Gustav Adolf Sjaastad
Encyclopedia
Gustav Adolf Sjaastad was a Norwegian lawyer and politician for the Labour Party
. He is known as Minister of Justice and Minister of Industry in the 1950s, and also as County Governor of Nord-Trøndelag.
as a son of farmer Olaf Herman Sjaastad (1869–1944) and Marta Fostad (1870–1933). He enrolled as a student in 1922, and graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1926. He opened an attorney's office in Namsos
in 1927. From 1933 he was a barrister, with access to work with Supreme Court
cases. He was a member of the executive committee of Namsos
municipal council from 1927 to 1934, representing the Liberal Party, whose local party chapter he chaired from 1927 to 1931.
In 1935 he opened a lawyer's office in Oslo
. During World War II
he was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement
. He was arrested in December 1940 for "spying", and was imprisoned until May 1941 at Møllergata 19
. In February 1944 he was arrested for the second time, this time for being involved in an illegal newspaper. He was imprisoned at Møllergata 19 again, before being transferred to Grini concentration camp, where he sat from May 1944 to the war's end on 8 May 1945.
from 1957). He also became a member of several public committees in 1946 and 1947, including Arbeidstvistkomiteen av 1946, Ferielovkomiteen and Pris- og rasjonaliseringskomiteen. From 1954 to 1955, during Torp's Cabinet
, Sjaastad was the Minister of Justice. Upon the cabinet change to Gerhardsen's Third Cabinet in 1955, he became Minister of Industry and held that post until 1959. He was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Nord-Trøndelag
in 1958, and until 1959 his seat in parliament was taken by Hans Mikal Solsem
. Sjaastad was not re-elected in 1961. His career ended with the post of County Governor of Nord-Trøndelag, which he held from 1959 to 1964. He died in May 1964.
Sjaastad was a member of the board of Nord-Trøndelag Elektrisitetsverk
from 1959 to 1964, Norsk Hydro
from 1946 to 1955, Folla
from 1959 to 1964, Mosjøen Veveri from 1960 to 1964 and Det Norske Teatret
. He was chairman of the board of Fylkesbilene from 1959 to 1964 and Tiden Norsk Forlag
from 1947 to 1954. He was decorated as a Commander of the Order of the Polar Star
in 1960.
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 is known as Minister of Justice and Minister of Industry in the 1950s, and also as County Governor of Nord-Trøndelag.
Early life and career
He was born in SkognSkogn
Skogn is a village and former municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Levanger. It is home to the Fiborgtangen industrial area.The village of Skogn is located about southwest of the town of Levanger...
as a son of farmer Olaf Herman Sjaastad (1869–1944) and Marta Fostad (1870–1933). He enrolled as a student in 1922, and graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1926. He opened an attorney's office in Namsos
Namsos
is a town and municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Namsos. Other villages in the municipality include Bangsund, Klinga, Ramsvika, Skomsvoll, and Spillum....
in 1927. From 1933 he was a barrister, with access to work with Supreme Court
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...
cases. He was a member of the executive committee of Namsos
Namsos
is a town and municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Namsos. Other villages in the municipality include Bangsund, Klinga, Ramsvika, Skomsvoll, and Spillum....
municipal council from 1927 to 1934, representing the Liberal Party, whose local party chapter he chaired from 1927 to 1931.
In 1935 he opened a lawyer's office 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...
. During 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...
he was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement
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:...
. He was arrested in December 1940 for "spying", and was imprisoned until May 1941 at Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
. In February 1944 he was arrested for the second time, this time for being involved in an illegal newspaper. He was imprisoned at Møllergata 19 again, before being transferred to Grini concentration camp, where he sat from May 1944 to the war's end on 8 May 1945.
Political career
From 1945 to 1954 he was a legal consultant for the Workers' National Trade Union (named Norwegian Confederation of Trade UnionsNorwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions is a national trade union center, decidedly the largest and probably the most influential umbrella organization of labour unions in Norway. The 21 national unions affiliated to the LO have more than 850,000 members of a Norwegian population of 4.8 million...
from 1957). He also became a member of several public committees in 1946 and 1947, including Arbeidstvistkomiteen av 1946, Ferielovkomiteen and Pris- og rasjonaliseringskomiteen. From 1954 to 1955, during Torp's Cabinet
Torp's Cabinet
Torp's Cabinet governed Norway between 19 November 1951 and 21 January 1955. The Labour Party cabinet was led by Oscar Torp....
, Sjaastad was the Minister of Justice. Upon the cabinet change to Gerhardsen's Third Cabinet in 1955, he became Minister of Industry and held that post until 1959. He was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Nord-Trøndelag
Nord-Trøndelag
is a county constituting the northern part of Trøndelag in Norway. As of 2010, the county had 131,555 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-least populated county. The largest municipalities are Stjørdal, Steinkjer—the county seat, Levanger, Namsos and Verdal, all with between 21,000 and...
in 1958, and until 1959 his seat in parliament was taken by Hans Mikal Solsem
Hans Mikal Solsem
Hans Mikal Solsem was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Nord-Trøndelag during the terms 1950–1953, 1954–1957, 1958–1961, 1961–1965 and 1965–1969...
. Sjaastad was not re-elected in 1961. His career ended with the post of County Governor of Nord-Trøndelag, which he held from 1959 to 1964. He died in May 1964.
Sjaastad was a member of the board of Nord-Trøndelag Elektrisitetsverk
Nord-Trøndelag Elektrisitetsverk
Nord-Trøndelag Elektrisitetsverk or NTE is a power company serving Nord-Trøndelag in Norway and owned by Nord-Trøndelag county municipality. NTE is one of the largest producers of electricity in Norway, with an annual production of 3,995 GWh per year...
from 1959 to 1964, Norsk Hydro
Norsk Hydro
Norsk Hydro ASA is a Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, headquartered in Oslo. Hydro is the fourth largest integrated aluminium company worldwide. It has operations in some 40 countries around the world and is active on all continents. The Norwegian state holds a 43.8 percent...
from 1946 to 1955, Folla
Södra Cell Folla
Södra Cell Folla is a paper mill located in Follafoss, Norway. The mill produces 100 000 tonnes of CTMP pulp per year, and is owned by Södra Skogsägarna.-History:...
from 1959 to 1964, Mosjøen Veveri from 1960 to 1964 and Det Norske Teatret
Det Norske Teatret
Det Norske Teatret is a theatre in Oslo. The theatre was founded in 1912, after an initiative from Hulda Garborg and Edvard Drabløs. It opened in 1913, touring with two plays, Ervingen by Ivar Aasen and Rationelt Fjøsstell by Hulda Garborg...
. He was chairman of the board of Fylkesbilene from 1959 to 1964 and Tiden Norsk Forlag
Tiden Norsk Forlag
Tiden Norsk Forlag is a Norwegian publishing company owned by Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, and publishes fiction and general literature.-History:Tiden was founded in 1933 by the Norwegian Labour Party. In 1936 it bought Fram Forlag. In the early years the largest authors were Aksel Sandemose and Lars...
from 1947 to 1954. He was decorated as a Commander of the Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
in 1960.