Carl Bødtker
Encyclopedia
Carl Fredrik Johannes Bødtker (19 May 1886 – 5 February 1980) was a Norwegian engineer and radio personality.
as a son of Major General Carl Fredrik Johannes Bødtker
(1851–1928) and Karen Agathe Falck (1852–1932). He was the brother of banker and art collector Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
, a nephew of log driving manager Ragnvald Bødtker
and County Governor Eivind Bødtker and a second cousin of theatre critic Sigurd Bødtker
and chemist Eyvind Bødtker
.
Bødtker first followed in his father's footsteps, taking education as a machine engineer at Kristiania Technical School in 1906. In 1906 he was hired as controller at a cannon factory in Düsseldorf
; from 1911 he worked at a steel works in the same city. He met his future wife, Anita Emily Möhlau (1889–1979) here and married her in 1914. In the same year he returned to Norway, and was hired at Norsk Hydro Rjukan
.
, Bødtker participated in the early broadcasting in Norway. The first radio program aired in December 1924, and Bødtker was the presenter. He especially became known as the host of the popular children's program Lørdagsbarnetimen; in this program he was nicknamed "Uncle Bødtker". He lost his job at Norsk Hydro due to downsizing around 1925, and then became a board member of Kringkastingselskapet from 1925 to 1930. In 1933 the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation was established.
In 1940 Norway was invaded
and subsequently occupied by Nazi Germany
as a part of World War II
. The Nazi occupants soon moved to cease normal activity at the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. In September 1940 the corporation was taken over by the newly created Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Enlightenment. As a part of a broader nazification strategy, the directors were replaced, and Bødtker agreed to assume the position as director of administration. He was one of four sub-directors under commissary president Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie
, who in turn answered to the Minister of Culture and Enlightenment. Christie struggled with intrigues both internally and in relation to the Reichskommissariat Norwegen
. Bødtker saw his opportunity and "neglected" Christie in daily affairs. He also enrolled in the Fascist party Nasjonal Samling to strengthen his position. Christie answered with scrutiny of Bødtker's economic affairs, and found some exaggerated costs for rent of cars, hotel rooms et cetera. This was enough to have Bødtker, who lacked a human network in Nasjonal Samling, fired in June 1941. At the same time he left the party. However, he was asked to return in October 1942, with Christie long gone. By that time the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation had experienced severe hardships, as most of the listeners abruptly disappeared: radios had become prohibited in the autumn 1941 for everybody save members of Nasjonal Samling. Bødtker remained in his position until Victory in Europe Day
, when the Nazi regime fell; he was arrested shortly thereafter.
As a part of the legal purge
he was sentenced for Nazi collaboration. However, after a while it became clear that he had worked to help the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation through a difficult time, and tried to resist Nazi German attempts of monetary exploitation of the company. Also his brother Johannes was imprisoned during the last years of the war. Nonetheless Bødtker maintained a low profile for the rest of his life and died in February 1980 in Ådal
.
Early and personal life
He was born at Oscarsborg FortressOscarsborg Fortress
Oscarsborg Fortress is a coastal fortress in the Oslofjord, close to the small town of Drøbak. The fortress is situated on two small islets, and on the mainland to the west and east, in the fjord and was military territory until 2003 when it was made a publicly available resort island...
as a son of Major General Carl Fredrik Johannes Bødtker
Carl Fredrik Johannes Bødtker
Carl Fredrik Johannes Bødtker was a Norwegian military officer, teacher and writer.-Personal life:Bødtker was born in Christiania, the son of district stipendiary magistrate Job Dischington Bødtker and his wife Fredrikke Sophie Sejersted...
(1851–1928) and Karen Agathe Falck (1852–1932). He was the brother of banker and art collector Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
Johannes Mathias Sejersted Bødtker CBE was a Norwegian banker, art collector and patron of the arts.-Early and personal life:...
