Arne Ording
Encyclopedia
Arne Ording was a Norwegian historian and politician for Mot Dag
and the Labour Party
.
as a son of theology professor Johannes Ording
(1869–1929) and Fredrikke Ording (1874–1966). He was a maternal great-grandson of Andreas Hauge
, a nephew of educator and politician Fredrik Ording
and theologian Hans Nielsen Hauge Ording
, a first cousin of actor Jørn Ording
and a second cousin of Aake Anker Ording
.
He took his examen artium
in 1916, and subsequently enrolled at the Royal Frederick University
. In 1921 he joined the group around the periodical Mot Dag
, and when Mot Dag was formalized as an organization, Ording became one of the prominent members. Mot Dag was a revolutionary socialist group, and had a goal of attracting an elite of intellectuals. Ording was also the chairman of the Mot Dag-affiliated organization Clarté
, and edited its periodical of the same name for a period.
He graduated with the cand.philol. degree in 1924, and continued his studies. He had a stay in France from 1926 to 1927, and took the dr.philos. degree in 1930 with the thesis Le Bureau de police du Comité de Salut public. Étude sur la Terreur. In 1936 he issued the book Den første internasjonale. Arbeiderbevegelsens gjennombrudd 1830–1875, about the First International.
The same year, in 1936, Mot Dag was absorbed by the Norwegian Labour Party
. Ording edited their periodical Det 20de Århundre
together with Finn Moe
, and also worked as a commentator in the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.
cruiser Devonshire
, along with King Haakon, Crown Prince Olav and the Norwegian Government in June 1940. In London he worked as a consultant for Minister of Foreign Affairs Trygve Lie
. He became known to the occupied Norwegian
people for his news commentaries, broadcast from London through BBC Radio
. His impact as an exiled commentator was only comparable to that of Toralf Øksnevad; historian Hans Fredrik Dahl notes that "judging by contemporary sources[the two held] an entirely unusual authority". A collection of these commentaries was published in 1946 as 100 kronikker. Also, in March 1942 he married Sigrid Vidnes (1900–1989), widow of Jacob Vidnes
.
, although he declined Lange's offer to be appointed as State Secretary
in both 1949 and 1953. He actively supported Norway's signing of the North Atlantic Treaty
in 1949, a controversial issue. Not long after, Norway established its first development aid
project, in Kerala
, about which Ording wrote that as military and defence costs rose, the public had to be "given [...] something positive".
From 1947 to 1959 Ording held the position as professor of international history at the University of Oslo
. He edited the journal Internasjonal Politikk during this period; he had formerly edited a journal of the same name from 1937 to 1940. He is best known for editing the eight-volume work Aschehougs verdenshistorie together with T. Dahl. He also wrote Arbeiderbevegelsen fram til 1887, volume one of Det norske Arbeiderpartis historie released in 1960. He kept diaries from 1942 to 1955, and although it was not his intention to publish these, the wartime writings from 1942 to 1945 were published in 2000. A second volume, covering the period 1945–1949, was published in 2003.
Ording himself died in July 1967 in Oslo. He struggled with Alzheimer's disease
for many years.
Mot Dag
Mot Dag was a Norwegian periodical and a communist organization with the same name.It was established in 1921 under the initiative of Erling Falk, partly with origins in the debate forum in the Social Democratic student government in Oslo ; partly from a Falk-led study circle which from 1919...
and the 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....
.
Pre-war life and career
Ording was born in KristianiaOslo
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...
as a son of theology professor Johannes Ording
Johannes Ording
Johannes Ording was a Norwegian theologian. He served as a professor of systematic theology at the Royal Frederick University from 1906 to 1926, and his appointment caused a stir because some saw him as too liberal....
(1869–1929) and Fredrikke Ording (1874–1966). He was a maternal great-grandson of Andreas Hauge
Andreas Hauge
Andreas Hauge was a Norwegian priest, psalm writer and politician.He was born in Aker as a son of Hans Nielsen Hauge and Andrea Andersdatter Nyhus . He lost his mother at only a week of age; his father then married again, but he died when Andreas Hauge was 9. He took the examen artium in 1834,...
, a nephew of educator and politician Fredrik Ording
Fredrik Ording
Fredrik Christian Wildhagen Ording was a Norwegian educator, writer and politician for the Conservative Party....
and theologian Hans Nielsen Hauge Ording
Hans Ording
Hans Nielsen Hauge Ording was a Norwegian theologian.He was born in Solum as a son of dean Theodor Ording and Johanne Gabrielle Gustava Andrea Hauge . He was a grandson of Andreas Hauge, and great-grandson of Hans Nielsen Hauge...
, a first cousin of actor Jørn Ording
Jørn Ording
Jørn Ording was a Norwegian actor, theatre instructor and screenwriter.He was born in Kristiania as a son of Jørgen Fredrik Ording...
and a second cousin of Aake Anker Ording
Aake Anker Ording
Aake Anker Ording was a Norwegian civil servant and politician for Mot Dag and the Labour Party.He was born in Halden. He was a second cousin of actor Jørn Ording and historian and politician Arne Ording, and a first cousin once removed of educator and theologian Fredrik Ording and theologian Hans...
.
He took his examen artium
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...
in 1916, and subsequently enrolled at the Royal Frederick University
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 1921 he joined the group around the periodical Mot Dag
Mot Dag
Mot Dag was a Norwegian periodical and a communist organization with the same name.It was established in 1921 under the initiative of Erling Falk, partly with origins in the debate forum in the Social Democratic student government in Oslo ; partly from a Falk-led study circle which from 1919...
