Nyholm, Hans Alfred

Date of birth:: August 15th, 1898 (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Date of death:: December 23rd, 1964
Nationality:: Danish

Biography

Prior to WW2 Hans Nyholm was a submarine officer, commanding several submarines in the Danish Navy. After the Danish surrender in 1940, Nyholm started to work in Denmark covertly in support of the Allies and particularly Great Britain.
Nyholm continued in the service of the reformed Royal Danish Navy post 1945.
He was appointed to the Command of the Danish Navy Coastal Fleet on September 22nd, 1950, and was subsequently put in command of the Royal Danish Navy on December 19th, 1951. Nyholm would remain Head of the Danish Navy & Chief of Naval Staff through to his retirement in 1961.

Promotions:
October 1st, 1919: Lojtnant (2nd Lieutenant);
October 1st, 1920: Premierlojtnant (Lieutenant);
May 1st, 1927: Kaptajnlojtnant (Lieutenant Commander);
June 17th, 1937: Kommandorkaptajn (Commander);
February 18th, 1948: Kommandor (Commodore);
June 15th, 1950: Kontreadmiral (Rear Admiral);
June 1st, 1958: Viceadmiral (Vice-Admiral).

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Militair Ereteken wegens buitengewone dienst of wegens een daad van moed of toewijding, 2e klasse

Awarded on:: April 30th, 1935

Order Odrodzenia Polski Oficerski

Awarded on:: September 24th, 1930

Ridder af Dannebrog

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: April 2nd, 1940

Hæderstegnet for god tjeneste med søetaten

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: January 23rd, 1946

Officier de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: November 27th, 1946

Medal of Freedom with Bronze Palm

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: November 20th, 1946

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: May 30th, 1947

Recommendation;
"At the outbreak of war, Orlogskapajn Nyholm was personal assistant to the Admiral commanding the Danish Navy. After a short time he was transferred to the Naval Intelligence department to collect intelligence concerning German Fleet movements in Danish waters and to obtain details of the production of German U-Boats in Danish shipyards. On 29th August, 1943, when the Germans demobilised the Danish Army and Navy, the Danish Naval Commander in Chief gave instructions for certain units of the Danish Navy in Copenhagen harbour to be scuttled rather than allow them to fall into the hands of the Germans. Orlogkaptajn Nyholm was one of the officers responsible for the successful execution of this order. Orlogskapitajn Nyholm then set to work to establish Resistance Groups among naval officers and men. These groups were used for the collection of intelligence and for training as guerilla troops in the event of an invasion of Denmark by the Allies. At the end of 1943, the naval and military intelligence organisations combined and Orlogskapitajn Nyholm was appointed to a senior post on the combined staffs. In response to a request from the British Naval Intelligence Division, the network of the Danish Naval Intelligence was considerably increased and detailed reports of all German shipping movements were sent to England three times a day. In December 1944, several of his colleagues were arrested and some were shot. Orlogskapitajn Nyholm himself was arrested with compromising papers on him but he managed to swallow these. He was subjected to such brutal torture that it is unlikely he will ever recover from the effects but he steadfastly refused to betray his comrades. He was finally sent to Neuen Gamme where once more he was very badly manhandled but again refused to divulge any compromising information. He remained in Neuen Gamme until the capitulation. Orlogskapitajn Nyholm's outstanding services in procuring high-grade naval intelligence was of the greatest value to the Allied cause. At all times he displayed the greatest bravery and self-sacrifice and his conduct has been a source of great inspiration to his comrades.'