Hanna Kvanmo
Encyclopedia
Hanna Kristine Kvanmo was a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party. She served as a Member of Parliament
from 1973 to 1989, representing the county of Nordland
, as the first parliamentary leader of the Socialist Left Party 1977–1989, and as a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
, the five-member committee awarding the Nobel Peace Prize
, from 1991 to 2002. From 1993 to 1998, she was the Nobel committee's vice chair. During her term on the Nobel committee, she was responsible for the decisions to award the Nobel Peace Prize to individuals such as Aung San Suu Kyi
, Nelson Mandela
, Yasser Arafat
and Kofi Annan
. By profession, she was a teacher.
conditions in the northern Norwegian rural region of Nordland
. Her father was a fisherman and her mother was a factory worker. Her parents were divorced, and she was brought up mostly by her mother.
During World War II
, the German occupation of Norway offered opportunities for poor people such as Hanna, who dreamt of becoming a nurse. As an 18-year old (in 1944), Kvanmo joined the German Red Cross
as a nursing student. She was stationed for some time on the Eastern Front, and in the last days of the war, she found herself working as a practical nurse in Berlin
, thus experiencing the horrendous circumstances during the bombing and fall of the city. After the German defeat, she was interned in the British sector of Germany and only returned to Norway in late 1947. In Norway, she was tried and convicted of treason on behalf of the German occupying authorities
following the war. She was given an 8-month prison sentence, which was suspended after an appeal to the High Court, and a ten year suspension of her rights as a citizen. The International Committee of the Red Cross
protested against Norway for the practice of convicting Norwegian nurses who worked with the German Red Cross, arguing that such convictions were in violation of the Geneva Conventions
, which forbid the persecution of Red Cross personnel as a war crime
. Nevertheless, any involvement with the German Red Cross society was considered an act of treason by Norwegian authorities, in contravention with international law.
Her activities during the war were often questioned later in her political career in the Socialist Left Party. In 1990 she wrote the book Dommen ("The Verdict"), where she made an open account about her reasons for joining the German Red Cross, and her experience of the treason trial. Among other things, she wrote that she experienced the conviction as such a heavy burden she considered taking her own life
. The book became a national besteller in Norway, selling more than 83,000 copies.
After several years as a single mother working as a cleaning lady and cook, she married and passed the university entrance exam (examen artium) with distinction and worked as a gymnasium teacher at Rana Gymnasium from 1962 to 1973.
general assembly. She retired from parliament in 1989. From 1991 to 2002, she was a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
, serving as the committee's vice chairman 1993-1998.
Kvanmo was known as an opponent of the EU
, she was also a dedicated peace activist. After retiring from parliament she moved with her husband to southern Norway and the town of Arendal, where she focused most of her energy on being a grandmother and a great grandmother. When asked about modern politics in 1999 - ten years after she left parliament - she said: "I wouldn't touch it with a fire-poker." At the point when SV was the smallest party in parliament with only two delegates, she said in a speech in a plenary session that as long as she was in parliament, the party would take up considerable space in the building, referring to her own full figure. In 1985 Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet
published an opinion poll about the most admired Norwegians. Among men, King Olav V was the most admired, among women it was Hanna Kvanmo. When asked to explain such popularity she answered, "I was just myself."
As the news of her death made headlines in Norway, her memory was heralded among former political friends and adversaries. Party colleague Berge Furre talked about her "borderless solidarity for the small. She gave politics a warm face." Former prime minister from the conservative party, Kåre Willoch
said of her: "She was one of the most visible politicians of her time. She had immense significance for the Socialist Left Party and perhaps saved it during a difficult time." He continued, "Her form was unusual, but she won respect. She was one of the political colleagues one will remember for as long as you have your memory. Exceptional." Former Labour leader and prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland
called her "an unusually skilled debater, full of humor and fearless." Erik Solheim
, SV-leader in the years following Kvanmo's retirement summed her up as somebody "who always cared for the individual, at a time when the Norwegian left wing was dominated by theorists." Stein Ørnhøi
, who was Kvanmo's party colleague for a four-year term when SV only had two representatives in parliament, summed her up as "the last of her kind in Norwegian politics. There will never be anyone like her again."
Kvanmo spoke Norwegian, German and English fluently.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
from 1973 to 1989, representing the county 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...
, as the first parliamentary leader of the Socialist Left Party 1977–1989, and as a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
Norwegian Nobel Committee
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Nobel Peace Prize each year.Its five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament and roughly represent the political makeup of that body.-History:...
, the five-member committee awarding the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
, from 1991 to 2002. From 1993 to 1998, she was the Nobel committee's vice chair. During her term on the Nobel committee, she was responsible for the decisions to award the Nobel Peace Prize to individuals such as Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
, Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat
Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini , popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar , was a Palestinian leader and a Laureate of the Nobel Prize. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization , President of the Palestinian National Authority...
and Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
. By profession, she was a teacher.
Early life
Hanna Kvanmo grew up in extremely poorPoverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
conditions in the northern Norwegian rural region 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...
. Her father was a fisherman and her mother was a factory worker. Her parents were divorced, and she was brought up mostly by her mother.
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...
