1943 University of Oslo fire
Encyclopedia
The 1943 University of Oslo fire was a fire in the ceremony hall (Universitetets Aula) of the University of Oslo
in 1943. Its direct consequenses were the closing of the university, and the arrest of 1,166 people; mainly male students. Of these, 644 were sent to German "readjustment" camps, where 17 people died. Initial beliefs that the fire was either a Reichstag fire
or perpetrated by communists were wrong; members of the Norwegian resistance movement
were responsible.
(not Blindern
), and was built as an annex to the already existing Domus Media, Domus Academica og Domus Bibliotheca, built between 1841 and 1851. The ceremony hall has been used for lectures, graduation ceremonies and concerts and also features valuable painings by Edvard Munch
.
When Nazi Germany
invaded
and subsequently occupied
Norway in 1940, Universitetets Aula was originally used for Norwegian prisoners of war. The valuable Munch paintings were stored somewhere else. After the war phase
was over in Eastern Norway, the university continued mostly as normal until September 1941, when nazification attempts increased.
Josef Terboven
for some time. In a meeting at Skaugum
on the evening that day, Terboven ordered the closing of the university as well as the arrest of all male students. German Wehrmacht
officer Theodor Steltzer
was to be involved in the arrest, and managed to leak the news to Norwegian resistance member
and former University of Oslo research fellow Arvid Brodersen
in Hjemmefrontens Ledelse on 29 November. Leaflets were printed and handed out in the morning of 30 November, but many disbelieved it and did not act. 1,166 students were arrested in the action against the students of 30 November. The ceremony hall was used to round up the arrested, and Wilhelm Rediess
spoke to the crowd. Women were released, whereas the male students and some faculty were sent to temporary concentration camps. After pressure from both the Norwegian resistance, people associated with Nasjonal Samling and even instructions from Berlin, about half of the 1,166 were released whereas 644 were sent to Germany. 17 of these perished in "readjustment" camps. The university was closed for the purposes of education, whereas research continued.
Many had suspected the fire to be a Reichstag fire
, perpetrated by Nazis in order to provoke a reaction. In 1949, it surfaced that the fire was started by Norwegian resistance members, specifically people working with the illegal newspaper London-Nytt. The name of perpetrator Petter Moen
was revealed as late as in 1993. Whether someone else ordered Moen to do it is still not known, neither are his exact reasons. Petter Moen was arrested for illegal press activity in 1944, and died when shipwrecked in the prisoner transport SS Westfalen
.
Material traces of the fire were still visible as of 2008, when the ceremony hall underwent a lengthy restoration for the university's 200th anniversary of 2011.
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...
in 1943. Its direct consequenses were the closing of the university, and the arrest of 1,166 people; mainly male students. Of these, 644 were sent to German "readjustment" camps, where 17 people died. Initial beliefs that the fire was either a Reichstag fire
Reichstag fire
The Reichstag fire was an arson attack on the Reichstag building in Berlin on 27 February 1933. The event is seen as pivotal in the establishment of Nazi Germany....
or perpetrated by communists were wrong; members of 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:...
were responsible.
Background
Universitetets Aula, the ceremony hall, was raised in 1911 at the 100th anniversary of the university. It is a part of the original university campus in downtown OsloOslo
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...
(not Blindern
Blindern
Blindern is the main campus of the University of Oslo, located in Nordre Aker in Oslo, Norway.-The campus:Most of the departments of the University of Oslo are located at Blindern; other, smaller campuses include Sentrum , Gaustad , St...
), and was built as an annex to the already existing Domus Media, Domus Academica og Domus Bibliotheca, built between 1841 and 1851. The ceremony hall has been used for lectures, graduation ceremonies and concerts and also features valuable painings by Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch was a Norwegian Symbolist painter, printmaker and an important forerunner of expressionist art. His best-known composition, The Scream, is part of a series The Frieze of Life, in which Munch explored the themes of love, fear, death, melancholia, and anxiety.- Childhood :Edvard Munch...
.
When Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
invaded
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...
and subsequently occupied
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...
