Arne Kjelstrup
| Arne Kjelstrup | |
|---|---|
Arne Kjelstrup, 1940
|
|
| Born |
13 October 1913 Rjukan, Norway |
| Died | 5 May 1995 (aged 81) |
| Allegiance | Norway |
| Service/branch | Norwegian Army |
| Years of service | 1940–1945 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | Norwegian Independent Company 1 |
| Battles/wars | Norwegian Campaign |
| Other work | Plumber |
Arne Kjelstrup, MM (30 October 1913 – 5 May 1995) was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II, especially noted for his role in the heavy water sabotage 1942–1943, and for being military leader of Milorg section D-161 (Kongsberg/Numedal) during the anti-demolition operation Sunshine 1944–1945.
Kjelstrup was born in Rjukan. He later moved with his parents to Bærum, where he worked as a plumber at the outbreak of World War II. After the war Kjesltrup married Tulla Irgens, who had participated in the Operation Starlight, the Kongsberg-Numedal-Nore subsection of Operation Sunshine. Kjelstrup took further education in Stockholm, and settled in Bærum, working in the plumbing business.
Following the German invasion of Norway in April 1940 Kjelstrup participated in the defence of Norway as a soldier. He was hit by a German bullet, but saved his life because he was carrying a pair of wire cutters that the bullet hit before entering his body. The bullet stayed in his body for the duration of his life. When the battles were over he travelled to Sweden, and after a long journey, via Moscow, Odessa, Istanbul, Suez, Durban, Cape Town, Trinidad, Halifax and Liverpool he ended up in London, where he became a member of the Norwegian Independent Company 1 (Norwegian: Kompani Linge). He was recruited a member of the Grouse team which was parachuted onto the Hardangervidda plateau on 18 October 1942, along with Jens-Anton Poulsson (leader of the group), Knut Haugland and Claus Helberg. The team landed at Fjarefit in Songadalen, and relocated to Møsvatn where they prepared to receive British troops, the Operation Freshman. The Freshman operation was a failure, as the two gliders plus one of the towing planes crashed. The Grouse team spent several winter months hidden at Hardangervidda, waiting for the replacement operation, Gunnerside. The combined Grouse and Gunnerside team finally succeeded in the destruction of heavy water equipment and stock at Vemork in February 1943
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