Poul Ib Gjessing Explained

Poul Ib Gjessing
Birth Name:Paul Ib Gjessing
Birth Date:1909 3, df=y
Birth Place:Præstemarken, Silkeborg
Spouse:(married)
Parents:Ejnar Gjessing and Ane Dorthea Jørgine Hansen
Death Date:[1]
Death Place:Ryvangen
Death Cause:Execution by firing squad
Resting Place:Ryvangen Memorial Park
Occupation:Sea captain
Known For:Executed as member of the Danish resistance movement
Website:Web site: Modstandsdatabasen . Copenhagen . . Poul Ib Gjessing . Resistance Database . 2014-12-04 . Danish.

Poul Ib Gjessing (31 March 1909 – 23 June 1944) was a sea captain and member of the Danish resistance executed by the German occupying power.

Biography

In March 1944 the Gestapo made an "incredible number of arrests" including ten arrests in the region of Års. The presumed leader of the Års group was the 35-year-old sea Captain Gjessing, who was found to have in his Hasseris home a large weapons cache and about 50 fake police badges.[2]

On 23 June 1944 Gjessing and seven other members of the resistance were executed in Ryvangen.[1]

After his death

The January 1945 issue of the resistance newspaper Frit Danmark (Free Denmark) reported on the execution of the eight resistance members including Gjessing.[1]

On 29 August 1945 Gjessing and 105 other victims of the occupation were given a state funeral in the memorial park founded at the execution site in Ryvangen. Bishop Hans Fuglsang-Damgaard led the service with participation from the royal family, the government and representatives of the resistance movement.[3]

Notes and References

  1. News: 23. Juni - 8 Frihedskæmpere henrettet . 23 June - 8 freedom fighters executed . Frit Danmark . January 1945 . 9 . stud. theol. Chr. U. Hansen, Laandmaaler E. Balslev, Købmand B. Lauritsen, Købmand J. Ryder, Kleinsmed J. P. Funk Lind, Købmand M. Vestergaard Jensen, Kaptajn P. Gjessing og Mejerist H. J. Henriksen . 23 November 2014 . Danish.
  2. News: Utrolig mange Arrestationer . . 18 March 1944 . 10 . I Aars har der været stor Razzia, der har resulteret i en halv Snes Anholdelser, bl.a. af Landinspektør Emil Balslev, Grosserer Westergaard Jensen, Landsrs. Torrild Thomsen. Hovedmanden i Sagen menes at være den 35-aarige Skibskaptajn Gjessing, Hasseris, i hvis Hjem Tyskerne fandt et stort Vaabenforraad og ca. 50 falske Politiskilte. . 24 November 2014 . Incredibly many arrests . Danish.
  3. Web site: Historie - Mindelunden Ryvangen . History - Ryvangen Memorial Park . Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs . 2014-11-16 . Danish . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129045124/http://www.mindelundenryvangen.dk/historie.html . 2014-11-29 .