Ferdinand Schjelderup
Encyclopedia
Ferdinand Schjelderup was a Norwegian mountaineer, Supreme Court Justice
and resistance member during the German occupation of Norway.
as the son of Thorleif Frederik Schjelderup
and Inga Berven. He was the brother of Gunnar Schjelderup
, and through his aunt Berte, Ferdinand was a nephew of Bredo Henrik von Munthe af Morgenstierne
.
In 1914 he married Marie Leigh Vogt, daughter of Paul Benjamin Vogt
and his wife Andrea Heyerdahl and granddaughter of Niels Petersen Vogt
. They had three children, the most famous being their son Thorleif Schjelderup
, born 1920, who became a well-known ski jumper, with an Olympic bronze medal from 1948. He married American singer Anne Brown
. Their two daughters were Liv and Daisy, educated respectively as medical doctor and architect. Daisy Schelderup also worked as a translator and was active in the anti-nuclear movement.
lawyer from 1916, and a Supreme Court Justice
from 1928 to 1952, except for the period between December 1940 and May 1945, during the German occupation of Norway.
The new Nazi authorities found him to be the most objectionable among the Supreme Court Justices, as Schjelderup at one occasion had insulted a picture of Vidkun Quisling
. As the Supreme Court Justices collectively laid down their posts in December 1940, Schjelderup emerged as one of the most prominent members of the Norwegian civil resistance. According to historians, this was "completely unexpected". With his influence over Paal Berg, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
before 1940, Schjelderup recruited Berg to the inner circle Kretsen in 1941, which had direct contact with the Norwegian government-in-exile in London
. He was also in contact with the Norwegian legation
in Stockholm
, through secretary Jens Boyesen
. Schjelderup was later the messenger between Kretsen and the so-called Coordination Committee in the Norwegian resistance
. In addition, he attended meetings in the secret military organisation Milorg
. In 1943 he personally wrote the letter Partisanbrevet, addressed from Kretsen to the Norwegian government-in-exile. In it, Kretsen advocated weaponless resistance, fearing that Milorg might compromise the entire resistance movement if they were to conduct a broader military uprising. This fear of possible failure was partially caused by the harsh Nazi crackdowns at Majavatn
and Telavåg
. However, the letter helped clear mutual misunderstandings about command lines in Kretsen and Milorg, which in turn spurred the cooperation between the two organisations, initiated in 1943 and known as Hjemmefrontens Ledelse. Approaching the winter of 1944, Schjelderup was no longer safe in Norway. He fled to Sweden.
After the end of the War, he published three books called Fra Norges kamp for retten. 1940 i Høyesterett (1945), På bred front 1941–42 (1947) and Over bakkekammen 1943–44 (1949). These are viewed as valuable contributions to Norwegian occupational history.
Ferdinand Schjelderup was among the founders of the mountaineering
society Norsk Tindeklub
in 1908. He served as its chairman from 1915 to 1916. Norway is a mountainous country
, and during this time tourism
and expeditions were becoming more widespread.
Ferdinand Schjelderup was among the first ascenders
of several mountains. In the summer of 1910 he and his companions conducted first ascendancies of several mountains of Nordland
county: Stedtinden
, Svolværgjeita
, Store Rørhopstinden, Navern, Klokketind and Festhæltind, as chronicled in an article in the book Norsk Fjeldsport 1914.
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
and resistance member during the German occupation of Norway.
Personal life
He was born in KristianiaOslo
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 Thorleif Frederik Schjelderup
Thorleif Frederik Schjelderup
-Personal life:He was born in Christiania as the son of Thorleif Schjelderup and Fredrikke Marie Caspary. His older sister Berte married Bredo Henrik von Munthe af Morgenstierne, son of Vilhelm Ludvig Herman von Munthe af Morgenstierne....
and Inga Berven. He was the brother of Gunnar Schjelderup
Gunnar Schjelderup
-Personal life:He was born in Christiania, and was the brother of judge Ferdinand Schjelderup. He was a son of Thorleif Frederik Schjelderup, nephew of Bredo Henrik von Munthe af Morgenstierne and uncle of ski jumper Thorleif Schjelderup.-Career:...
, and through his aunt Berte, Ferdinand was a nephew of Bredo Henrik von Munthe af Morgenstierne
Bredo Henrik von Munthe af Morgenstierne
Bredo Henrik von Munthe af Morgenstierne was a Norwegian jurist, member of an old noble family.-Personal life:...
.
In 1914 he married Marie Leigh Vogt, daughter of Paul Benjamin Vogt
Paul Benjamin Vogt
Paul Benjamin Vogt was Norwegian member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm 1903-1904, and Minister of Trade and Minister of Auditing 1904-1905. He also served as the Norway's minister in London 1910-1934....
and his wife Andrea Heyerdahl and granddaughter of Niels Petersen Vogt
Niels Petersen Vogt
Niels Petersen Vogt was the Norwegian Minister of the Interior for six period between 1871 and 1884, and member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm four times 1872-1883....
