Eugen Johannessen
Encyclopedia
Eugen Monrad Johannessen (1892 – 1975) was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party
. He served in Oslo
city council, but is best known for his work in the party organization. He was also known as a trade unionist, and as a resistance member
during the Second World War.
. He was a manual laborer from a young age, joined his first trade union at the age of 16 and in 1912 he started working for the Public Roads Administration
in Kristiania
. He gradually advanced to inspector. He was a chaired his local union, and was also a board member of the Norwegian Union of Municipal Employees
.
From 1920 to 1922 he was a member of the city council, but withdrew to work for the party organization. He was a deputy member of the central board from 1925 to 1927 and central board member from 1927 to 1949. He chaired the Labour Party in Oslo from 1934 to 1940, when World War II reached Norway and the party became forbidden during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
. Johannessen replaced the arrested Einar Gerhardsen
in 1941 as leader of the illegal party committee. He was also a member of Hjemmefrontens Ledelse.
After the war, in 1945 he became the deputy leader of the Labour Party. He stepped down in the autumn of 1945, but led the electoral committee at the Labour Party national conventions in 1945 and 1949. He was a NATO supporter. He was a member of Oslo city council until 1967. He was awarded the Medal of St. Hallvard
in 1967.
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
. He served in Oslo
Oslo
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...
city council, but is best known for his work in the party organization. He was also known as a trade unionist, and as a resistance member
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
during the Second World War.
Career
He was born and grew up in Sakrisbråten in MaridalenMaridalen
Maridalen is a valley situated just north of Oslo, Norway, just above the suburb of Kjelsås. Most of the valley is made up of a lake known as Maridalsvannet, that serves as the primary source of drinking water for 90% of Oslo's population. The valley is a popular recreational area with many hiking...
. He was a manual laborer from a young age, joined his first trade union at the age of 16 and in 1912 he started working for the Public Roads Administration
Norwegian Public Roads Administration
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration is a Norwegian government agency responsible for the state and county public roads in the country. This includes planning, construction and operation of the state and county road networks, driver training and licensing, vehicle inspection and subsidies to...
in Kristiania
Oslo
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...
. He gradually advanced to inspector. He was a chaired his local union, and was also a board member of the Norwegian Union of Municipal Employees
Norwegian Union of Municipal Employees
The Norwegian Union of Municipal Employees was a trade union in Norway, organized under the national Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions.It was founded in 1920, and its chairman the first fifteen years was Gunnar Sethil.It had 240,000 members in 2000...
.
From 1920 to 1922 he was a member of the city council, but withdrew to work for the party organization. He was a deputy member of the central board from 1925 to 1927 and central board member from 1927 to 1949. He chaired the Labour Party in Oslo from 1934 to 1940, when World War II reached Norway and the party became forbidden 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...
. Johannessen replaced the arrested Einar Gerhardsen
Einar 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...
in 1941 as leader of the illegal party committee. He was also a member of Hjemmefrontens Ledelse.
After the war, in 1945 he became the deputy leader of the Labour Party. He stepped down in the autumn of 1945, but led the electoral committee at the Labour Party national conventions in 1945 and 1949. He was a NATO supporter. He was a member of Oslo city council until 1967. He was awarded the Medal of St. Hallvard
Medal of St. Hallvard
The Medal of St. Hallvard is the highest award of the city of Oslo. It is named after the city's patron, Saint Hallvard . The medal has been awarded since 1956.-Recipients:The following people have received the medal:...
in 1967.