einar Mangset the following season.[http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/Rekorder/Mutvlop.htm Record progression for men's sprint and running events, Norway]{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} – Norwegian Athletics Association He also won silver medals in the 400 metres in 1918 and 1920, as well as medals in the 100 and 200 metres.[http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/nm/m100.htm Norwegian championships, men's 100 metres] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185634/http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/nm/m100.htm |date=2007-09-30 }} – Norwegian Athletics Association[http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/nm/m200.htm Norwegian championships, men's 200 metres] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930202408/http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/nm/m200.htm |date=2007-09-30 }} – Norwegian Athletics Association He represented the sports club Kristiania IF.
Diplomatic and resistance fighter
Roll later served as a US vice consul in Oslo. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany Roll resigned his post and joined the Norwegian underground. He was captured by the Gestapo and imprisoned in a concentration camp for a period. After his release, he allegedly helped Norwegians escape from concentration camps.{{cite news|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2682077|title=Assassination of U.S. Vice-Consul|date=7 July 1944|work=The Canberra Times|accessdate=2008-11-07}}
Death
On June 24, 1944, Roll was arrested in his office and executed at Holmenkollen Kapell (Oslo) as a part of Operation Blumenpflücken, an attempt to discredit the Norwegian resistance. SS Hauptsturmführer and Sicherheitspolizei officer Ernst Weiner was personally responsible for the murder.{{cite encyclopedia |last=Nøkleby |first=Berit |editor=Dahl, Hans Fredrik |editor-link=Hans Fredrik Dahl |encyclopedia=Norsk krigsleksikon 1940-45 |title=Blumenpflücken |url=http://mediabase1.uib.no/krigslex/b/b3.html#blumenpflücken |accessdate=2008-11-07 |year=1995 |publisher=Cappelen |location=Oslo |language=no |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014062617/http://mediabase1.uib.no/krigslex/b/b3.html#blumenpflücken |archivedate=2013-10-14 }}
References
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Category:Norwegian male sprinters
Category:Norwegian civilians killed in World War II
Category:Track and field athletes from Chicago
Category:Norwegian people executed by Nazi Germany
Category:American people executed by Nazi Germany