Arne Berge
Encyclopedia
Arne Berge was a Norwegian priest. He was seamen's priest in Hamburg during World War II
, when he also worked among Scandinavian prisoners in Germany, and helped planning and carrying out the White Buses
operation.
as the son of stereotyper Alfred Berge and Albertine Husebø.
in 1928, and graduated as cand.theol.
in 1934. He was assistant priest in Modum
from 1935 to 1936. From 1937 to 1940 he was a priest in Oslo. He was seamen's priest in Hamburg
during the Second World War, taking over the position after Finn Moestue Husebye
, when Huseby had to leave Hamburg because of a conflict with Nazi-friendly Norwegian settlers in Germany. Together with his assistant priest Conrad Vogt-Svendsen
he also worked among Scandinavian prisoners in Nazi Germany
, making thousands of visits on behalf of the prisoners' families. They distributed large quantities of clothes and food to prisoners all over Germany. Berge and Vogt-Svendsen compiled extensive lists of prisons and prisoners, which were sent to Stockholm and later used as a basis for the White Buses
operation in Spring 1945. They also passed on information on planned mass liquidation of concentration camp prisoners towards the end of the war. The seamen's church in Hamburg remained intact until Easter 1945, when it was destroyed in a bomb attack on the Good Friday
, an attack which killed the church's caretaker Oskar M. Olsen.
Berge was decorated Knight, First class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1945, for his work for prisoners in Germany. He was also awarded the Danish King Christian X's Liberty Medal. He was a priest at Ilebu prison from 1946, and priest in Horten
from 1950. He died in August 1988.
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...
, when he also worked among Scandinavian prisoners in Germany, and helped planning and carrying out the White Buses
White Buses
"White Buses" refers to a program undertaken by the Swedish Red Cross and the Danish government in the spring of 1945 to rescue concentration camp inmates in areas under Nazi control and transport them to Sweden, a neutral country...
operation.
Personal life
Berge was born in StavangerStavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
as the son of stereotyper Alfred Berge and Albertine Husebø.
Career
Berge finished his examen artiumExamen 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...
in 1928, and graduated as cand.theol.
Cand.theol.
Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...
in 1934. He was assistant priest in Modum
Modum
Modum is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hallingdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Vikersund. The municipality of Modum was established on 1 January 1838 .The area has a long tradition of skiing with several famous...
from 1935 to 1936. From 1937 to 1940 he was a priest in Oslo. He was seamen's priest in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
during the Second World War, taking over the position after Finn Moestue Husebye
Finn Moestue Husebye
Finn Moestue Huseby was a Norwegian priest. He graduated as cand.theol. in 1930. He worked as seamen's priest in New Orleans from 1931 to 1934, in Antwerp from 1935 to 1936, and in Hamburg from 1936 to 1942...
, when Huseby had to leave Hamburg because of a conflict with Nazi-friendly Norwegian settlers in Germany. Together with his assistant priest Conrad Vogt-Svendsen
Conrad Vogt-Svendsen
Conrad Vogt-Svendsen was a Norwegian priest. He was assistant seamen's priest in Hamburg during Second World War, helped with the White Buses operation in 1945, and was later main priest for the deafs in Norway....
he also worked among Scandinavian prisoners in 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...
, making thousands of visits on behalf of the prisoners' families. They distributed large quantities of clothes and food to prisoners all over Germany. Berge and Vogt-Svendsen compiled extensive lists of prisons and prisoners, which were sent to Stockholm and later used as a basis for the White Buses
White Buses
"White Buses" refers to a program undertaken by the Swedish Red Cross and the Danish government in the spring of 1945 to rescue concentration camp inmates in areas under Nazi control and transport them to Sweden, a neutral country...
operation in Spring 1945. They also passed on information on planned mass liquidation of concentration camp prisoners towards the end of the war. The seamen's church in Hamburg remained intact until Easter 1945, when it was destroyed in a bomb attack on the Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
, an attack which killed the church's caretaker Oskar M. Olsen.
Berge was decorated Knight, First class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1945, for his work for prisoners in Germany. He was also awarded the Danish King Christian X's Liberty Medal. He was a priest at Ilebu prison from 1946, and priest in Horten
Horten
is a town and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway—located along the Oslofjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Horten. The municipality also includes the villages of Borre, Åsgårdstrand, Skoppum, and Nykirke....
from 1950. He died in August 1988.