Number 24's Real-Life Gunnar Sonsteby, Explained: Is He Dead?

It is not common for war movies to move away from traditional nationalism-pandering routines, shun the lenses of idealism, and show the gray area where the binaries of moral principle don’t work. Fortunately, Netflix’s recently released Norwegian war drama, Number 24, proves to be an exception as it showcases the futility of war in an unconventional way by chronicling the exploits of Norwegian war hero Gunnar Sonsteby. The movie doesn’t refrain from raising questions regarding how certain similarities exist between opposing factions beneath all the supposed superficial distinctions, which is deftly presented in the way Gunnar’s journey is portrayed through the narrative. 

As the most celebrated, revered war hero of Norway, Gunnar Sonsteby’s larger-than-life exploits deserved attention, and the way he was able to destabilize the Nazi regime in Norway within a span of five years by proving himself as an excellent saboteur acts as a positive example of nationalism. The strong belief in the right to express one’s freedom led Gunnar to realize how much of a threat the Nazi ideals posed to the democratic governance of his country long before the xenophobic party started spreading its wings across Europe. 

History is shaped by people who choose to act, and Gunnar’s iron determination to free his nation, which was abandoned by its government, guided him to take part in a prolonged liberation struggle. From assuming the role of an insurgency fighter to becoming an ace espionage agent with unparalleled expertise in infiltration and evasion, Gunnar became a prominent figure in the anti-Nazi resistance force both in and outside Norway. In fact, his exploits showcased in the movie didn’t do justice to how amazing and unbelievable his real-life story was. To put things into perspective, unlike what was shown in the movie, the Germans were completely unaware of his true identity until the very end of the Second World War, as he had assumed dozens of identities through the years. 

Without going into extreme adulation, Number 24 holds Gunnar’s sacrifices in high regard, especially by showing the way he refused to allow space or time for any personal relationships while being dedicated to the war effort through the years when he was involved in Norway’s liberation struggle. His willing disassociation from emotional connections had made him an efficient spy; without having any strings attached, he could act with much more freedom. However, this also meant he had to make some of the hardest choices to uphold his strong ideals, and as Erling Solheim’s case highlights, Gunnar ended up putting everything at stake to do what was necessary to thwart the Nazi dominance. It all boils down to the equation of priorities, and during the specific period for Gunnar, at least the way the movie shows, protecting his nation was of utmost importance. Without getting hung up on moral questions, one can arrive at the conclusion that the war took away a lot from the legendary freedom fighter. Which is why, in the final stage of his life, he remarked that there are memories from the pre-liberation years he wishes to remain willfully oblivious to, as they remind him of the person he used to be at that time—a far cry from the person Gunnar wanted to be known as. 

Given how, as an adept secret agent, Gunnar had managed to weaken the Nazi presence in Norway, after the liberation of the country, he and his surviving comrades of the Oslo Gang were honored by the reinstated democratic government of Norway and by the royal family. Gunnar Sonsteby’s efforts were recognized by some of the highest civilian awards in Norway, and he received veneration from England, the United States, and Poland as well. After the end of the Second World War, Gunnar Sonsteby retreated from the espionage life and actively refused offers to join either the Norwegian or British intelligence services. He didn’t take any pride in the life he had to lead in the five years, which, even though proven to be of utmost importance for his nation, ultimately was considered by him to be a stagnant period in his life. In Gunnar’s own words, he didn’t want to return to the intelligence services as it wasted five years of his life, which proves that the sordid memories of that period resulted in a sense of remorse catching up to him. Gunnar settled into a quiet family life afterwards with his wife and three daughters. 

Despite moving away from his past life, Gunnar championed the ideals of freedom and equality all his life, and as age caught up with him, he shared his wisdom and experience with future generations by sharing lectures in colleges and universities. Never afraid to speak his mind, Gunnar essentially became a living war encyclopedia who educated his fellow countrymen in the proud heritage of his country’s stand against fascism. Gunnar breathed his last in 2012, inspiring numerous souls and leaving a legacy strengthened by self-sacrifice.