Sonsteby was born in 1918, and went to college in Oslo. He was working as an accountant in 1940 when the German invaded Norway. Gunnar quickly decided to join the Norwegian Resistance, From there it was on to service with the British as a spy. Sonsteby was imprisoned for three months in Sweden, but convinced authorities they had the wrong Gunnar Sonsteby and was released. The Gestapo caught him in 1943, but he escaped and headed to Sweden. Eventually Gunnar was parachuted into Norway, and became the leader of a saboteur group. They stole plates for currency, blew up offices, and destroyed several ships. Through disguises and forged papers, Sonsteby never was captured.
The Nazis eventually lost their grip on Norway, and Gunnar was one of the first to welcome Crown Prince Olav back to his homeland in 1945. After some time in America, Sonsteby eventually moved back to Norway, and lectured all over the country on the lessons of World War II.
He's the only person to be given the War Cross with Three Swords, the top military honor in Norway. He was awarded the U.S. Medal of Freedom, and a similar honor from Great Britain. And that's just for starters. Sonsteby died in 2012, and was given a state funeral.
The man who was nicknamed "The Chin" deserved everyone of those honors - including this statue in Oslo.
No comments:
Post a Comment