Birger Strømsheim
| Birger Strømsheim | |
|---|---|
| Born |
11 October 1911 Ålesund, Norway |
| Died | 10 November 2012 (aged 101) Oslo, Norway |
| Allegiance | Norway |
| Service/branch | Norwegian Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Unit | Norwegian Independent Company 1 |
| Battles/wars | Norwegian Campaign |
| Awards |
 St. Olav's Medal with Oak Branch Defence Medal with rosette Haakon VIIs 70th Anniversary Medal Military Medal Medal of Freedom with bronze palm Legion of Honour Croix de guerre with bronze palm |
Birger Edvin Martin Strømsheim, (11 October 1911 – 10 November 2012) was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II, especially noted for his role in the heavy water sabotage 1942–1943.
Strømsheim worked as a building contractor, and together with his wife Aase, in 1941 he fled by boat to Shetland, determined to join the war effort. After the war, he returned to civilian life, but had a role in preparations for the stay-behind effort in Norway.
Poulsson served in the Norwegian Independent Company 1 (Norwegian: Kompani Linge) during World War II. As a member of the Gunnerside team he parachuted in Telemark on 16 February 1943. After five days of struggling through snowstorms on skis, the team managed to join forces with the Grouse team, previously deployed in the area. The combined team succeeded in the destruction of heavy water equipment and stock at Vemork in February 1943. Strømsheim was one of four who entered the actual factory building.
Operation Gunnerside was later claimed by Special Operations Executive leadership to be the most successful act of sabotage of the Second World War. The leader of Gunnerside, Joachim Rønneberg, described Strømsheim as “beyond doubt the best member of the party”.
Strømsheim was awarded Norway's St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch after his return to United Kingdom in 1943. It was presented to him by King Haakon at a ceremony at the training school STS 26 in Scotland, near Nethy Bridge.
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