Andreas Claussen
Encyclopedia
Andreas Claussen was a Norwegian
barrister, civil servant and politician for the Liberal Party.
as the son of hotelier Peter Albert Claussen (1854–1920) and Cecilie Ingbertine Debes (1852–1931). The family hotel, Hotel Britannia, was founded by his mother's first husband. Claussen studied law after finishing
his secondary education in 1902; graduating with the cand.jur. degree in 1907. He opened his own attorney's office in Trondhjem in 1910. In September 1916 he married Annie Amalie Schaanning (1892–1965). He was also a competitive speed skater
during his younger days, and later chaired the Norwegian Skating Association
from 1916 to 1918 and 1919 to 1922 as well as Trondhjems Skøiteklub
. He was also a member of the Sports Committee of 1935, which prepared a merger between the sports confederations in Norway.
cases. He served as a member of Trondheim city council from 1929 to 1931, representing the Liberal Party. In 1931 he was appointed as the new State Conciliator of Norway
. At the same time he continued his work as a barrister, from 1936 in companionship with Reidar Selmer.
invaded
and occupied Norway
, and the regular political authorities were put out of the running. Johan Cappelen
, County Governor of Sør-Trøndelag and later resistance
member, set up the so-called Central Committee of Trondheim to administer the city, headed by Claussen together with Cappelen and Ivar Skjånes
. The Central Committee was disbanded in the autumn by the Nazi authorities. Claussen continued as a barrister, but also became involved in resistance work. He was arrested on 3 August 1942 for "anti-German sentiments", and was incarcerated at Grini two days later, and released six days before the liberation of Norway on 8 May 1945
.
and the Workers' Confederation of Sports
.
From 1947 to 1953 he worked as a public prosecutor in Trondheim District Court
. In the same time period he also served a second term in the city council. He was a member of the board of Trøndelag Teater
as well as several private companies, including Trondhjem Cementstøperi, Trondhjems Kullkompagni, Trondhjems Preservering & Co. and Norske Forenede Forsikring. Claussen was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He survived a sea plane crash in 1948, in which Bertrand Russell
was involved as well, but died in October 1957 in Trondheim.
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...
barrister, civil servant and politician for the Liberal Party.
Early life and career
He was born in TrondheimTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
as the son of hotelier Peter Albert Claussen (1854–1920) and Cecilie Ingbertine Debes (1852–1931). The family hotel, Hotel Britannia, was founded by his mother's first husband. Claussen studied law after finishing
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...
his secondary education in 1902; graduating with the cand.jur. degree in 1907. He opened his own attorney's office in Trondhjem in 1910. In September 1916 he married Annie Amalie Schaanning (1892–1965). He was also a competitive speed skater
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
during his younger days, and later chaired the Norwegian Skating Association
Norwegian Skating Association
The Norwegian Skating Association is the main skating authoritative body in Norway. It overlooks speed skating, figure skating, short track speed skating on ice and more recently inline and roller skating....
from 1916 to 1918 and 1919 to 1922 as well as Trondhjems Skøiteklub
Trondhjems SK (skating)
Trondhjems Skøiteklub is a Norwegian sports club from Trondheim, founded in 1876. It has sections for figure skating and speed skating.Former members include Peder Østlund, Edvard Engelsaas, Oluf Steen, Martin Sæterhaug, Ivar Ballangrud, Magne Thomassen and Rolf Falk-Larssen....
. He was also a member of the Sports Committee of 1935, which prepared a merger between the sports confederations in Norway.
Career
In 1924, Claussen became a barrister with license to work with Supreme CourtSupreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
cases. He served as a member of Trondheim city council from 1929 to 1931, representing the Liberal Party. In 1931 he was appointed as the new State Conciliator of Norway
State Conciliator of Norway
The State Conciliator of Norway is an arbitrator's office of Norway. It is invoked in labour disputes, in other words when tariff agreements are disagreed upon.It was established in 1915, and the first State Conciliator took office in 1916...
. At the same time he continued his work as a barrister, from 1936 in companionship with Reidar Selmer.
World War II
In April 1940, Nazi GermanyNazi 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 occupied Norway
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 the regular political authorities were put out of the running. Johan Cappelen
Johan Cappelen
Johan Cappelen was a Norwegian jurist and politician for the Conservative Party.He was born in Skogn. He graduated with cand.jur. degree in 1911. He worked as a deputy judge, and from 1915, attorney. He was barrister with access to work with Supreme Court from 1922.As a politician Cappelen was...
, County Governor of Sør-Trøndelag and later resistance
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:...
member, set up the so-called Central Committee of Trondheim to administer the city, headed by Claussen together with Cappelen and Ivar Skjånes
Ivar Skjånes
Ivar Skjånes was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.Skjånes became mayor of Trondheim, the third largest city in Norway, in 1935. On 31 October 1940, during the German occupation of Norway, he was removed on the orders of the occupants. He was also imprisoned, first from March to May 1942...
. The Central Committee was disbanded in the autumn by the Nazi authorities. Claussen continued as a barrister, but also became involved in resistance work. He was arrested on 3 August 1942 for "anti-German sentiments", and was incarcerated at Grini two days later, and released six days before the liberation of Norway on 8 May 1945
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
.
Post-war career
After the war he resumed his normal work, but his last day in office as State Conciliator of Norway was on 31 December 1945. He was succeeded by wartime resistance leader Paal Berg. In the meantime Claussen had negotiated the merger between the Norwegian Confederation of SportsNorwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports
The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports is the umbrella organization for sport in Norway. It is the largest volunteering organization in Norway, with more than 2 million members, and 12000 sports clubs, in 19 region confederatons and 56 national federations...
and the Workers' Confederation of Sports
Arbeidernes Idrettsforbund
Arbeidernes Idrettsforbund was a sporting organization in Norway between 1924 and 1946. As of 1935, AIF had around 50,000 members. AIF published the magazine Arbeideridrett.-Foundation and early growth:...
.
From 1947 to 1953 he worked as a public prosecutor in Trondheim District Court
Trondheim District Court
Trondheim District Court was a district court located in and serving Trondheim, Norway. From 1 January 2010, it was merged with Sør-Trøndelag District Court, which was located in the same building. It was subordinate Frostating Court of Appeal....
. In the same time period he also served a second term in the city council. He was a member of the board of Trøndelag Teater
Trøndelag Teater
Trøndelag Teater is a large theater in the city of Trondheim, in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway.-Background:Trøndelag Teater stages large-scale dance and musical performances. Originally built in 1816, the theater is the oldest stage in Scandinavia in continuous use...
as well as several private companies, including Trondhjem Cementstøperi, Trondhjems Kullkompagni, Trondhjems Preservering & Co. and Norske Forenede Forsikring. Claussen was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He survived a sea plane crash in 1948, in which Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these things...
was involved as well, but died in October 1957 in Trondheim.