Leif Utne

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Leif Utne (1919 – 25 August 2004) was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II and later a physician.

Early life[]

Utne was born in Bergen as the son of a physician.[1] He finished secondary school in 1938, and enrolled in medicine studies at the University of Oslo in the same year.[2]

World War II[]

When World War II reached Norway on 9 April 1940, with the German invasion, Utne volunteered and fought for Norway in the battles of Southern Norway. After Norway capitulated, he was a co-founder of the resistance group "Theta.[2] The group was self-initiated in a circle of friends, but they lacked contacts, knowledge and materials to actually conduct intelligence work.[3] Other members of the group running "Theta" were Bjarne Thorsen, Kristian Ottosen,[3] Helmer Dahl,[4] Hagbarth Schjøtt, Jr. and Jan Dahm.[5] Two members were sent to the United Kingdom: Leif Utne and Bjarne Thorsen. Utne travelled via Sweden, while Thorsen crossed the Norwegian Sea.[3] Thorsen returned with the necessary equipment, and a radio post was finally set up in December 1941, with its headquarters at the famous seaside location Bryggen.[6]

By that time, however, Leif Utne had become stationed in Scotland as a part of the Royal Norwegian Navy-in-exile.[2] He operated out of Lerwick in a motor torpedo boat squadron, among others together with Hugo Munthe-Kaas.[7] Utne was decorated with the Norwegian War Medal.[1]

Later career[]

After the war, Utne resumed his medicine studies. He graduated with the cand.med. degree in 1950.[2] From 1961 he was a specialist in skin diseases.[2] He worked at Haukeland University Hospital, in his own clinic as well as the St. Franciscus Hospital in . He trained students belonging to the University of Bergen. He also continued working with the navy, and reached the rank of commander in 1976.[1]

He chaired the local branch of the Norwegian Medical Society from 1974 to 1975. He was also active in Doktorklubben av 1959, and the sports club Bergens TF.[1] He was married and had two daughters. He died in August 2004 at Haukeland University Hospital.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Eilertsen, Eilert (31 August 2004). "Leif Utne". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 16.
  2. ^ a b c d e Ottosen, Kristian (31 August 2004). "Leif Utne". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 16.
  3. ^ a b c Ask, Øyvind (9 September 2004). "Spilte gal for å overleve". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). p. 33.
  4. ^ Kirkeeide, Norman; Valaker, Tormod (31 March 1999). "Forsker, humanist og elektronikkfadder". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). p. 39.
  5. ^ Rødland, Kjartan (24 February 1995). "Gjenspeiler byens historie". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). p. 24.
  6. ^ "Dagen i dag – lørdag 4. desember" (in Norwegian). Norwegian News Agency. 2 December 1993.
  7. ^ Goll, Sven (25 June 1992). "Hjertelig gjensyn". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). p. 19.
  8. ^ Ottosen, Kristian (31 August 2004). "Minneord". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). p. 23.
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