, the German occupation of Norway offered opportunities for poor people such as Hanna, who dreamt of becoming a nurse. As an 18-year old (in 1944), Kvanmo joined the German Red Cross
German Red Cross
The German Red Cross , or the DRK, is the national Red Cross Society in Germany.With over 4.5 million members, it is the third largest Red Cross society in the world. The German Red Cross offers a wide range of services within and outside Germany...
as a nursing student. She was stationed for some time on the Eastern Front, and in the last days of the war, she found herself working as a practical nurse in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, thus experiencing the horrendous circumstances during the bombing and fall of the city. After the German defeat, she was interned in the British sector of Germany and only returned to Norway in late 1947. In Norway, she was tried and convicted of treason on behalf of the German occupying authorities
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...
following the war. She was given an 8-month prison sentence, which was suspended after an appeal to the High Court, and a ten year suspension of her rights as a citizen. The International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
protested against Norway for the practice of convicting Norwegian nurses who worked with the German Red Cross, arguing that such convictions were in violation of the Geneva Conventions
Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
, which forbid the persecution of Red Cross personnel as a war crime
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
. Nevertheless, any involvement with the German Red Cross society was considered an act of treason by Norwegian authorities, in contravention with international law.
Her activities during the war were often questioned later in her political career in the Socialist Left Party. In 1990 she wrote the book Dommen ("The Verdict"), where she made an open account about her reasons for joining the German Red Cross, and her experience of the treason trial. Among other things, she wrote that she experienced the conviction as such a heavy burden she considered taking her own life
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. The book became a national besteller in Norway, selling more than 83,000 copies.
After several years as a single mother working as a cleaning lady and cook, she married and passed the university entrance exam (examen artium) with distinction and worked as a gymnasium teacher at Rana Gymnasium from 1962 to 1973.
Political career
In Rana, Kvanmo was persuaded into joining local politics, and in 1973 she was elected to parliament, representing the Socialist Left Party (SV). From 1977 she served as the parliamentary leader for the party. Her outspoken and humorous character made her popular with the general public , and she quickly became the most prominent member of SV at a very decisive period for the party. In 1975 and 1981 she was also a delegate to the UNUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
general assembly. She retired from parliament in 1989. From 1991 to 2002, she was a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
Norwegian Nobel Committee
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Nobel Peace Prize each year.Its five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament and roughly represent the political makeup of that body.-History:...
, serving as the committee's vice chairman 1993-1998.
Kvanmo was known as an opponent of the EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, she was also a dedicated peace activist. After retiring from parliament she moved with her husband to southern Norway and the town of Arendal, where she focused most of her energy on being a grandmother and a great grandmother. When asked about modern politics in 1999 - ten years after she left parliament - she said: "I wouldn't touch it with a fire-poker." At the point when SV was the smallest party in parliament with only two delegates, she said in a speech in a plenary session that as long as she was in parliament, the party would take up considerable space in the building, referring to her own full figure. In 1985 Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet
Dagbladet
Dagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
published an opinion poll about the most admired Norwegians. Among men, King Olav V was the most admired, among women it was Hanna Kvanmo. When asked to explain such popularity she answered, "I was just myself."
As the news of her death made headlines in Norway, her memory was heralded among former political friends and adversaries. Party colleague Berge Furre talked about her "borderless solidarity for the small. She gave politics a warm face." Former prime minister from the conservative party, Kåre Willoch
Kåre Willoch
Kåre Isaachsen Willoch is a Norwegian politician from the Conservative Party. He served as Minister of Trade and Shipping in 1963 and 1965–1970, and as Prime Minister of Norway from 1981 to 1986...
said of her: "She was one of the most visible politicians of her time. She had immense significance for the Socialist Left Party and perhaps saved it during a difficult time." He continued, "Her form was unusual, but she won respect. She was one of the political colleagues one will remember for as long as you have your memory. Exceptional." Former Labour leader and prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland is a Norwegian Social democratic politician, diplomat, and physician, and an international leader in sustainable development and public health. She served three terms as Prime Minister of Norway , and has served as the Director General of the World Health Organization...
called her "an unusually skilled debater, full of humor and fearless." Erik Solheim
Erik Solheim
Erik Solheim is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party . He holds two posts in the current Norwegian cabinet, and carries the title Minister of the Environment and Minister of Development Cooperation...
, SV-leader in the years following Kvanmo's retirement summed her up as somebody "who always cared for the individual, at a time when the Norwegian left wing was dominated by theorists." Stein Ørnhøi
Stein Ørnhøi
Stein Ørnhøi is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party, he was the last party leader of the Socialist People's Party of Norway....
, who was Kvanmo's party colleague for a four-year term when SV only had two representatives in parliament, summed her up as "the last of her kind in Norwegian politics. There will never be anyone like her again."
Kvanmo spoke Norwegian, German and English fluently.
Books
- Derfor (1985)
- Glis (1986)
- Dommen (1990)
- Anders LangeAnders LangeAnders Sigurd Lange was a Norwegian politician and the eponymous founder of the political party Anders Lange's Party . He was a charismatic right-wing public speaker who objected to high taxes, state-regulations and public bureaucracy.Lange has been described as a man who went his own ways...
s saga (1993, with A. Rygnestad).
External links
- Aftenposten news article on her death, in English