Max Manus | |
---|---|
Born |
Bergen, Norway |
9 December 1914
Died | 20 September 1996 Bærum, Norway |
(aged 81)
Allegiance | Norway |
Years of service | 1940–1945 |
Rank | løytnant (lieutenant) |
Unit |
Norwegian resistance movement Norwegian Independent Company 1 PWE SOE |
Battles/wars |
Winter War World War II |
Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Military Cross and Bar Medal of Freedom with silver palm Defence Medal War Cross with two swords Winter War Participation Medal Various American/Polish/Italian awards |
Other work | Shop assistant, sailor, author, businessman and personal protection officer |
Maximo Guillermo "Max" Manus DSO, MC & Bar (9 December 1914 – 20 September 1996) was a Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II, specializing in sabotage in occupied Norway. After the war he wrote several books about his adventures and started the successful office supply company Max Manus AS.
Manus was born in Bergen in 1914, to a Norwegian father and a Danish mother. His father's name was originally Johan Magnussen, but he changed his name to Juan Manus after living several years in foreign (mainly Spanish-speaking) countries.
He became renowned as a saboteur during World War II. After fighting as a volunteer for Finland in the Soviet-Finnish Winter War of 1939–40, Manus returned to Norway on the day of the German invasion of Norway, 9 April 1940. He was a pioneer of the Norwegian resistance movement and was arrested by the Gestapo in 1941. He escaped to the United Kingdom for training and went back as a saboteur for the Norwegian Independent Company 1, better known as Lingekompaniet. He became a specialist in ship sabotage and, by using Limpet mines, sank ships that were important to the German Kriegsmarine, including the SS Donau on 16 January 1945. Manus ended the war as a first lieutenant (Løytnant).