Bulletinen
Encyclopedia
Bulletinen was an underground newspaper in Norway during
World War II
. Its first issue came in November 1940, and the publication continued until the end of the war. The name Bulletinen was adapted in November 1944. It was edited by central persons of the civil resistance in Norway, such as members of "Koordinasjonskomiteen" and "Kretsen" Jan Birger Jansen
and Tore Gjelsvik
.
. Responsible for the bi-weekly bulletin was the propaganda group, headed by Christian A. R. Christensen
, and the first editors were Olav Larssen
and Olaf Solumsmoen
. The first issue was published 18 November 1940. When Solumsmoen and Larssen were arrested in January 1942, sports leaders Asbjørn Halvorsen
and Gunnar Hansen took over as editors. Halvorsen and Hansen were arrested in August 1942, and Jan Birger Jansen
took over as the sole editor, only informing other resistance members that he had contacts to the editorial staff, while in fact he was the single responsible editor himself. In February 1944 the German occupants unraveled several undercover newspapers, such as London-Nytt, London Radio, Svart på hvitt, Vårt Land and Fri Fagbevegelse, which all had to cease publication. Among the newspapers which had distributed informations and paroles from the civil leadership of the resistance movement, only Bulletinen was intact after the press collapse. In May 1944 Jansen had to flee to Sweden, and asked Tore Gjelsvik
to take over. Jansen and Gjelsvik had cooperated since 1940, then at the distribution side. Gjelsvik was rather busy with other resistance work, and asked Christian A. R. Christensen and Tore Sund to join as editors.
A total of about 150 issues of Bulletinen were produced during the war. The publication had limited circulation, as it was primarily aimed to distribute news, comments and paroles to other underground newspapers.
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...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Its first issue came in November 1940, and the publication continued until the end of the war. The name Bulletinen was adapted in November 1944. It was edited by central persons of the civil resistance in Norway, such as members of "Koordinasjonskomiteen" and "Kretsen" Jan Birger Jansen
Jan Birger Jansen
Jan Birger Jansen was a Norwegian physician, anatomist and scientist, specializing in brain research. He played an important role in the Norwegian civil resistance during the Second World War.-Personal life:...
and Tore Gjelsvik
Tore Gjelsvik
Tore Gjelsvik was a Norwegian geologist and polar explorer. He headed the Norwegian Polar Institute from 1960 to 1983, and played an important role in the Norwegian resistance during World War II.-Personal life:...
.
Publishing history
The periodical was started as a link between organizations connected to the so-called R-Group, after an initiative from later prime minister Einar GerhardsenEinar Gerhardsen
was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party of Norway. He was Prime Minister for three periods, 1945–1951, 1955–1963 and 1963–1965. With 17 years in office, he is the longest serving Prime Minister in Norway since the introduction of parliamentarism...
. Responsible for the bi-weekly bulletin was the propaganda group, headed by Christian A. R. Christensen
Christian A. R. Christensen
Christian A. R. Christensen was a Norwegian newspaper editor. He is known for his work in the Norwegian resistance movement, as editor of Verdens Gang and as a historical writer...
, and the first editors were Olav Larssen
Olav Larssen
Olav Larssen was a Norwegian newspaper editor.He was a typographer by education. He edited the Labour Party newspapers Demokraten in Hamar from 1920 to 1927, and Hamar Arbeiderblad from 1927 to 1935. In 1935 he was hired as a journalist in Arbeiderbladet...
and Olaf Solumsmoen
Olaf Solumsmoen
Olaf Solumsmoen was a Norwegian newspaper editor and politician for the Labour Party.He was born in Sigdal, and decided to be a stenographer. He was hired in the Labour Party newspaper Fremtiden in Drammen, where he also was involved in local politics. He eventually left stenography to become a...
. The first issue was published 18 November 1940. When Solumsmoen and Larssen were arrested in January 1942, sports leaders Asbjørn Halvorsen
Asbjørn Halvorsen
Asbjørn Halvorsen was a Norwegian footballer. He was a centre-half who played 19 times for the Norwegian national team, and won the Norwegian Cup in 1917 as a member of Sarpsborg...
and Gunnar Hansen took over as editors. Halvorsen and Hansen were arrested in August 1942, and Jan Birger Jansen
Jan Birger Jansen
Jan Birger Jansen was a Norwegian physician, anatomist and scientist, specializing in brain research. He played an important role in the Norwegian civil resistance during the Second World War.-Personal life:...
took over as the sole editor, only informing other resistance members that he had contacts to the editorial staff, while in fact he was the single responsible editor himself. In February 1944 the German occupants unraveled several undercover newspapers, such as London-Nytt, London Radio, Svart på hvitt, Vårt Land and Fri Fagbevegelse, which all had to cease publication. Among the newspapers which had distributed informations and paroles from the civil leadership of the resistance movement, only Bulletinen was intact after the press collapse. In May 1944 Jansen had to flee to Sweden, and asked Tore Gjelsvik
Tore Gjelsvik
Tore Gjelsvik was a Norwegian geologist and polar explorer. He headed the Norwegian Polar Institute from 1960 to 1983, and played an important role in the Norwegian resistance during World War II.-Personal life:...
to take over. Jansen and Gjelsvik had cooperated since 1940, then at the distribution side. Gjelsvik was rather busy with other resistance work, and asked Christian A. R. Christensen and Tore Sund to join as editors.
A total of about 150 issues of Bulletinen were produced during the war. The publication had limited circulation, as it was primarily aimed to distribute news, comments and paroles to other underground newspapers.