When Norway was occupied, Tallaksen and five friends sailed across the North Sea to England to join Norwegian Independent Company 1.

After lying low for two weeks - hiding from the Germans - Tallaksen and his companions walked the whole way to Oslo, where they joined "Operation Goldfinch", which consisted of training Milorg personnel.

[3][4] On Monday 13 November 1944, Tallaksen and his companion Gregers Gram went to Plasskafeen at Olaf Ryes Plass, where they were supposed to meet some German deserters.

After two weeks at Aker Hospital, he was transferred to Akershus Fortress, where he committed suicide on 29 November 1944 to avoid betraying his comrades in Oslogjengen.

[7] In 2008, Edvard Tallaksen was made known to a broader audience when his character was included in the film Max Manus, portrayed by the actor Mats Eldøen.