The Rinnan Gang: Nazi Collaborators Who Infiltrated the Norwegian Resistance

The Rinnan Gang, officially known as Sonderabteilung Lola, was one of the most feared collaborationist organizations in Nazi-occupied Norway during World War II. Led by Henry Rinnan and working closely with the German Sicherheitsdienst (SD) and Gestapo, the group became notorious for infiltrating resistance networks, gathering intelligence, and helping crush opposition to German occupation.Founded in 1942, the gang relied on deception rather than conventional military force. Members posed as resistance sympathizers, gained the trust of underground activists, and then betrayed them to German authorities. Through infiltration, surveillance, and manipulation, they dismantled numerous resistance cells and escape networks throughout central Norway.The group's headquarters at Jonsvannsveien 46 in Trondheim became infamous as a center of interrogation and torture. Prisoners captured by the gang were subjected to beatings, psychological abuse, and brutal treatment. Hundreds of Norwegians passed through the villa, while many resistance members were arrested, deported, or killed as a result of the gang's activities.As Germany's defeat approached in 1945, panic spread among the collaborators. Internal killings, suicides, and failed escape attempts followed. After Norway's liberation, surviving members of the Rinnan Gang were arrested and brought to trial. Several received death sentences, while others were sentenced to long prison terms. Henry Rinnan himself was executed in 1947.This documentary examines the rise of the Rinnan Gang, its infiltration of the Norwegian resistance, its cooperation with Nazi security services, and the postwar pursuit of justice against one of the most notorious collaborationist groups in occupied Europe.This episode is part of the series Forces of WWII: Inside the Units.Watch the full documentary and explore hundreds of historical films at:WorldHistory.tv