Konrad Knudsen
Encyclopedia
Konrad Gustav Knudsen was a Norwegian painter, journalist, and parliamentarian. Known for inviting Leon Trotsky
to seek asylum in Norway
.
Konrad Knudsen was born in Drammen
, and was a painter like his father. He finished accounting training in 1904 and worked as a painter in Drammen until 1908 when he travelled to the United States
. In the US he worked as a painter, lumberjack and a construction worker, and then became editor of the socialist publication Social-Demokraten. In 1920 he was one of the leading figures in the Scandinavian Socialist Federation that sided with the Communist International.
He returned to Drammen in 1920 and worked as a painter foreman until 1923, he then got a job as an editor in the newspaper Fremtiden
. From 1921 he had various positions within the Labour Party, and was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1937, a position he had until 1957.
In 1935 he invited Leon Trotsky
to Norway, and Trotsky initially stayed at his house at Norderhov
outside the small city Hønefoss
. After a break-in by a Norwegian fascist militia the government intervened and on order by the Minister of Justice, Trygve Lie
Trotsky was evicted.
During World War II
he was first in Sweden
, then in Canada
and the USA, working for the Norwegian government information service, and with the office of the Norwegian Auditor General.
From 1949 to 1957 he was Auditor General.
Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky , born Lev Davidovich Bronshtein, was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and theorist, Soviet politician, and the founder and first leader of the Red Army....
to seek asylum in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Konrad Knudsen was born in Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
, and was a painter like his father. He finished accounting training in 1904 and worked as a painter in Drammen until 1908 when he travelled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the US he worked as a painter, lumberjack and a construction worker, and then became editor of the socialist publication Social-Demokraten. In 1920 he was one of the leading figures in the Scandinavian Socialist Federation that sided with the Communist International.
He returned to Drammen in 1920 and worked as a painter foreman until 1923, he then got a job as an editor in the newspaper Fremtiden
Fremtiden
Fremtiden was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Drammen.Fremtiden was started in 1905. Its first editor was Torgeir Vraa, who edited the newspaper from its start until his death in 1934. Fremtiden became the main organ for tne Norwegian Labour Party in Buskerud. During the 1980s the newspaper had...
. From 1921 he had various positions within the Labour Party, and was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1937, a position he had until 1957.
In 1935 he invited Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky , born Lev Davidovich Bronshtein, was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and theorist, Soviet politician, and the founder and first leader of the Red Army....
to Norway, and Trotsky initially stayed at his house at Norderhov
Norderhov
Norderhov is a former municipality in Buskerud county, Norway.-Municipality:Norderhov municipality was established on January 1, 1838 . According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 7,234. On 22 April 1852 the city of Hønefoss was separated from Norderhov to constitute a...
outside the small city Hønefoss
Hønefoss
Hønefoss is a city in Buskerud county, Norway, and the center of the municipality of Ringerike.In 1852, Hønefoss received town status and was separated from Norderhov. Hønefoss celebrated its 150th year of township in 2002...
. After a break-in by a Norwegian fascist militia the government intervened and on order by the Minister of Justice, Trygve Lie
Trygve Lie
Trygve Halvdan Lie was a Norwegian politician, labour leader, government official and author. He served as Norwegian Foreign minister during the critical years of the Norwegian government in exile in London from 1940 to 1945. From 1946 to 1952 he was the first Secretary-General of the United...
Trotsky was evicted.
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 first in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, then in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the USA, working for the Norwegian government information service, and with the office of the Norwegian Auditor General.
From 1949 to 1957 he was Auditor General.