, and when Mot Dag was formalized as an organization, Ording became one of the prominent members. Mot Dag was a revolutionary socialist group, and had a goal of attracting an elite of intellectuals. Ording was also the chairman of the Mot Dag-affiliated organization Clarté
Clarté (Norway)
Clarté was a socialist and pacifist organisation in Norway.It was founded in 1925, and had its roots in a French-based international organization of the same name...
, and edited its periodical of the same name for a period.
He graduated with the cand.philol. degree in 1924, and continued his studies. He had a stay in France from 1926 to 1927, and took the dr.philos. degree in 1930 with the thesis Le Bureau de police du Comité de Salut public. Étude sur la Terreur. In 1936 he issued the book Den første internasjonale. Arbeiderbevegelsens gjennombrudd 1830–1875, about the First International.
The same year, in 1936, Mot Dag was absorbed by 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....
. Ording edited their periodical Det 20de Århundre
Det 20de Århundre
Det 20de Århundre was a periodical published by the Norwegian Labour Party.Its purpose was to print background articles on ideology and issues. For news, the party had a full network of newspapers, with Arbeiderbladet as the leading organ.Editor from 1920 to 1923 was Arvid G. Hansen...
together with Finn Moe
Finn Moe
Finn Moe was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.He was born in Bergen.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Oslo in 1950, and was re-elected on four occasions. He had previously served in the position of deputy representative during the term 1945–1949.-References:...
, and also worked as a commentator in the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.
World War II
During World War II, Ording was exiled together with Nygaardsvold's Cabinet. He escaped to the UK on the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
cruiser Devonshire
HMS Devonshire (39)
HMS Devonshire was a County-class heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was part of the London subgroup of the County class, and saw service in the Second World War.-Early career:...
, along with King Haakon, Crown Prince Olav and the Norwegian Government in June 1940. In London he worked as a consultant for Minister of Foreign Affairs Trygve Lie
Trygve Lie
Trygve Halvdan Lie was a Norwegian politician, labour leader, government official and author. He served as Norwegian Foreign minister during the critical years of the Norwegian government in exile in London from 1940 to 1945. From 1946 to 1952 he was the first Secretary-General of the United...
. He became known to the occupied Norwegian
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...
people for his news commentaries, broadcast from London through BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
. His impact as an exiled commentator was only comparable to that of Toralf Øksnevad; historian Hans Fredrik Dahl notes that "judging by contemporary sources
Jacob Vidnes
Jacob Laurentius Vidnes was a Norwegian trade unionist, newspaper editor and politician for the Labour Party.He was born in Vanylven. In 1900 he was a co-founder of Kristiania socialdemokratiske Ungdomslag, for which he served as the first chairman. In 1909 he founded the trade union Norges...
.
Post war life and career
After the war Ording continued as foreign affairs advisor under Halvard LangeHalvard Lange
Halvard Manthey Lange was a Norwegian diplomat, politician and statesman.He became a member of the Norwegian Labour Party in 1927. Two years later, in 1929, he earned a Master of Arts degree...
, although he declined Lange's offer to be appointed as State Secretary
State Secretary (Norway)
In Norway, a State Secretary is a partisan political position within the executive branch of government. Contrary to the position Secretary of State in many other countries, the Norwegian State Secretary does not head his or her Ministry, rather, they are second in rank to a Minister...
in both 1949 and 1953. He actively supported Norway's signing of the North Atlantic Treaty
North Atlantic Treaty
The North Atlantic Treaty is the treaty that brought NATO into existence, signed in Washington, D.C. on 4 April 1949. The original twelve nations that signed it and thus became the founding members of NATO were:...
in 1949, a controversial issue. Not long after, Norway established its first development aid
Development aid
Development aid or development cooperation is aid given by governments and other agencies to support the economic, environmental, social and political development of developing countries.It is distinguished...
project, in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, about which Ording wrote that as military and defence costs rose, the public had to be "given [...] something positive".
From 1947 to 1959 Ording held the position as professor of international history at the University of Oslo
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...
. He edited the journal Internasjonal Politikk during this period; he had formerly edited a journal of the same name from 1937 to 1940. He is best known for editing the eight-volume work Aschehougs verdenshistorie together with T. Dahl. He also wrote Arbeiderbevegelsen fram til 1887, volume one of Det norske Arbeiderpartis historie released in 1960. He kept diaries from 1942 to 1955, and although it was not his intention to publish these, the wartime writings from 1942 to 1945 were published in 2000. A second volume, covering the period 1945–1949, was published in 2003.
Ording himself died in July 1967 in Oslo. He struggled with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
for many years.
Selected works
- Oslo Bokbinderforenings historie 1832–1932 (1932)
- Norsk centralforening for boktrykkere gjennem 50 år (1932)
- Den første internasjonale. Arbeiderbevegelsens gjennombrudd 1830–1875 (1936)
- 100 kronikker (1946)
- Våre falne 1939-1945Våre falne 1939-1945Våre falne 1939-1945 is a biographical encyclopaedia with short articles on Norwegians who were killed due to war-related reasons during the Second World War. The encyclopaedia was issued in four volumes from 1949 to 1951, by the Norwegian State, and contains around 11,000 biographies...
(volume I-IV; 1949–1951; main editor) - Aschehougs verdenshistorie. Fra antikken til våre dager (8 volumes; 1958; co-editor)
- Arne Ordings dagbøker 19. juni 1942–23. juli 1945 (2000; diaries edited by E. Opsahl)
- Arne Ordings dagbøker 24. juli 1945–4. april 1949 (2003; diaries edited by Gerd Mordt)