Arne Gauslaa
Encyclopedia
Arne Gauslaa was a Norwegian communist, newspaper editor and resistance member.
He was born in Solum
, to a mother from Solum and a father from Herefoss
.. His father Olav Gauslaa was a member of Solum municipal council from 1910 to 1927 and again from 1931, and had joined the Communist Party
in 1923. Arne Gauslaa married Audhild Olsen from Skien
in 1932, and had one foster child. The family lived in Oslo.
In 1931 Gauslaa was sentenced in court twice. The first time he was sentenced to prison for participating in the Skirmish of Menstad, then for making the small newspaper Den røde elev at his school. He took modest education, and was the chairman of Young Communist League of Norway
from 1934 to 1942. He also edited the newspaper Klassekampen
. From 1940 his work was underground in the resistance movement
, as Norway was occupied by Nazi Germany
. Eventually, together with Ottar Lie
he led the party's organizational centre which had contact with communist resistance members who hid in the mountains. The centre was moved from Steinsfjorden to Vikersund
in October 1942. They were blown after former resistance member Karsten Sølvberg had cracked during Gestapo
torture, become a Gestapo agent and ratted them out. On 30 October 1942 the centre was surrounded by Gestapo agents. There was a shootout, in which two Germans and two Norwegian communists including Gauslaa were killed. He was buried in Oslo.
He was born in Solum
Solum, Norway
Solum is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway.The parish of Solum was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 3,557. Solum is located west of the city Skien, and encompassed districts such as Nenset, Tollnes,...
, to a mother from Solum and a father from Herefoss
Herefoss
Herefoss is a village and former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Birkenes in the Sørlandet region....
.. His father Olav Gauslaa was a member of Solum municipal council from 1910 to 1927 and again from 1931, and had joined the 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...
in 1923. Arne Gauslaa married Audhild Olsen from Skien
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
in 1932, and had one foster child. The family lived in Oslo.
In 1931 Gauslaa was sentenced in court twice. The first time he was sentenced to prison for participating in the Skirmish of Menstad, then for making the small newspaper Den røde elev at his school. He took modest education, and was the chairman of 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 1934 to 1942. He also edited the newspaper Klassekampen
Klassekampen (1909–1940)
Klassekampen was a Norwegian newspaper. It was established in 1909 as an organ for the youth movement of the Norwegian Labour Party, Norges socialdemokratiske ungdomsforbund. Its editor-in-chief from 1911 to 1921 was Eugène Olaussen.At the Labour-Communist party split in 1923, the newspaper was...
. From 1940 his work was underground in the 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:...
, as Norway was occupied by Nazi Germany
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...
. Eventually, together with Ottar Lie
Ottar Lie
Ottar Lie was a Norwegian communist and resistance member.He was born in Løten, to a father from Vang and a mother from Ås. He was married twice, last to Inga, née Knutsen. He had two children, and lived in Oslo....
he led the party's organizational centre which had contact with communist resistance members who hid in the mountains. The centre was moved from Steinsfjorden to Vikersund
Vikersund
Vikersund is a town of 2,448 inhabitants in the municipality capital of Modum, in the county of Buskerud, Norway.Vikersund is located 30 kilometers south of Hønefoss and 40 kilometers northwest of Drammen. The village is located at the southwestern arm of Tyrifjorden. The Drammen river enters...
in October 1942. They were blown after former resistance member Karsten Sølvberg had cracked during Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
torture, become a Gestapo agent and ratted them out. On 30 October 1942 the centre was surrounded by Gestapo agents. There was a shootout, in which two Germans and two Norwegian communists including Gauslaa were killed. He was buried in Oslo.