Norway in 1940, Universitetets Aula was originally used for Norwegian prisoners of war. The valuable Munch paintings were stored somewhere else. After the war phase
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...
was over in Eastern Norway, the university continued mostly as normal until September 1941, when nazification attempts increased.
Fire
The fire took place on 28 November 1943. The material damage was minimal; the incendiaries had called the fire department themselves. A pre-booked concert was held there the next day. However, the Nazi authorities did not take lightly to the incident. Although they immediately suspected communist university students of the incendiarism, the fire gave room for a general crackdown on students, as had been desired by ReichskommissarReichskommissar
Reichskommissar , in German history, was an official gubernatorial title used for various public offices during the period of the German Empire and the Nazi Third Reich....
Josef Terboven
Josef Terboven
Josef Antonius Heinrich Terboven was a Nazi leader, best known as the Reichskommissar during the German occupation of Norway.-Early life:...
for some time. In a meeting at Skaugum
Skaugum
Skaugum is the official residence of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and of his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit.The estate is located in Asker municipality, about 15 miles southwest of Oslo. Owned by the Church in the Middle Ages, it passed through several owners until 1909, when Fritz Wedel...
on the evening that day, Terboven ordered the closing of the university as well as the arrest of all male students. German Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
officer Theodor Steltzer
Theodor Steltzer
Theodor Steltzer was a German politician , former Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein and was a member of the Kreisau Circle during World War II, becoming involved while stationed in Occupied Norway as a transportation officer in the Wehrmacht...
was to be involved in the arrest, and managed to leak the news to Norwegian resistance member
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:...
and former University of Oslo research fellow Arvid Brodersen
Arvid Brodersen
Arvid Brodersen was a Norwegian sociologist, a dr. philos. from the University of Berlin, a UNESCO leader and later a professor at the New School for Social Research in New York City. During World War II he was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement, and is known for establishing a...
in Hjemmefrontens Ledelse on 29 November. Leaflets were printed and handed out in the morning of 30 November, but many disbelieved it and did not act. 1,166 students were arrested in the action against the students of 30 November. The ceremony hall was used to round up the arrested, and Wilhelm Rediess
Wilhelm Rediess
Wilhelm Rediess was the SS and Police Leader during the German occupation of Norway in the Second World War. He was also the commanding General of all SS troops stationed in occupied Norway, assuming command on 22 June 1940 until his death in 1945.- Early life :Rediess was born in Heinsberg,...
spoke to the crowd. Women were released, whereas the male students and some faculty were sent to temporary concentration camps. After pressure from both the Norwegian resistance, people associated with Nasjonal Samling and even instructions from Berlin, about half of the 1,166 were released whereas 644 were sent to Germany. 17 of these perished in "readjustment" camps. The university was closed for the purposes of education, whereas research continued.
Many had suspected the fire to be a Reichstag fire
Reichstag fire
The Reichstag fire was an arson attack on the Reichstag building in Berlin on 27 February 1933. The event is seen as pivotal in the establishment of Nazi Germany....
, perpetrated by Nazis in order to provoke a reaction. In 1949, it surfaced that the fire was started by Norwegian resistance members, specifically people working with the illegal newspaper London-Nytt. The name of perpetrator Petter Moen
Petter Moen
Petter Moen was a Norwegian resistance member later known for his diaries.During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany he edited the underground newspaper London Nytt...
was revealed as late as in 1993. Whether someone else ordered Moen to do it is still not known, neither are his exact reasons. Petter Moen was arrested for illegal press activity in 1944, and died when shipwrecked in the prisoner transport SS Westfalen
SS Westfalen
SS Westfalen was a German ship built in 1906 at J.C. Tecklenborg in Geestemünde.In the early 1930s the Westfalen was converted into a seaplane tender to serve as both weather reporting and refueling station for Dornier Wal flying boats of Lufthansa carrying mail trans-Atlantic between Europe and...
.
Material traces of the fire were still visible as of 2008, when the ceremony hall underwent a lengthy restoration for the university's 200th anniversary of 2011.