Nikolai Schei
Encyclopedia
Nikolai Andreas Schei was a Norwegian jurist and civil servant.
He was born in Førde
as the son of Per Schei (1872–1960) and Johanne Schei (1874–1963). He was a brother of Andreas Schei
, and through him an uncle of Chief Justice Tore Schei
.
He took his examen artium
in 1925, and took the cand.jur. degree in 1928. He also worked part-time as an assistant in the Ministry of Justice and the Police
. He left in 1929, was a deputy judge in Sunnfjord
for a short time before working for the counties of Møre og Romsdal
from 1929 to 1931 and Oslo
-Akershus
from 1931 to 1934. In April 1933 he married Othilia Helberg Christensen (1901–1991), a daughter of Ingolf Elster Christensen. In 1934 he was appointed as inspector in a national arbitration institution, which was led by Carl Platou
. In 1939 Schei was hired by the newly established Ministry of Provisioning
. He was tasked to head the Directorate of Provisioning and Rationing.
In 1940, when Germany invaded Norway
as part of the World War II
and the royal family
and government of Norway fled the country, Schei was specifically asked to stay in Norway, where he continued as director of provisioning and rationing until 1945. As a civil servant Schei was one of the many people who worked throughout the war without being favoured by the new Nazi authorities. In addition, Schei was involved in the Norwegian resistance movement
, as a clandestine member of Hjemmefrontens Ledelse. He was imprisoned briefly in Akershus Fortress
in 1944, and also survived an assassination attempt. Similarly, Carl Platou also continued in his position, but was eventually imprisoned for secret resistance work. His father-in-law Ingolf Elster Christensen came to be the leader of the Administrative Council, which was abolished in September 1940.
In 1945, at the end of the war in Norway, Schei became acting Minister of Provisioning and Reconstruction (so-called "chief officer" of the Ministry), waiting for the exile Nygaardsvold government to return. As the normal state of affairs in Norway resumed, Schei was appointed County Governor of Sogn og Fjordane. He sat until his retirement in 1971.
He was also profiled nationally as chair of the so-called Schei Committee
. The findings of the committee were highly influential; spurring a series of mergers and thus greatly reducing the number of municipalities in Norway. He was also a board member of the Direktoratet for fiendtlig eiendom, the industrial company Årdal Verk and the Nansen Academy
, among others.
He was a Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, a Commander, First Class of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
and the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
, and a Knight, Grand Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon
. He died in May 1985 in Førde.
He was born in Førde
Førde
Førde is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative center is the town of Førde which in 2010 had 12,035 inhabitants. The historic village of Bruland is located just east of the town of Førde...
as the son of Per Schei (1872–1960) and Johanne Schei (1874–1963). He was a brother of Andreas Schei
Andreas Schei
Andreas Olai Schei was a Norwegian jurist and civil servant.He was born in Førde as the son of Per Schei and Johanne Schei . He was a younger brother of Nikolai Schei. In 1936 he married Karin Randi Bache-Wiig...
, and through him an uncle of Chief Justice Tore Schei
Tore Schei
Tore Schei is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway, his term starting on 1 August 2002.He was born in Oslo as a son of Andreas Schei. He is a nephew of Nikolai Schei....
.
He took his examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1925, and took the cand.jur. degree in 1928. He also worked part-time as an assistant in the Ministry of Justice and the Police
Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police is a Norwegian government ministry in charge of justice, police and domestic intelligence. The main purpose of the Ministry is to provide for the maintenance and development of the basic guarantees of the rule of law...
. He left in 1929, was a deputy judge in Sunnfjord
Sunnfjord
Sunnfjord is a traditional district in Western Norway located in Sogn og Fjordane county. It includes the municipalities of Askvoll, Fjaler, Flora, Førde, Gaular, Jølster, Naustdal, and the southernmost parts of Bremanger...
for a short time before working for the counties of Møre og Romsdal
Møre og Romsdal
is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. The county administration is located in Molde, while Ålesund is the largest city.-The name:...
from 1929 to 1931 and 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...
-Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
from 1931 to 1934. In April 1933 he married Othilia Helberg Christensen (1901–1991), a daughter of Ingolf Elster Christensen. In 1934 he was appointed as inspector in a national arbitration institution, which was led by Carl Platou
Carl Platou
Carl Nicolai Stoud Platou was a Norwegian civil servant and politician. A jurist by education, he is best known for his civil servant career in the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police, which spanned from 1911 to 1941...
. In 1939 Schei was hired by the newly established Ministry of Provisioning
Norwegian Ministry of Provisioning and Reconstruction
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Provisioning and Reconstruction was a Norwegian ministry that existed from 1939 to 1950.It was established on 1 October 1939 as the Ministry of Provisioning, though having no relation to the Ministry of Provisioning which existed from 1916 to 1922. The name was...
. He was tasked to head the Directorate of Provisioning and Rationing.
In 1940, when Germany invaded Norway
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
as part of the 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...
and the royal family
Norwegian Royal Family
The Royal Family of Norway is the family of King Harald V of Norway. In Norway there is a distinction between the Royal House and the Royal Family. The Royal House includes only the King and his spouse, the Queen, the King's eldest son with spouse, being the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and the...
and government of Norway fled the country, Schei was specifically asked to stay in Norway, where he continued as director of provisioning and rationing until 1945. As a civil servant Schei was one of the many people who worked throughout the war without being favoured by the new Nazi authorities. In addition, Schei was involved in 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:...
, as a clandestine member of Hjemmefrontens Ledelse. He was imprisoned briefly in Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
in 1944, and also survived an assassination attempt. Similarly, Carl Platou also continued in his position, but was eventually imprisoned for secret resistance work. His father-in-law Ingolf Elster Christensen came to be the leader of the Administrative Council, which was abolished in September 1940.
In 1945, at the end of the war in Norway, Schei became acting Minister of Provisioning and Reconstruction (so-called "chief officer" of the Ministry), waiting for the exile Nygaardsvold government to return. As the normal state of affairs in Norway resumed, Schei was appointed County Governor of Sogn og Fjordane. He sat until his retirement in 1971.
He was also profiled nationally as chair of the so-called Schei Committee
Schei Committee
The Schei Committee was a committee named by the Government of Norway to look into the organization of municipalities in Norway post-World War II.It convened in 1946, and its formal name was...
. The findings of the committee were highly influential; spurring a series of mergers and thus greatly reducing the number of municipalities in Norway. He was also a board member of the Direktoratet for fiendtlig eiendom, the industrial company Årdal Verk and the Nansen Academy
Nansen Academy
The Nansen Academy the Norwegian Humanistic Academy, is a folk high school in Lillehammer, Norway.It was named after Fritjof Nansen, and established in 1938 by Kristian Vilhelm Koren Schjelderup, Jr. and Anders Platou Wyller...
, among others.
He was a Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, a Commander, First Class of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
and the Swedish 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....
, and a Knight, Grand Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon
Order of the Falcon
The Order of the Falcon or Hin íslenska fálkaorða is a national Order of Iceland, established on July 3, 1921 by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland.-History and appointments:...
. He died in May 1985 in Førde.