Aksel Zachariassen
Encyclopedia
Aksel "Azach" Zachariassen (16 November 1898 – 6 August 1987) was a Norwegian politician, newspaper editor, secretary and writer.
He was born in Porsgrunn
as a son of ship captain Aksel Zachariassen (1853–1927) from Luleå
and Karen Nilsen (1860–1933) from Ulefoss
. He began his journalistic career in Bratsberg-Demokraten
. In 1920 he was hired in the Det socialdemokratiske Pressekontor (where he met his wife), he went on to Arbeiderbladet in 1923, Halden Arbeiderblad
in 1928, Arbeidermagasinet
in 1931 and Kongsvinger Arbeiderblad
in 1932. In the latter newspaper he was the editor-in-chief. He was also involved in revolutionary politics, and headed the Young Communist League of Norway
from 1921 to 1923, while the organization was still affiliated with the Norwegian Labour Party
. Also, he was subject to deportation
from the United Kingdom during a visit there in 1919, where he among others tried to rally support for the Red Guards of Finland
, and met with Sylvia Pankhurst
. Zachariassen participated in the Left Communist Youth League
's military strike
action of 1924. He was convicted for assisting in this crime and sentenced to 90 days of prison.
Because of his background he was fired as chief editor in 1941, when the newspapers in Norway were usurped by the Nazi authorities, installed when Germany invaded Norway
in 1940. He was even arrested, in June 1941. He was imprisoned at Møllergata 19
from August 1941 to October 1941, then at Grini concentration camp until May 1942, then at Sachsenhausen concentration camp
until the war's end. At Sachsenhausen he worked within the parcels section . He was the first to get in contact with Wanda Hjort
, when she started visiting the camp in 1943. This contact came to be an important communication channel between the camp and the people at Gross Kreutz, who later became an important source of information to the Swedish Red Cross, and to the International Red Cross in Geneva
. After the war he was hired in A-pressens felles Oslo-redaksjon in 1946 and Arbeidernes Pressekontor in 1947. He was the chief secretary in Arbeidernes Opplysningsforbund from 1950 to 1962, except for the time from 1953 to 1954 when he was an attaché at the Norwegian embassy in London.
Zachariassen also wrote many books. The two main categories of books were history books of trade unions, as well as biographies of people in the labour movement. He is also known for the propagandistic history book Den røde ungdom i kamp og seier. Norges kommunistiske ungdomsforbund gjennem 20 aar which he wrote together with Arvid G. Hansen
and Eugène Olaussen
. He published his memoirs in 1978. He died in August 1987 in Oslo.
He was born in Porsgrunn
Porsgrunn
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Porsgrunn....
as a son of ship captain Aksel Zachariassen (1853–1927) from Luleå
Luleå
- Transportation :Local buses are run by .A passenger train service is available from Luleå Centralstation on Sweden's national SJ railway service northbound to Narvik on the Norwegian coast, or southbound to Stockholm. See Rail transport in Sweden....
and Karen Nilsen (1860–1933) from Ulefoss
Ulefoss
Ulefoss is the administrative centre of Nome municipality, Norway. Its population is 2,699.-References:...
. He began his journalistic career in Bratsberg-Demokraten
Bratsberg-Demokraten
Bratsberg-Demokraten was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Skien in Telemark county. From 1924 to 1929 it was named Telemark Kommunistblad....
. In 1920 he was hired in the Det socialdemokratiske Pressekontor (where he met his wife), he went on to Arbeiderbladet in 1923, Halden Arbeiderblad
Halden Arbeiderblad
Halden Arbeiderblad is a local newspaper in Halden, Norway.It was established in 1929 as a Labour Party newspaper, but has later become non-partisan...
in 1928, Arbeidermagasinet
Arbeidermagasinet
Arbeidermagasinet was a Norwegian weekly magazine established in 1927. It changed its name to Magasinet For Alle in 1953, and ceased publication in 1970. The magazine is especially noted for its literary quality and its promotion of the short story.-Editors:Arbeidermagasinet's first editor from...
