Wilhelm Holst

Wilhelm Christopher Holst (born 27 October 1895 in Drammen – Norway, died 2 November 1949 in Oslo – Norway) was a Norwegian businessman who worked for the French resistance movement Free France during World War II, as a P2 agent and Chef de Reseau Billett (Alexandre) in France.

After the German invasion of Norway April 9 1940, and the execution of his two sons (15 and 16 years old) by the Germans on April 15 1940, he mobilized a strong dislike for the nazis and founded the secret circuit Billet, based in Paris and Marseille, on memorial day 1941.

[1] In spring 1941 he was recruited through the Norwegian Ministry of Defense's intelligence office in London, as one of the first five Special Operations Executive (SOE) in the DF section for France, Clandestine & Communications.

[2] In May 1941 Holst was asked to be the local contact for the agents carrying out the Operation Josephine B in France.

On February 27, 1948, Wilhelm Holst was appointed as a knight of the 1st class of the Order of Saint Olav for merits for Norwegian interests in France before and during the war.