, a nephew of log driving manager Ragnvald Bødtker
Ragnvald Bødtker
Ragnvald Bødtker was a Norwegian engineer, known as the director of log driving in Halden for 42 years.-Personal life:...
and County Governor Eivind Bødtker and a second cousin of theatre critic Sigurd Bødtker
Sigurd Bødtker
-Personal life:He was born in Trondhjem as a son of physician Fredrik Waldemar Bødtker and Sophie Jenssen . He was the brother of chemist Eyvind Bødtker, a second cousin of military officer Carl Fredrik Johannes Bødtker, log driving manager Ragnvald Bødtker and County Governor Eivind Bødtker, and...
and chemist Eyvind Bødtker
Eyvind Bødtker
Eyvind Bødtker was a Norwegian chemist. He spent most of his career at the University of Kristiania, where he was a professor from 1918.-Personal life:...
.
Bødtker first followed in his father's footsteps, taking education as a machine engineer at Kristiania Technical School in 1906. In 1906 he was hired as controller at a cannon factory in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
; from 1911 he worked at a steel works in the same city. He met his future wife, Anita Emily Möhlau (1889–1979) here and married her in 1914. In the same year he returned to Norway, and was hired at Norsk Hydro Rjukan
Norsk Hydro Rjukan
Norsk Hydro Rjukan is an industrial facility operated by Norsk Hydro at Rjukan in Tinn, Norway, from 1911 to 1991. The plant manufactured chemicals related to the production of fertilizer, including ammonia, potassium nitrate, heavy water and hydrogen...
.
Media career
An avid radio amateuristAmateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
, Bødtker participated in the early broadcasting in Norway. The first radio program aired in December 1924, and Bødtker was the presenter. He especially became known as the host of the popular children's program Lørdagsbarnetimen; in this program he was nicknamed "Uncle Bødtker". He lost his job at Norsk Hydro due to downsizing around 1925, and then became a board member of Kringkastingselskapet from 1925 to 1930. In 1933 the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation was established.
In 1940 Norway was invaded
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
and subsequently occupied 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...
as a part of 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...
. The Nazi occupants soon moved to cease normal activity at the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. In September 1940 the corporation was taken over by the newly created Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Enlightenment. As a part of a broader nazification strategy, the directors were replaced, and Bødtker agreed to assume the position as director of administration. He was one of four sub-directors under commissary president Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie
Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie (Nazi)
Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie was a Norwegian jurist and Nazi collaborator. He is best known as director of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation for some time during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
, who in turn answered to the Minister of Culture and Enlightenment. Christie struggled with intrigues both internally and in relation to the Reichskommissariat Norwegen
Reichskommissariat Norwegen
The Reichskommissariat Norwegen, literally "Reich Commissariat of Norway", was the civilian occupation regime set up by Nazi Germany in German-occupied Norway during World War II. Its full title in German was the Reichskommissariat für die besetzten norwegischen Gebiete...
. Bødtker saw his opportunity and "neglected" Christie in daily affairs. He also enrolled in the Fascist party Nasjonal Samling to strengthen his position. Christie answered with scrutiny of Bødtker's economic affairs, and found some exaggerated costs for rent of cars, hotel rooms et cetera. This was enough to have Bødtker, who lacked a human network in Nasjonal Samling, fired in June 1941. At the same time he left the party. However, he was asked to return in October 1942, with Christie long gone. By that time the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation had experienced severe hardships, as most of the listeners abruptly disappeared: radios had become prohibited in the autumn 1941 for everybody save members of Nasjonal Samling. Bødtker remained in his position until Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
, when the Nazi regime fell; he was arrested shortly thereafter.
As a part of the legal purge
Legal purge in Norway after World War II
When the occupation of Norway ended in May 1945, several thousand Norwegians and foreign citizens were tried and convicted for various acts that the occupying powers sanctioned...
he was sentenced for Nazi collaboration. However, after a while it became clear that he had worked to help the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation through a difficult time, and tried to resist Nazi German attempts of monetary exploitation of the company. Also his brother Johannes was imprisoned during the last years of the war. Nonetheless Bødtker maintained a low profile for the rest of his life and died in February 1980 in Ådal
Ådal
Ådal is a valley in the municipality of Ringerike and was a former municipality in Buskerud County, Norway.The municipality was created in 1857 by a split from Norderhov. At that time Ådal had a population of 2,382. On 1 January 1964 Ådal was merged with Hønefoss, Tyristrand, Hole and Norderhov to...
.