Tore Gjelsvik
Encyclopedia
Tore Gjelsvik was a Norwegian geologist and polar explorer. He headed the Norwegian Polar Institute
from 1960 to 1983, and played an important role in the Norwegian resistance during World War II
.
as the son of Eystein Gjelsvik and Lina Relling. He finished his examen artium
at Oslo Cathedral School
in 1936, and started thereafter studying at the University of Oslo
. He graduated in 1942. He married Anne Marie Skaven in 1945.
, Gjelsvik participated in the resistance movement from 1940. By that time he had already participated in the Norwegian Campaign
. He was among the editors and producers of the magazine Bulletinen
, one of the first underground newspapers, and this consumed much of his time. He was among the initiators of the first intelligence groups, and had contacts with the leaders of XU
. Gjelsvik became a member of the Coordination Committee ( (KK)) in 1943, a central coordinating organ for the civil branch of the resistance.
According to one historian, students of natural science
s were well-suited for intelligence work, as they were practically oriented and used to working in the field. Leading members of XU, such as Astrid Løken
, were natural scientists at the University of Oslo.
He has documented the Norwegian resistance in his book from 1977, Hjemmefronten. Den sivile motstand under okkupasjonen 1940–45, based on personal knowledge and experience.
Area of Sunnmøre
on the West Coast of Southern Norway. He worked as a geologist from 1952 to 1959, and also worked for the United Nations
. In 1960 he was appointed manager for the Norwegian Polar Institute
, a position he held until his retirement in 1983. He participated in Polar research, as a member of several committees, such as Det interdepartementale Polarutvalg and Polarrådet. He chaired the geographical society Det norske geografiske selskap from 1963 to 1965, and the geological society Norsk Geologisk Forening from 1963 to 1964. He took part in the developing Norway's Resistance Museum
, chairing its advisory board from 1964 to 1973, and was a member of the Fram
committee from 1960 to 1997.
Gjelsvik was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1975, and Commander in 1984. He was also a Commander of the Order of the Polar Star
, was an honorary member of the Norwegian Geographical Society
, Norsk Polarklubb and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
, and was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
from 1974. He lived at Gjettum in his later life, and died in Bærum in 2006.
Norwegian Polar Institute
The Norwegian Polar Institute is Norway's national institution for polar research. It is run under the auspices of the Norwegian Ministry of Environment. The institute organizes expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic regions and runs a research station at Ny-Ålesund...
from 1960 to 1983, and played an important role in the Norwegian resistance 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...
.
Personal life
Gjelsvik was born in BodinBodin
Bodin is a parish and former municipality in Nordland county, Norway.-History:Bodin was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . Some smaller parts of the municipality were transferred to the town of Bodø January 1, 1901 and July 1, 1938...
as the son of Eystein Gjelsvik and Lina Relling. He finished 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...
at Oslo Cathedral School
Oslo katedralskole
Schola Osloensis, known in Norwegian as Oslo katedralskole and more commonly as "Katta" is an upper secondary school located in Oslo, Norway. The school offers the college preparatory studiespesialisering of the Norwegian school system...
in 1936, and started thereafter studying at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. He graduated in 1942. He married Anne Marie Skaven in 1945.
World War II
Being a student in Oslo at the outbreak of 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...
, Gjelsvik participated in the resistance movement from 1940. By that time he had already participated in the Norwegian Campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
. He was among the editors and producers of the magazine Bulletinen
Bulletinen
Bulletinen was an underground newspaper in Norway during World War II. Its first issue came in November 1940, and the publication continued until the end of the war. The name Bulletinen was adapted in November 1944...
, one of the first underground newspapers, and this consumed much of his time. He was among the initiators of the first intelligence groups, and had contacts with the leaders of XU
XU
XU was a clandestine intelligence organisation working on behalf of Allied powers in occupied Norway during World War II...
. Gjelsvik became a member of the Coordination Committee ( (KK)) in 1943, a central coordinating organ for the civil branch of the resistance.
According to one historian, students of natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
s were well-suited for intelligence work, as they were practically oriented and used to working in the field. Leading members of XU, such as Astrid Løken
Astrid Løken
Astrid Løken was a Norwegian entomologist and member of the Norwegian resistance movement during World War II...
, were natural scientists at the University of Oslo.
He has documented the Norwegian resistance in his book from 1977, Hjemmefronten. Den sivile motstand under okkupasjonen 1940–45, based on personal knowledge and experience.
Post war career
Gjelsvik took the dr. philos. degree in 1953 on the thesis Metamorphosed Dolerites in the GneissGneiss
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks.-Etymology:...
Area of Sunnmøre
Sunnmøre
Sunnmøre is the southernmost traditional district of the western Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. Its main city is Ålesund. The region comprises the municipalities of Giske, Hareid, Herøy, Norddal, Sande, Skodje, Haram, Stordal, Stranda, Sula, Sykkylven, Ulstein, Vanylven, Volda, Ørskog,...
on the West Coast of Southern Norway. He worked as a geologist from 1952 to 1959, and also worked for the United Nations
United 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...
. In 1960 he was appointed manager for the Norwegian Polar Institute
Norwegian Polar Institute
The Norwegian Polar Institute is Norway's national institution for polar research. It is run under the auspices of the Norwegian Ministry of Environment. The institute organizes expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic regions and runs a research station at Ny-Ålesund...
, a position he held until his retirement in 1983. He participated in Polar research, as a member of several committees, such as Det interdepartementale Polarutvalg and Polarrådet. He chaired the geographical society Det norske geografiske selskap from 1963 to 1965, and the geological society Norsk Geologisk Forening from 1963 to 1964. He took part in the developing Norway's Resistance Museum
Norway's Resistance Museum
Norway's Resistance Museum also known as the Norwegian Home Front Museum is a museum located at the Akershus Fortress in Oslo.The museum collection focuses on Norwegian resistance during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany from 1940 to 1945. The museum displays equipment, photos and documents...
, chairing its advisory board from 1964 to 1973, and was a member of the Fram
Fram
Fram is a ship that was used in expeditions of the Arctic and Antarctic regions by the Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, Oscar Wisting, and Roald Amundsen between 1893 and 1912...
committee from 1960 to 1997.
Gjelsvik was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1975, and Commander in 1984. He was also a Commander of the 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....
, was an honorary member of the Norwegian Geographical Society
Norwegian Geographical Society
The Norwegian Geographical Society is a Norwegian learned society founded in 1889. Among the initiators was geologist Hans Henrik Reusch, who chaired the society from 1898 to 1903, and again from 1907 to 1909, and was also an honorary member...
, Norsk Polarklubb and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research is an interdisciplinary body of the International Council for Science . It was established in February 1958 to continue the international coordination of Antarctic scientific activities that had begun during the International Geophysical Year of 1957-58...
, and was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
from 1974. He lived at Gjettum in his later life, and died in Bærum in 2006.
Selected bibliography
- Hjemmefronten. Den sivile motstand under okkupasjonen 1940–45 (1977)
- Snart kommer vår dag. Erindringer fra krigen (1999)