Dag Berggrav
Encyclopedia
Dag Berggrav was a Norwegian jurist, civil servant and sports administrator. Known mostly for his long tenure at the Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister
, he also held important positions in sporting life, including the vice presidency of the International Ski Federation
.
as the son of bishop Eivind Berggrav
and grandson of bishop Otto Jensen
. He grew up in Tromsø and Oslo, where his father was bishop from 1928 to 1937 and 1937 to 1951 respectively. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
, he was held prisoner at Akershus Fortress
from 20 December 1944 to the war's end in 1945.
His father being a bishop, Dag Berggrav was a devout Lutheran too.
with the cand.jur. degree. After studying international law
in England for one year, Berggrav was hired as a deputy judge in Oslo. He was then a secretary in the Ministry of Justice and the Police
from 1951 to 1962, except for the years 1952 to 1954, when he worked in the Numedal
district, first as deputy judge, then as acting district stipendiary magistrate. Having attended the Norwegian National Defence College from 1958 to 1959, in 1960 he was hired in the Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister
for the first time, on a one-year deputyship. He was hired on a permanent basis in 1962, and promoted to subdirector in 1966. From 1966 to 1969 he served as acting Secretary to the Council of State. He was promoted to under-secretary of state in 1974, and to permanent under-secretary of state in 1987. By that time the tasks of the Secretary to the Council of State has been transferred to the permanent under-secretary of state in the Office of the Prime Minister. Following his semi-retirement in 1992, Berggrav continued as an advisor for many years. He also chaired the koordineringsrådet for sivilt beredskap from 1974 to 1992.
. From 1979 to 1983 he was the vice president of the International Ski Federation
. He represented the clubs Frigg and Heming
in Oslo.
Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister
The Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister is a political and bureaucratic office that assists the Cabinet of Norway and the Prime Minister of Norway in the leadership of the Cabinet and Government. It has since 2005 been led by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg . Minister and Chief of Staff is Karl...
, he also held important positions in sporting life, including the vice presidency of the International Ski Federation
International Ski Federation
The International Ski Federation, known by its name in French, Fédération Internationale de Ski is the main international organisation for ski sports...
.
Early and personal life
He was born in OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as the son of bishop Eivind Berggrav
Eivind Berggrav
Eivind Josef Berggrav was a Norwegian Lutheran bishop, primarily known as Primate of the Church of Norway and remembered for his unyielding resistance against the Nazi occupation of Norway during World War II.-Background:Berggrav was born in Stavanger, Norway...
and grandson of bishop Otto Jensen
Otto Jensen
Otto Jensen was a Norwegian bishop and politician. He was Minister of Education and Church Affairs from 1906 to 1907 and bishop of Hamar from 1917 to 1918....
. He grew up in Tromsø and Oslo, where his father was bishop from 1928 to 1937 and 1937 to 1951 respectively. 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 held prisoner at Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
from 20 December 1944 to the war's end in 1945.
His father being a bishop, Dag Berggrav was a devout Lutheran too.
Civil career
In 1950 Dag Berggrav graduated from the University of OsloUniversity of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
with the cand.jur. degree. After studying international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
in England for one year, Berggrav was hired as a deputy judge in Oslo. He was then a secretary in the Ministry of Justice and the Police
Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police is a Norwegian government ministry in charge of justice, police and domestic intelligence. The main purpose of the Ministry is to provide for the maintenance and development of the basic guarantees of the rule of law...
from 1951 to 1962, except for the years 1952 to 1954, when he worked in the Numedal
Numedal
Numedal is a traditional district and valley Buskerud, Norway. Running north–south, it extends between Kongsberg in the south to Rødberg in the north, passing through the municipalities of Kongsberg, Flesberg, Rollag and Nore og Uvdal.. The river Numedalslågen, the third-longest in the country,...
district, first as deputy judge, then as acting district stipendiary magistrate. Having attended the Norwegian National Defence College from 1958 to 1959, in 1960 he was hired in the Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister
Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister
The Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister is a political and bureaucratic office that assists the Cabinet of Norway and the Prime Minister of Norway in the leadership of the Cabinet and Government. It has since 2005 been led by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg . Minister and Chief of Staff is Karl...
for the first time, on a one-year deputyship. He was hired on a permanent basis in 1962, and promoted to subdirector in 1966. From 1966 to 1969 he served as acting Secretary to the Council of State. He was promoted to under-secretary of state in 1974, and to permanent under-secretary of state in 1987. By that time the tasks of the Secretary to the Council of State has been transferred to the permanent under-secretary of state in the Office of the Prime Minister. Following his semi-retirement in 1992, Berggrav continued as an advisor for many years. He also chaired the koordineringsrådet for sivilt beredskap from 1974 to 1992.
Sporting career
Berggrav was an active ski jumper in the years 1931 to 1956. From 1964 to 1970 he was the president of the Norwegian Skiing Federation, and from 1965 to 1970 he was a member of the Norwegian Olympic CommitteeNorwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports
The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports is the umbrella organization for sport in Norway. It is the largest volunteering organization in Norway, with more than 2 million members, and 12000 sports clubs, in 19 region confederatons and 56 national federations...
. From 1979 to 1983 he was the vice president of the International Ski Federation
International Ski Federation
The International Ski Federation, known by its name in French, Fédération Internationale de Ski is the main international organisation for ski sports...
. He represented the clubs Frigg and Heming
IL Heming
Idrettslaget Heming is a Norwegian sports club from Slemdal, Oslo. It has sections for association football, Nordic skiing, alpine skiing, orienteering and tennis.-General history:...
in Oslo.