Arne Askildsen was a Norwegian bailiff and politician for the Christian Democratic Party.

He was born in Kristiansand

Kristiansand

-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...

 as a son of Albert Askildsen (1860–1947) and Oline Gunhilde Paulsen (1865–1922). He took commerce school in 1916. From 1914 he worked as an office clerk in Vest-Agder

Vest-Agder

In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...

, before being hired as bailiff of Mandal and Halse og Harkmark

Halse og Harkmark

Halse og Harkmark is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Mandal. When it was a municipality, it encompassed the rural areas that surrounded the city of Mandal, including many islands such as Hille, Skjernøy, and Pysen .-Name:Halse...

 in 1928. He remained in this position until 1968, except for the years during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany

Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany

The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...

. He was imprisoned in Arkivet from 25 February to 6 March 1942, then a second time from 20 June 1944. He managed to escape from prison on 20 July 1944. He worked at the Norwegian legation in Stockholm

Norwegian legation in Stockholm

The Norwegian Legation in Stockholm played a significant role during the Second World War. Until 9 April 1940 the legation consisted of four persons, and at the end of the war about 1,100 persons were connected to the legation. Refugee cases were among the legation's most central tasks...

 from 1944 to 1945. Two of his sons were held captive in Grini concentration camp.

Askildsen was a member of Mandal school board from 1936 to 1940 and 1947 to 1951. He was a member of the city council from 1936 to 1940, 1945 to 1947 and 1951 to 1963. In 1953

Norwegian parliamentary election, 1953

-Results:...

 he was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Vest-Agder, and sat through one term. He was also a board member of the Norwegian Lutheran Mission

Norwegian Lutheran Mission

The Norwegian Lutheran Mission is one of several independent Lutheran organisations in Norway. They are often considered one of the most conservative Christian Evangelical organisations in Norway. They consider themselves committed to the inerrancy of the Bible as the Word of God...

 from 1939 to 1955 and 1958 to 1964.

Together with Aasta Håverstad (1898–1978) he had the son Kjell Askildsen

Kjell Askildsen

Kjell Askildsen is a Norwegian writer. He is probably best known for his minimalistic short stories.-Personal life:He was born in Mandal as a son of bailiff and politician Arne Askildsen and Aasta Håverstad...

, born 1929, a noted writer. He was decorated as a Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland in 1937.