The case summarized: Kåre Syltevik (103) was a secret spy during the war, a role he had to keep hidden for over 40 years. He organized intelligence over large parts of Upper Roman Empire, mapped everything from radio stations to aircraft movements, lines of supply, and names of German leaders. Syltevik risked life several times, including when the Germans searched his farm without finding the hidden weapons and ammunition. It was not until 1988 that the agents’ “duty of confidentiality” was repealed by the government, and Syltevik can now share its war memorials. He will be praised as a guest of honor at the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, where King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon will also be present. Despite its age, Syltevik stays in shape by going to the fitness center. ———————————— The summary is made by a Ki service from Openai. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publishing. May 8, 1945: After five years in the winter of the war, spring has finally arrived. Peace. Freedom. Joy cry and Norwegian flags fill the streets. Children, women and men rejoice from trucks on their way down Norway’s parade street, in pure joy. Resistance people and war heroes are praised by the crowds. Oslo Center, May 8, 1945. The war was finally over, and it was celebrated. Archive material at least some of them. Kåre Syltevik was a completely different place. – Then I was home. And took it easy, says the 103-year-old. news meets him two days before being tributed at Trandum. As a guest of honor at the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon are also coming. It takes the veteran with great calm. This is not the first time he meets the king. – I’ve met him before. In the picture on the wall there, he says, pointing: Kåre Syltevik and his now late wife Liv greets King Harald. This picture hangs on the wall at the home of Syltevik.foto: Rolf Petter Olaisen / NRKKåre Syltevik and his now deceased wife Liv greets King Harald. This picture hangs on the wall at Syltevik’s home. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news He also has a thank you diploma signed by King Harald. Received for their efforts during the war. He had to keep it secret for over 40 years. With democracy in the back when the war came, 18 -year -old Kåre stood in the crowd along Karl Johans gate. Just off Løvebakken. Behind him he had the Storting. The stronghold of Norwegian democracy. In front of him he saw the die. Accompanied by trampling boots. A little earlier he had been at the top of St. Hanshaugen and watched German fighter jets over the capital. Now he saw the Germans himself. Hitler’s war machinery, in the middle of Karl Johan. – They marched upwards. With riding police on both sides, for protection. German soldiers on the way down Karl Johan April 9, 1940. The war had come to Norway. Archive material student who became a spy there comes an everyday life, even in war. For Kåre, the road went on to the university. The dedicated student with strong opinions was noticed. He talked a lot and did not hide where he stood. Among those who noticed him was the spy network Xu. Xu XU was the dominant intelligence organization in the resistance movement, with a fine -masked network of agents across the country. There are, for understandable reasons, not a complete overview of who were XU agents, but estimates indicate that they were about 1500 in the century. Xu infiltrated state organizations such as the police, the post office and NSB, in addition they had people in Quisling’s inner circle. They mapped in detail all German activity in Norway – facilities, fortifications, transports, ports and troop movements. Thus, the Allies knew almost everything about the Nazis’ war machinery in Norway. Most of the XU’s business was kept secret until the late 1980s. Source: Svein Sæter on a November night in 1943 it called on the door of Kåre’s student apartment. When he opened, a man stood outside and pointed to him with a gun. – And then he commissioned me to organize intelligence at Romerike. The 22-year-old was not scared. Instead, he said yes on the spot. Kåre Syltevik is currently 103 years old. The memory is nothing to say – to this day he remembers details from the war days. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news German aircraft, Russian prisoners did not know what was the real reason why he moved home. To the family farm at Ullensaker. From here he organized intelligence over large parts of Upper Roman Empire. The network he built up mapped everything from radio stations to aircraft movements, supply lines, and names of German leaders. The farm was well located. Just off Gardermoen, which was then a military airport. The military camp at Trandum. And Qvistebo, a camp that houses 1000 Russian prisoners of war. From the window on the second floor of the home yard Kåre followed the air traffic. This is how the farm looks today. From the second floor, Kåre Syltevik operated intelligence activities. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news From this window he followed on the German military aircraft at Gardermoen. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news Kåre no longer lives in his childhood home. But he can still point out exactly where he was when the Germans came in Razzia. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news From there he also heard three Russian prisoners of war being shot and killed by the Germans. They had tried to escape from the prison camp. Garnads in the hay and it was not just the Russian prisoners who were in danger of life. In the fall of 1944 it was close. The Germans knew that something was going on at Romerike. All houses at Nannestad were visited, and more around Gardermoen and Trandum. Kåre lay with the binoculars in the meadow when the Germans came. They searched the whole farm, without finding anything. Both houses, barns and stables. There they walked around with high forks and stuck through the hay. – But I had hidden a suitcase in the hay that they did not hit with the high fork. And there I had six German hand grenades, guns, and ammunition, says Kåre. Kåre Syltevik still remembers the day when the Germans came to Razzia at the family farm. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news had they found it, it could have been over. For Kåre and the other agents at Romerike knew well what the Germans were capable of. In the Trandum Forest, just off the farm where Kåre lived, almost 200 resistance people were executed. It is here that both King Harald, Crown Prince Haakon and Kåre Syltevik will be tonight. On the occasion of the day of liberation. Kåre comes as a guest of honor. It would be inconceivable until 1988. In 1945, the mass graves in the Trandum Forest were dug up: One body is picked up from a mass grave in the Trandum Forest. In the summer of 1945, Vidkun Quisling must join the Trandum Forest to see the mass graves be opened. Landssvik prisoners and German prisoners of war are led to the Trandum Forest to retrieve corpses from the mass graves. 40 years of silence for: The XU agents lived under strict duty of confidentiality. They could not talk about what they had experienced. Only the very closest knew. This is how it should remain for over 40 years. It was not until 1988 that the agents’ “duty of confidentiality” was repealed by the government. Thus, Kåre can now showcase the memories of the war. Orders from the Armed Forces Command. A letter from the XU leadership in Sweden to protect him during flight. And a diploma from the Armed Forces as a thank you for faith. Pictures and diplomas are what is left after the war effort today. In the middle at the bottom of XU, to the left of the diploma from King Harald. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news He also reminds some of the Russian prisoners. At the end of the war, the Germans open up a bit, says Syltevik. They let the Russians contact the civilian population. The prisoners could switch to bread against art they had made in the camp. Like this wooden box, where the famous family farm is artificially burned into the lid. – They had very nice products. There was also a theater painter from Moscow that made a picture of Far.Cåre Syltevikfoto: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news Electric car and fitness center The horrors of the war seem far away now. The atrocities in the Trandum forest as well. And not many people remember. Kåre Syltevik is among the latest. In return, he remembers well. After a war, good memory can be a curse. But Kåre has never been broken. Neither the war nor the silence afterwards. Maybe he has his own ability to look ahead? At least he dedicated almost 40 years to the generations of the future, in his job as a teacher and principal. And as a 99-year-old, he bought himself just as good an electric car. Even then he thought ahead, and said: – When I turn 101 I can imagine a tricycle with engine, also the electric. Kåre has lined up for news before, he – when he, as a 99 -year -old, bought an electric car. Photo: Caroline Utti / news The car is now parked. The same cannot be said about Kåre. At the age of 103, he still goes to the fitness center. It is important to stay fit. He has a bit to extinguish. The sister is 107 years old. But before it carries back on training, he has a liberation anniversary to celebrate. This year is 80 years since the war ended. In Norway it started with the lowering of Blücher. Learn more here: Do you want to read about more of the war’s everyday heroes? Below is a selection: Published 08.05.2025, at. 14.53
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