Gunnar Sønsteby

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Gunnar Fridtjof Thurmann Sønsteby

b. 11 January 1918

Nickname

Kjakan, No.24 among others

Place of birth

Rjukan

Allegiance

Norway

Years of service

1940-?

Rank

Captain

Commands held

Kompani Linge

Awards

Incomplete list.

	War Cross with three Swords^[1]
	Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav^[2]
	Distinguished Service Order
	Presidential Medal of Freedom
	The American-Scandinavian Foundation's Culture Award (awarded in 2001)^[3]

Other work

Author, War information work

Gunnar Fridtjof Thurmann Sønsteby DSO (born 11 January 1918) is the most highly decorated Norwegian, based in large part on his efforts as a Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II. Known also as Kjakan (The Chin) and No. 24, he participated in the resistance effort from 1940. After saboteur training in England in 1943, he became head of the Norwegian Independent Company 1 group in Oslo.

Operating in occupied territory, and being high on the Gestapo list of wanted men, Sønsteby became a master of disguise. He operated under 30 to 40 different names and identities, and the Germans did not acquire his real name until near the end of the war. They were never able to catch him.

[edit] Post-war activities

In 2001 he was awarded the American-Scandinavian Foundation’s prestigious culture award.^[3]

Sønsteby is the only person awarded the War Cross with Three Swords, awarded in 1946.^[1]^[3]

On 13 May 2007, a statue of him was erected on Solli Plass in Oslo. The statue was sculpted by Per Ung and portrays a 25-year-old Sønsteby standing next to his bicycle. The statue was unveiled by King Harald of Norway.^[4]

As Sønsteby celebrated his 90th birthday on 11 January 2008 he was honoured with reception at Akershus Fortress attended by King Harald V of Norway and the other members of the Royal Family.^[3]