. They had three children, the most famous being their son Thorleif Schjelderup
Thorleif Schjelderup
Thorleif Schjelderup was a Norwegian author and in the 1940s and 1950s one of Norway's best ski jumpers.He was born in Aker as a son of Ferdinand Schjelderup and his wife Marie Leigh Vogt....
, born 1920, who became a well-known ski jumper, with an Olympic bronze medal from 1948. He married American singer Anne Brown
Anne Brown
Anne Wiggins Brown was an African American soprano who created the role of "Bess" in the original production of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess in 1935. She was also a radio and concert singer...
. Their two daughters were Liv and Daisy, educated respectively as medical doctor and architect. Daisy Schelderup also worked as a translator and was active in the anti-nuclear movement.
Jurist and resistance member
He worked as a Supreme CourtSupreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
lawyer from 1916, and a Supreme Court Justice
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
from 1928 to 1952, except for the period between December 1940 and May 1945, during the German occupation of Norway.
The new Nazi authorities found him to be the most objectionable among the Supreme Court Justices, as Schjelderup at one occasion had insulted a picture of Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
. As the Supreme Court Justices collectively laid down their posts in December 1940, Schjelderup emerged as one of the most prominent members of the Norwegian civil resistance. According to historians, this was "completely unexpected". With his influence over Paal Berg, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway is the judicial leader of the Supreme Court of Norway.The following is a chronological list of chief justices since the court was established:...
before 1940, Schjelderup recruited Berg to the inner circle Kretsen in 1941, which had direct contact with the Norwegian government-in-exile in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was also in contact with the Norwegian legation
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...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, through secretary Jens Boyesen
Jens Boyesen
Jens Mogens Boyesen was a Norwegian diplomat and politician for the Labour Party.At the time Norway was invaded by Germany in 1940, Boyesen was a law student and member of the Labour Party. The Labour cabinet Nygaardsvold fled to London in order to avoid an early capitulation...
. Schjelderup was later the messenger between Kretsen and the so-called Coordination Committee in the Norwegian resistance
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:...
. In addition, he attended meetings in the secret military organisation Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
. In 1943 he personally wrote the letter Partisanbrevet, addressed from Kretsen to the Norwegian government-in-exile. In it, Kretsen advocated weaponless resistance, fearing that Milorg might compromise the entire resistance movement if they were to conduct a broader military uprising. This fear of possible failure was partially caused by the harsh Nazi crackdowns at Majavatn
Majavatn
Majavatn is a village in the municipality of Grane in Nordland county, Norway. It is located on the eastern shore of the lake Majavatnet, just west of the boundary of Børgefjell National Park...
and Telavåg
Telavåg
Telavåg is a small village in the municipality of Sund, located 39 km south west of Bergen, Norway, with a population of about 600.-Telavåg tragedy:...
. However, the letter helped clear mutual misunderstandings about command lines in Kretsen and Milorg, which in turn spurred the cooperation between the two organisations, initiated in 1943 and known as Hjemmefrontens Ledelse. Approaching the winter of 1944, Schjelderup was no longer safe in Norway. He fled to Sweden.
After the end of the War, he published three books called Fra Norges kamp for retten. 1940 i Høyesterett (1945), På bred front 1941–42 (1947) and Over bakkekammen 1943–44 (1949). These are viewed as valuable contributions to Norwegian occupational history.
Mountaineer
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
society Norsk Tindeklub
Norsk Tindeklub
Norsk Tindeklub is a Norwegian mountaineering association. The club was founded in 1908. The association issues climbing guides and mountaineering books. The club has issued several jubilee books in the series Norsk Fjellsport...
in 1908. He served as its chairman from 1915 to 1916. Norway is a mountainous country
Geography of Norway
Norway is a country located in Northern Europe on the western and northern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, bordering the North Sea in southwest and the Skagerrak inlet to the south, the North Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Barents Sea to the northeast...
, and during this time tourism
Tourism in Norway
The main tourist attractions of Norway are the fjord-indented coastline and its mountains, the unspoiled nature of the inner parts of the country, and the cities and smaller towns.-Attractions:...
and expeditions were becoming more widespread.
Ferdinand Schjelderup was among the first ascenders
First ascent
In climbing, a first ascent is the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route...
of several mountains. In the summer of 1910 he and his companions conducted first ascendancies of several mountains of Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
county: Stedtinden
Stetind
Stetind , is a mountain in Tysfjord, Nordland, Norway.In 2002, it was voted to be the National mountain of Norway....
, Svolværgjeita
Svolværgeita
-The name:The first element is Svolvær. The last element is the finite form of geit f 'goat', since the mountain has two 'horns'....
, Store Rørhopstinden, Navern, Klokketind and Festhæltind, as chronicled in an article in the book Norsk Fjeldsport 1914.