Øistein Strømnæs

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Øistein Stømnæs (1914-1980) was the head of the main Norwegian intelligence organisation XU from 1943 to 1945. Strømnæs was born in Sarpsborg and studied biology at the University of Oslo when Norway was attacked in 1940. To support his studies he also had a part-time job as a police constable, this proved very valuable when he got involved in intelligence.

Recruited by one of the founders of XU, Captain Eivind Hjelle, Strømnæs joined XU in August 1940. Strømnæs was said to be a "natural agent", and he had a very relaxed tone with his agents. He worked undercover in Oslo until the end of the war.

After the war Strømnæs went to the USA for further studies and married his next in command, Anne-Sofie Østvedt. Their work with XU was kept a secret until around 1988.