Sverre Iversen
Encyclopedia
Sverre Johan Iversen was Norwegian
trade unionist, civil servant and politician for the Labour
and Social Democratic Labour
parties.
He was born in Kristiania
as a son of mason Gustav Wilhelm Iversen (1859–1898) and Augusta Josefine Andersen (1858–1921). He attended the Royal School of Drawing
from 1897 to 1898, but became a mason's apprentice after his father died. At the same time he had higher ambitions. To work his way upwards in society, he studied economics
on his own, took voice classes from an actress to be a better orator
, and was active in his trade union. He joined his first trade union in 1898, and the Labour Party in 1899. He chaired the trade unions Murernes Union from 1900 to 1902 and Norsk Murerforbund. He worked as a travelling agitator for the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
from 1901 to 1903, and chaired Oslo faglige samorg from 1908 to 1913. He was the deputy leader of the Confederation of Trade Unions from 1908 to 1910, and was the secretary from 1911 to 1915.
He was a member of the executive committee of Oslo city council from 1908 to 1926, from 1917 to 1919 as deputy mayor under Carl Jeppesen
. From 1921 to 1927 he was a member of the Social Democratic Labour Party. He was also a member of Riksmålsvernet. Iversen was also chairman of Oslo Gassverk, Brenselscentralen and Folketeatret
, and was a member of the Labour Court of Norway from 1916 to 1927 and a board member of the Norwegian Refugee Council
. He was also a member of the Sports Committee of 1935, which prepared a merger between the sports confederations in Norway.
From 1915 to 1941 he worked in the municipal administration of Oslo; he was fired because of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
and was then a member of the resistance circle Kretsen/Hjemmefrontens Ledelse. On 8 May 1945, when the Quisling regime
ceased to function, Iversen was named as one of eight Chief Officers in the Government Ministries, and was acting Chief of the Ministry of Social Affairs. His tenure ended on 14 May, whereupon he became an adviser for the Minister of Social Affairs until July. He was appointed as the first director of the Norwegian Directorate of Labour, where he remained until 1950.
He was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1949, and the Medal of St. Hallvard
in 1956. He died in October 1967 in Oslo.
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...
trade unionist, civil servant and politician for the Labour
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....
and Social Democratic Labour
Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway
The Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway was a Norwegian political party in the 1920s. Following the Labour Party's entry into the Comintern in 1919, its right wing left the party to form the Social Democratic Labour Party in 1921...
parties.
He was born in Kristiania
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...
as a son of mason Gustav Wilhelm Iversen (1859–1898) and Augusta Josefine Andersen (1858–1921). He attended the Royal School of Drawing
Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
The Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry was established in 1818.In 1996 the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts .-Noted alumni:-External links:*...
from 1897 to 1898, but became a mason's apprentice after his father died. At the same time he had higher ambitions. To work his way upwards in society, he studied economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
on his own, took voice classes from an actress to be a better orator
Public speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...
, and was active in his trade union. He joined his first trade union in 1898, and the Labour Party in 1899. He chaired the trade unions Murernes Union from 1900 to 1902 and Norsk Murerforbund. He worked as a travelling agitator for the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
Norwegian 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 1901 to 1903, and chaired Oslo faglige samorg from 1908 to 1913. He was the deputy leader of the Confederation of Trade Unions from 1908 to 1910, and was the secretary from 1911 to 1915.
He was a member of the executive committee of Oslo city council from 1908 to 1926, from 1917 to 1919 as deputy mayor under Carl Jeppesen
Carl Jeppesen
Carl Jeppesen was a Danish-born Norwegian worker, newspaper editor and politician. He edited the newspaper Social-Demokraten from 1887 to 1892, and from 1906 to 1912. He was among the founders of the Norwegian Labour Party, and served as chairman for two periods, from 1890 to 1892, and from 1894...
. From 1921 to 1927 he was a member of the Social Democratic Labour Party. He was also a member of Riksmålsvernet. Iversen was also chairman of Oslo Gassverk, Brenselscentralen and Folketeatret
Folketeatret
Folketeatret is a theatre in Oslo, Norway. The building has existed longer than the theatre, and been used as a movie theatre and opera house....
, and was a member of the Labour Court of Norway from 1916 to 1927 and a board member of the Norwegian Refugee Council
Norwegian Refugee Council
The Norwegian Refugee Council is an independent, humanitarian non-governmental organisation which provides assistance, protection and durable solutions to refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees worldwide. NRC promotes and protects the rights of people who have been forced to flee...
. He was also a member of the Sports Committee of 1935, which prepared a merger between the sports confederations in Norway.
From 1915 to 1941 he worked in the municipal administration of Oslo; he was fired because of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
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...
and was then a member of the resistance circle Kretsen/Hjemmefrontens Ledelse. On 8 May 1945, when the Quisling regime
Quisling regime
The Quisling regime, or the Quisling government are common names used to refer to the collaborationist government led by Vidkun Quisling in occupied Norway during the Second World War. The official name of the regime from 1 February 1942 until its dissolution in May 1945 was Nasjonale regjering...
ceased to function, Iversen was named as one of eight Chief Officers in the Government Ministries, and was acting Chief of the Ministry of Social Affairs. His tenure ended on 14 May, whereupon he became an adviser for the Minister of Social Affairs until July. He was appointed as the first director of the Norwegian Directorate of Labour, where he remained until 1950.
He was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1949, and the Medal of St. Hallvard
Medal of St. Hallvard
The Medal of St. Hallvard is the highest award of the city of Oslo. It is named after the city's patron, Saint Hallvard . The medal has been awarded since 1956.-Recipients:The following people have received the medal:...
in 1956. He died in October 1967 in Oslo.