Leif Larsen

Leif Larsen

Infobox Military Person
name= Leif Andreas Larsen


caption=
allegiance=Norway
rank=Kapteinløytnant
(Lieutenant Commander)
commands=MV "Arthur"
MV "Bergholm"
SC "Vigra"
Other small vessels
unit=Shetland Bus
family=
nickname=Shetlands-Larsen
lived=9 January 1906 - 12 October 1990
placeofbirth=Norway
currentlyresides=
serviceyears=
laterwork=
battles=
awards="Incomplete list."

flagicon|NorwayWar Cross with two Swords
flagicon|NorwaySt. Olav Medal with oak branch
flagicon|NorwayNorwegian War Medal with tree stars
flagicon|NorwayParticipation (in WWII) Medal
flagicon|NorwayKing Haakon VII's 70th anniversary Medal
flagicon|United KingdomConspicuous Gallantry Medal
flagicon|United KingdomDistinguished Service Medal and Bar
flagicon|United KingdomDistinguished Service Cross
flagicon|United KingdomDistinguished Service Order
flagicon|FinlandParticipation in the Winter War Medal

portrayedby=himself in the 1954 movie Shetlandsgjengen (No.)

Leif Andreas Larsen DSO, DSC, CGM, DSM and Bar (9 January 190612 October 1990), popularly known as Shetlands-Larsen, was probably the most famous of the men who operated the Shetland bus escape route during World War II.

He participated as a volunteer on the Finnish side during the Winter War and was a soldier in the defence of Norway following the German invasion at Kongsvinger Fortress. He had excellent leadership skills; one of the British officers at the Shetland base, David Howarth, described him as "one of the most remarkable personalities of the entire Second World War". Larsen preferred to downplay his own role and instead named his crew as the reason for his achievements.

hetland bus

He dramatically escaped Norway in February 1941 in the fishing boat "MOTIG 1", a voyage he recounted in an autobiographic book. He then joined the Norwegian Naval Independent Unit, an unwieldy cover title far better known as the Shetland Bus. The unit for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and, despite its name, was initially independent of the regular Royal Norwegian Navy. He trained with the Linge Company, and was elected the first skipper operating the Shetland route.

He was the skipper of the fishing vessel "Arthur" during an attempt to sink the German battleship "Tirpitz" in the Trondheimsfjord in the fall of 1942 (Operation Title). Despite its failure, Larsen received a Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, the first non-Briton to do so. The Admiralty records the operation as "the achievement of penetrating to within convert|10|mi|km of the berth occupied by the Tirpitz represents, on the part of the personnel and particularly that of the Norwegians, a fine example of cold-blooded courage."

Boat skippers were initially given the nominal rank of Petty Officer ('Quartermaster'), but Larsen was later, without a great deal of enthusiasm, given a formal commission as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Norwegian Navy, hence the extremely unusual array of his British decorations.

Operations became increasingly dangerous as the war progressed and the German forces improved their air and sea defences. They began to understand the true role of fishing-boats operating far from the coast and the fishing boats were phased out in favour of three American 'sub-chasers', which were much larger, faster and better-armed, altogether better suited to the changed circumstances. The commanders of these three vessels were required to be commissioned officers and Larsen became the captain of the HNoMS "Vigra". In all he made 52 trips to Norway.

With eleven distinctions he became the most highly decorated naval officer of the Second World War -- no other man, British or foreign, received the same British military honours. In addition to the unique array of British decorations, he was awarded Norways's highest decoration for military gallantry, the "Krigskorset med Sverd" or War Cross with sword. He was awarded this decoration twice, in 1942 and 1943: the War Cross with two swords.

Post-war

After the war Larsen had a large role in organising the naval branch of the Norwegian Home Guard.

In 1954 he played himself in the movie Shetlandsgjengen [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049808/ Shetlandsgjengen (1954)] en icon] (aka. "Suicide Mission" in the USA).

In 2000 Bergen newspaper Bergens Tidende named Larsen Vestlandet's man of the century. There is a statue of him by the UNESCO site of Bryggen in Bergen.

References

External links

* [http://www.shetland-heritage.co.uk/shetlandbus/pages/the_crewmen.htm Shetland's Larsen] en icon
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049808/ Movie database] en icon
* [http://web.ukonline.co.uk/chalcraft/sm/chariots.html A page on mini subs during WWII] en icon


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