Ørnulf Egge
Encyclopedia
Ørnulf Egge was a Norwegian politician for the Workers' Youth League
Workers' Youth League (Norway)
The Workers' Youth League is Norways biggest political youth organization, and is affiliated with the Norwegian Labour Party.AUF took its current form in April 1927, following the merger of Left Communist Youth League and Socialist Youth League of Norway corresponding with the merger of its...

 and Communist Party
Communist Party of Norway
The Communist Party of Norway is a political party in Norway without parliamentary representation. It was formed in 1923, following a split in the Norwegian Labour Party. The party played an important role in the resistance to German occupation during the Second World War, and experienced a brief...

 and resistance member 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...

.

Early political career

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...

, and was a son of writer Peter Egge
Peter Egge
Peter Egge was a renowned Norwegian writer.He was the father of Ørnulf Egge and grandfather of Åsmund Egge.- Bibliography :* Almue * Nordfra * Faddergaven * Trøndere...

.

He became a central board member in the Workers' Youth League in 1934, and belonged to the left wing. This became clear especially after 1937, although Egge managed to win support for the Workers' Youth League to still work for disarmament
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...

. After the German invasion and occupation of Norway in 1940, Egge joined the Trade Opposition of 1940
Fagopposisjonen av 1940
Fagopposisjonen av 1940 was a grouping among Norwegian trade unionists in 1940, after the German invasion of Norway....

, a grouping that wanted non-resistance against the German invaders in order to secure good conditions for workers and trade unions. The Trade Opposition was declared underminers by 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...

 in July 1940, and in August/September when it became clear that the Fascist party Nasjonal Samling would be a cooperating partner with the Germans, Egge backed out together with Edvard Bull, Jr.
Edvard Bull, Jr.
Edvard Bull , Edvard Bull d.y. or Edvard Bull, Jr., was a Norwegian historian.He was born in Kristiania as the son of professor and politician Edvard Bull, Sr.. He was active member of the Workers' Youth League...

 and others. Shortly thereafter, the Workers' Youth League was prohibited by the Nazi authorities.

In 1941 Egge and others from the Workers' Youth League came into contact with the Communist Party, which had gone underground. In May 1942 Egge became the leader of the youth work in the Communist Party. In May 1943 he was sent to their secret headquarters encampment in Valdres
Valdres
Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.Administratively, Valdres belongs to Oppland. It consists of the municipalities Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal. The main town in the region is...

, to work as organizational secretary. He was also a member of the central committee. On 13 June 1944 the headquarters were attacked by 800 Nazi personnel. What was called Operation Almenrausch
Operation Almenrausch
Operation Almenrausch was a counter-resistance operation in occupied Norway, planned and carried out by the Wehrmacht and the Nazi-controlled Norwegian Statspolitiet on 13 June 1944...

 was a blow to the Communist Party's organization, but Egge survived and fled. He operated out of Oslo until the end of World War II. At the same time the communist sabotages began to fade, because the movement lacked weapons and had been weakened by Operation Almenrausch and other arrests.

Post-war career

On 15 June 1940, Egge gave his support to Johan Nygaardsvold
Johan Nygaardsvold
Johan Nygaardsvold was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party. He was Prime Minister of Norway from 1935 to 1945 , as head of the cabinet Nygaardsvold.-Political career:...

 to continue as Prime Minister of Norway
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...

. He also negotiated to cooperate more closely with the Labour Party; this goal was not achieved. Egge was the political secretary of the Communist Party from 1945 to 1946. He was excluded in 1950, during the purge against Peder Furubotn
Peder Furubotn
Peder Furubotn was a Norwegian cabinetmaker, politician for the Communist Party and resistance member during World War II.-Early and personal life:...

and his supporters. He died in 1978.
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