Richard Andvord (born 1920)
Encyclopedia
Richard Andvord was a Norwegian businessperson and resistance member.
he worked in the family company Rich. Andvord
in Oslo
, founded by Richard Andvord
in 1865. The company dealt with paper and other writing materials.
, he participated in illegal resistance
work. In the fourth floor of the company building near Stortorvet
, false ID cards and travel licences were manufactured. Because of a far-reaching network of contacts, the counterfeiters managed to keep up with the authorities' constant change of paper quality, watermark
s, etc. There was also a secret weapons stash on the sixth floor. In part, the weapons were brought by Andvord from the Gudbrandsdal
valley, several hours north of Oslo, where they had been secretly paradropped. He was arrested on 31 March 1942 for working with an illegal newspaper. He was incarcerated in Møllergata 19
until 24 April 1942, then in Grini concentration camp until 19 January 1943. He resumed the resistance work afterwards. Andvord also participated in various sabotage missions, blowing up fuel depots, workshops, offices and archives. He was often teamed with well-known saboteur Per Røed, in the group Aks 13000
. Andvord saved Røed's life at least once, during an failed assault on the police station in Rådhusgata. In all, the group was responsible for fourteen liquidations of Nazis and collaborators.
from 1951 to 1970, and chairman from 1968 to 1971. In 1980 he received honorary membership. He was also a board member of Kreditkassen, and a member of the gentlemen's club
Det Norske Selskab.
in a family grave; other family members resting there include Richard Andvord
(1839–1913) and Richard Andvord
(1886–1965). The family company still exists, although it was merged with C. Tybring-Gjedde in 2005 to form the new company Andvord Tybring-Gjedde.
Career
Already before World War IIWorld 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 worked in the family company Rich. Andvord
Rich. Andvord
Rich. Andvord AS was a Norwegian company.It was established in 1865 by Richard Andvord, who traded with pens, paper and other writing materials through an outlet near Stortorvet, Oslo. He soon expanded into a larger company, including book printing and bookbinding in the company portfolio.In later...
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...
, founded by Richard Andvord
Richard Andvord
Sevald Theodor Richard Andvord was a Norwegian businessperson, known for founding the company Rich. Andvord.He was born in Lom as the son of bailiff Paul Thorsteinson Andvord. He moved to Christiania in 1855 to work as an assistant in his uncle's shop. He also spent one year in Germany. In 1865 he...
in 1865. The company dealt with paper and other writing materials.
World War II
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi GermanyOccupation 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...
, he participated in illegal 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:...
work. In the fourth floor of the company building near Stortorvet
Stortorvet
Stortorvet is a square in Oslo, Norway, located west of Oslo Cathedral.It was officially inaugurated during the autarchic times, in 1736. A town market was held here until 1889. Marketing still exists, but has largely been moved to Youngstorget...
, false ID cards and travel licences were manufactured. Because of a far-reaching network of contacts, the counterfeiters managed to keep up with the authorities' constant change of paper quality, watermark
Watermark
A watermark is a recognizable image or pattern in paper that appears as various shades of lightness/darkness when viewed by transmitted light , caused by thickness or density variations in the paper...
s, etc. There was also a secret weapons stash on the sixth floor. In part, the weapons were brought by Andvord from the Gudbrandsdal
Gudbrandsdal
The Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county of Oppland. The valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer at Mjøsa, extending 230 km toward Romsdal...
valley, several hours north of Oslo, where they had been secretly paradropped. He was arrested on 31 March 1942 for working with an illegal newspaper. He was incarcerated in 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...
until 24 April 1942, then in Grini concentration camp until 19 January 1943. He resumed the resistance work afterwards. Andvord also participated in various sabotage missions, blowing up fuel depots, workshops, offices and archives. He was often teamed with well-known saboteur Per Røed, in the group Aks 13000
Aks 13000
Aks 13000 or Aks 13 was a sabotage squad which existed from 1944 to 1945, during parts of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany in World War II. It was a part of the Norwegian resistance movement, specifically Milorg....
. Andvord saved Røed's life at least once, during an failed assault on the police station in Rådhusgata. In all, the group was responsible for fourteen liquidations of Nazis and collaborators.
Post-war career
In 1958 he took over the family company. Its 125-year anniversary and his personal 70-year anniversary both took place in 1990. He was a member of the board of the Norwegian Wholesale Paper Merchants AssociationNorwegian Wholesale Paper Merchants Association
The Norwegian Wholesale Paper Merchants Association is an employers' organisation in Norway.It is a member of the Federation of Norwegian Commercial and Service Enterprises as well as EUGROPA, the European Paper Merchants Association. Chairman of the board is Per Claudi....
from 1951 to 1970, and chairman from 1968 to 1971. In 1980 he received honorary membership. He was also a board member of Kreditkassen, and a member of the gentlemen's club
Gentlemen's club
A gentlemen's club is a members-only private club of a type originally set up by and for British upper class men in the eighteenth century, and popularised by English upper-middle class men and women in the late nineteenth century. Today, some are more open about the gender and social status of...
Det Norske Selskab.
Death and legacy
He died in February 1997, and was buried at Vår Frelsers gravlundVår Frelsers gravlund
Vår Frelsers gravlund is a cemetery in Oslo, Norway, located north of Hammersborg in Gamle Aker district. It was created in 1808 as a result of the great famine and cholera epidemic of the Napoleonic Wars. Its grounds were extended in 1911. The cemetery has been full since 1952...
in a family grave; other family members resting there include Richard Andvord
Richard Andvord
Sevald Theodor Richard Andvord was a Norwegian businessperson, known for founding the company Rich. Andvord.He was born in Lom as the son of bailiff Paul Thorsteinson Andvord. He moved to Christiania in 1855 to work as an assistant in his uncle's shop. He also spent one year in Germany. In 1865 he...
(1839–1913) and Richard Andvord
Richard Andvord (born 1886)
Richard Andvord was a Norwegian cavalry officer, diplomat and aide-de-camp for the Norwegian Royal Family.-Early life and career:...
(1886–1965). The family company still exists, although it was merged with C. Tybring-Gjedde in 2005 to form the new company Andvord Tybring-Gjedde.