Leif Welding-Olsen (15 August 1895 – 8 April 1940) was the commander of the Royal Norwegian Navy patrol boat HNoMS Pol III. He was the first Norwegian to be killed during the German invasion of Norway.[1] On 8 April 1940, Leif Welding-Olsen raised the alarm as the German navy ships moved past the guard lines in outer Oslofjord. Norway had been attacked at 2205hrs that evening as German ships passed the Norwegian territorial borders. Captain Welding-Olsen had a brief conversation with the commander of one of the German torpedo boats, who demanded that he surrender, but Welding-Olsen refused. Realizing that the enemy would not turn away, and was going to violate Norwegian neutrality, Pol III fired flares to alert Norwegian coastal batteries and rammed the Albatros.
From the Albatros it was clear that the guns on Pol III were manned, and that the Norwegians intended to fight. The Albatros promptly hit the small Norwegian vessel with anti-aircraft fire, wounding Captain Welding-Olsen in the leg and starting several fires. As Pol III was burning, her crew abandoned the vessel. The lifeboat overturned, forcing them to cling to its sides. Leif Welding-Olsen, weakened by blood loss, let go from the boat and drowned, becoming the first casualty in the war between Norway and Nazi Germany. His last words were reportedly: "Bry dere ikke om meg gutter, jeg er ferdig likevel. Men kommer dere hjem, så hils fra meg!"[2]
This is roughly translated as: "Don't worry about me boys, I am done for anyway. (If) you make it back home, give them my regards".
Legacy
SHV-205 Welding, a vessel of Sea Home Guard was named after Leif Welding-Olsen
Welding Olsens vei was named after him.
Leif Welding Street in Horten (Welding's birthplace) is named after him
References
^"Norwegian Homefleet - Ships starting with P – D/S Pol III". warsailors.com. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
^Hansen, Svend E. (8 April 2015). "Larvik-hvalbåt først i kamp for Norge". Østlands-Posten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 17 September 2016.
Other sources
Dildy, Douglas C. (2007) Hitler's Boldest Operation; Osprey Campaign Series (Osprey Publishing) ISBN978-1-84603-117-5
February 14, 2023
leif, welding, olsen, august, 1895, april, 1940, commander, royal, norwegian, navy, patrol, boat, hnoms, first, norwegian, killed, during, german, invasion, norway, april, 1940, raised, alarm, german, navy, ships, moved, past, guard, lines, outer, oslofjord, n. Leif Welding Olsen 15 August 1895 8 April 1940 was the commander of the Royal Norwegian Navy patrol boat HNoMS Pol III He was the first Norwegian to be killed during the German invasion of Norway 1 On 8 April 1940 Leif Welding Olsen raised the alarm as the German navy ships moved past the guard lines in outer Oslofjord Norway had been attacked at 2205hrs that evening as German ships passed the Norwegian territorial borders Captain Welding Olsen had a brief conversation with the commander of one of the German torpedo boats who demanded that he surrender but Welding Olsen refused Realizing that the enemy would not turn away and was going to violate Norwegian neutrality Pol III fired flares to alert Norwegian coastal batteries and rammed the Albatros Leif Welding OlsenBorn 1895 08 15 15 August 1895Horten NorwayDied8 April 1940 1940 04 08 aged 44 Oslofjord NorwayAllegianceNorwayService wbr branch Royal Norwegian NavyCommands heldHNoMS Pol IIIBattles warsSecond World War German invasion of Norway From the Albatros it was clear that the guns on Pol III were manned and that the Norwegians intended to fight The Albatros promptly hit the small Norwegian vessel with anti aircraft fire wounding Captain Welding Olsen in the leg and starting several fires As Pol III was burning her crew abandoned the vessel The lifeboat overturned forcing them to cling to its sides Leif Welding Olsen weakened by blood loss let go from the boat and drowned becoming the first casualty in the war between Norway and Nazi Germany His last words were reportedly Bry dere ikke om meg gutter jeg er ferdig likevel Men kommer dere hjem sa hils fra meg 2 This is roughly translated as Don t worry about me boys I am done for anyway If you make it back home give them my regards Legacy EditSHV 205 Welding a vessel of Sea Home Guard was named after Leif Welding Olsen Welding Olsens vei was named after him Leif Welding Street in Horten Welding s birthplace is named after himReferences Edit Norwegian Homefleet Ships starting with P D S Pol III warsailors com Retrieved 12 November 2016 Hansen Svend E 8 April 2015 Larvik hvalbat forst i kamp for Norge Ostlands Posten in Norwegian Retrieved 17 September 2016 Other sources EditDildy Douglas C 2007 Hitler s Boldest Operation Osprey Campaign Series Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84603 117 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leif Welding Olsen amp oldid 1116489841, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