in 1931 and Kongsvinger Arbeiderblad
Glåmdalen (newspaper)
Glåmdalen is a local newspaper published in Kongsvinger, Norway. It is named after the district Glåmdalen, and covers southern Hedmark with offices in Solør, Skarnes and Nes, Akershus....
in 1932. In the latter newspaper he was the editor-in-chief. He was also involved in revolutionary politics, and headed the Young Communist League of Norway
Young Communist League of Norway
Young Communist League of Norway was until April 2006 the youth league of Norges Kommunistiske Parti . April 1st 2006 NKP declared that NKU was no longer its youth organization, and that all youths interested in joining the movement should contact the party directly...
from 1921 to 1923, while the organization was still affiliated with the Norwegian Labour Party
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....
. Also, he was subject to deportation
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
from the United Kingdom during a visit there in 1919, where he among others tried to rally support for the Red Guards of Finland
Red Guards (Finland)
The Red Guards formed the army of Red Finland during the Finnish Civil War in 1918. The combined strength of the Red Guard was about 30,000 at the beginning of the Civil War, and peaked at 90,000-120,000 during the course of the conflict....
, and met with Sylvia Pankhurst
Sylvia Pankhurst
Estelle Sylvia Pankhurst was an English campaigner for the suffragist movement in the United Kingdom. She was for a time a prominent left communist who then devoted herself to the cause of anti-fascism.-Early life:...
. Zachariassen participated in the Left Communist Youth League
Left Communist Youth League
Left Communist Youth League was the youth organization of the Norwegian Labour Party from 1923-1927. VKU published Den røde ungdom...
's military strike
Military strike
A military strike is a limited attack on a specified target. Strikes are used, amongst other things, to render facilities inoperable , to assassinate enemy leaders, and to limit supply to enemy troops. A strike can often be the prelude to a war or siege, whose initial strike is for a strategic or...
action of 1924. He was convicted for assisting in this crime and sentenced to 90 days of prison.
Because of his background he was fired as chief editor in 1941, when the newspapers in Norway were usurped by the Nazi authorities, installed when Germany invaded Norway
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...
in 1940. He was even arrested, in June 1941. He was imprisoned at 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...
from August 1941 to October 1941, then at Grini concentration camp until May 1942, then at Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen or Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg was a Nazi concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany, used primarily for political prisoners from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in May, 1945. After World War II, when Oranienburg was in the Soviet Occupation Zone, the structure was used as an NKVD...
until the war's end. At Sachsenhausen he worked within the parcels section . He was the first to get in contact with Wanda Hjort
Wanda Hjort Heger
Wanda Maria Heger is a Norwegian social worker noted for her efforts to help Norwegian and other prisoners in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.- Background :...
, when she started visiting the camp in 1943. This contact came to be an important communication channel between the camp and the people at Gross Kreutz, who later became an important source of information to the Swedish Red Cross, and to the International Red Cross in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. After the war he was hired in A-pressens felles Oslo-redaksjon in 1946 and Arbeidernes Pressekontor in 1947. He was the chief secretary in Arbeidernes Opplysningsforbund from 1950 to 1962, except for the time from 1953 to 1954 when he was an attaché at the Norwegian embassy in London.
Zachariassen also wrote many books. The two main categories of books were history books of trade unions, as well as biographies of people in the labour movement. He is also known for the propagandistic history book Den røde ungdom i kamp og seier. Norges kommunistiske ungdomsforbund gjennem 20 aar which he wrote together with Arvid G. Hansen
Arvid G. Hansen
Arvid Gilbert Hansen was a Norwegian newspaper editor and politician for the Labour and Communist parties.-Early life and Labour Party career:...
and Eugène Olaussen
Eugène Olaussen
Ansgar Eugène Olaussen was a Norwegian newspaper editor, educated as a typographer, and politician. As a politician he started in Norges Socialdemokratiske Ungdomsforbund, and notably edited Klassekampen from 1911 to 1921...
. He published his memoirs in 1978. He died in August 1987 in Oslo.