Asbjørn Bryhn
Encyclopedia
Asbjørn Johan Bryhn was a Norwegian police officer, known for his resistance work during World War II
, and later head of the Norwegian Police Surveillance Agency.
as the son of teacher Johannes Bryhn and teacher Inga Marie Helgesen. He married teacher Karen Sørensen in 1938. He died in Oslo in 1990.
from 1925, graduating in 1930. While being a student he was a member of the socialist
and pacifist
organization Clarté
. From 1930 he worked in Svolvær
for two years, and later with the police in Oslo
. After the German occupation of Norway, Bryhn served as assistant of Chief of Police of Oslo
Kristian Welhaven
. When Welhaven was removed from his position, Bryhn and others started undercover intelligence work within the police corps. He was dismissed from the police in December 1941. From 1942 he became a leader of the police group of the undercover resistance group 2A, and cooperated closely with Asbjørn Sunde
. He fled to Sweden, where he built up surveillance and security service at Norwegian legation in Stockholm
. His main task was to control refugees and couriers from Norway, and he eventually became a controversial person at the legation.
He was assistant secretary at the Ministry of Justice in the Norwegian exile government in London from 1943 to 1945. When the war ended in 1945 he became leader of the department which was responsible for the investigation of German criminals of war
in Norway. From 1945 to 1957 he was a police inspector in Oslo. From 1957 to 1966 he was head of the Police Surveillance Agency . After a controversy with leader of the Norwegian Intelligence Service
Vilhelm Evang
, when Bryhn arrested Evang's secretary and charged her for espionage for the Soviet Union
, both Bryhn and Evang had to leave their positions. After Bryhn had left the service, Gunnar Haarstad
became the next head of POT. Bryhn was Chief of Police of Bergen from 1967 to 1976.
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...
, and later head of the Norwegian Police Surveillance Agency.
Personal life
Bryhn was born in DrammenDrammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
as the son of teacher Johannes Bryhn and teacher Inga Marie Helgesen. He married teacher Karen Sørensen in 1938. He died in Oslo in 1990.
Career
Bryhn studied law at the Royal Frederick UniversityUniversity 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...
from 1925, graduating in 1930. While being a student he was a member of the socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
and pacifist
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
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...
. From 1930 he worked in Svolvær
Svolvær
-Communications:Parts of the town is built on small islands connected by bridges. There is a regional airport near the town, Svolvær Airport, Helle, and Svolvær is a port of call for Hurtigruten. There is a ferry connection Svolvær to Skutvik in Hamarøy, and express boat connections to Bodø...
for two years, and later with the police in Oslo
Oslo
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...
. After the German occupation of Norway, Bryhn served as assistant of Chief of Police of Oslo
Oslo
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...
Kristian Welhaven
Kristian Welhaven
Kristian Welhaven was a Norwegian police officer. He was chief of police of Oslo for 27 years, from 1927 to 1954. He was a leading force in establishing an organized Norwegian intelligence service before World War II, and in re-establishing it after the war...
. When Welhaven was removed from his position, Bryhn and others started undercover intelligence work within the police corps. He was dismissed from the police in December 1941. From 1942 he became a leader of the police group of the undercover resistance group 2A, and cooperated closely with Asbjørn Sunde
Asbjørn Sunde
Asbjørn Edvin Sunde was a Norwegian sailor, communist, a saboteur against the Nazi occupation of Norway during the Second World War, and a convicted spy for the Soviet Union. During the war, from 1941 to 1944, Sunde's group - the Osvald Group - carried out approximately 200 acts of sabotage and...
. He fled to Sweden, where he built up surveillance and security service at Norwegian legation in Stockholm
Norwegian legation in Stockholm
The Norwegian Legation in Stockholm played a significant role during the Second World War. Until 9 April 1940 the legation consisted of four persons, and at the end of the war about 1,100 persons were connected to the legation. Refugee cases were among the legation's most central tasks...
. His main task was to control refugees and couriers from Norway, and he eventually became a controversial person at the legation.
He was assistant secretary at the Ministry of Justice in the Norwegian exile government in London from 1943 to 1945. When the war ended in 1945 he became leader of the department which was responsible for the investigation of German criminals of war
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
in Norway. From 1945 to 1957 he was a police inspector in Oslo. From 1957 to 1966 he was head of the Police Surveillance Agency . After a controversy with leader of the Norwegian Intelligence Service
Norwegian Intelligence Service
Etterretningstjenesten or the Norwegian Intelligence Service is a Norwegian military intelligence agency under the Chief of Defence and the Ministry of Defence....
Vilhelm Evang
Vilhelm Evang
Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen Evang was a Norwegian military officer. He headed the military intelligence in Norway for almost twenty years, from 1946 to 1965.-Personal life:...
, when Bryhn arrested Evang's secretary and charged her for espionage for the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, both Bryhn and Evang had to leave their positions. After Bryhn had left the service, Gunnar Haarstad
Gunnar Haarstad
Gunnar Haarstad was a Norwegian jurist and police officer, a resistance member during World War II, and later head of the Norwegian Police Surveillance Agency for fifteen years.-Early life and career:...
became the next head of POT. Bryhn was Chief of Police of Bergen from 1967 to 1976.