Hugo Munthe-Kaas

Hugo Munthe-Kaas was a Norwegian intelligence agent and resistance fighter during World War II. Throughout the spring of 1940, at the age of 18, he fought against the German invasion. After armed resistance was crushed and the German occupation of Norway was established, he went to England, where he became trained and served as a secret agent of the British Intelligence Service. Munthe-Kaas crossed the Atlantic numerous times, transported on a fishing vessel, in planes (including a crossing in the bomb cradle of a British Mosquito aircraft), and in submarines. His missions included setting up an undercover network of coastal radio operators, rescuing four sailors left behind in Norway, and a near fatal submarine seek-and-destroy mission. He served on an MTB boat during the invasion of Normandy. In 1944 he parachuted into Vassfaret to help set up guerrilla bases to train underground Milorg men for the anticipated last battle against the Germans. In 1943, Hing Haakon VII decorated the 21-year-old Munthe-Kaas with the War Cross with Sword, Norway's highest medal for exceptional contribution in war. Great Britain honored him with their Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), the highest medal given to non-commissioned officers, and France presented him with their Legion of Honor and the War Cross.

Further reading

*CHRISTENSEN, DAG: Hemmelig agent i Norge. Den utrolige beretningen om Hugo Munthe-Kaas - i britisk spesialtjeneste mot tyskerne. Oslo 1987.

*SCOTT, ASTRID KARLSEN: Silent Patriot: Norway's Most Highly Decorated WWII Soldier a Secret Agent. Nordic Adventures, Olympia, WA 2004.