Charles Hoff
Encyclopedia
Charles Hoff was a Norwegian
athlete, coach, sports journalist and sports administrator.
As an active athlete he competed in pole vault
, long jump
, triple jump
, sprints
and middle distance events. He set four world records
in the pole vault
during his career, became Norwegian champion ten times in different events, and competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics
. In 1926 he was excluded from the sport for professionalism.
After his time as an athlete he took up a career as a sports journalist. During World War II
he was a sports leader under the Nazi rule
, leading the Norwegian Confederation of Sports
from 1942 to 1944.
as the son of mechanic Karl Ludvig Hoff and his wife Olga Kristine Karlsen. After taking the examen artium
in 1921, he moved to Kristiania
to attend the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
. He also briefly attended the Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts
as well as a painting school in Paris
.
in the pole vault
on 22 July 1922 in Copenhagen
with 4.12 metres. He increased this record to 4.21 metres exactly one year later in the same city, then to 4.23 metres on 13 August 1925 in Oslo, and finally on 27 September 1925 when he jumped 4.25 metres at a meet in Turku
. The record stood until May 1927, when American Sabin Carr
jumped 4.27 metres. Hoff was the first Norwegian athlete to establish a world record, the only to do so before World War II, and the only Norwegian ever to do so in a jumping event. After World War II, world records have been set by several Norwegian throwers and runners: Sverre Strandli
, Audun Boysen
, Egil Danielsen
, Terje Pedersen
, Grete Waitz
, Ingrid Kristiansen
and Trine Hattestad
.
Internationally he competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics
, in both 400
and 800 metres
. He reached the semi-final in the 400 metres and finished eighth in the 800 metres final. He did not participate in the pole vault
due to an injured ankle. He was the Norwegian champion in the 200 metres from 1923 and 1924, in the 400 metres from 1924, in the pole vault from 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1933, and in the triple jump from 1922 and 1923. Representing the sports club Torshaug IF, Hoff won the King's Cup twice. In total he held fourteen Norwegian records in 200, 400 and 800 metres, long jump and pole vault.
In the winter of 1926, Hoff toured the United States, staging show competitions as a part of a varieté
performance group. Among other things he beat Olympic gold medalist Harold Osborn
in a heptathlon
competition. He also set several unofficial world indoor records. Following this tour, however, he was considered to be a professional sportsperson. This affected his eligibility to compete in the sport of athletics as a whole, since the sport was governed under amateurist
rules at the time. Hoff explained that the paid performances were necessary to earn a living, as the Amateur Athletic Union
had withheld some money that had been promised to Hoff in advance, but to no avail. Thus, when jumping a new world record of 4.32 metres in Hønefoss
on 27 September 1931, the record was not ratified by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF).
, Axel Aubert
. The marriage was dissolved after a few years, but Hoff married for the second time, this time to Aase Synnøve Bing Nilsen. Hoff was also a brother-in-law of Per Mørch Hansson.
From 1927 to 1936 he was the editor of the sports magazine Sportsmanden
. He made his mark on Sportsmanden by emphasizing sensationalist news, front page headlines and the inclusion of pictures. The overall layout, which Hoff in retrospect described as "revolutionary", was inspired by his time in the United States. As a writer he was not uncontroversial, though, and after he was found guilty of libel, he was pressured by the magazine owner to resign. He found a new job as sports editor of Oslo Illustrerte from 1936 to 1940, and also wrote for the Nasjonal Samling party newspaper Fritt Folk
in the late 1930s. He was also a coach in the Norwegian Athletics Association
.
in April 1940, many Norwegian athletes volunteered to fight in the Norwegian Campaign
. Hoff then made his mark as he called on the fighters to lay down their weapons and return to the sports field. For this he was sacked by the Norwegian Athletics Association. However, Germany was able to establish an occupation of Norway
, and soon moved to tighten their grip on Norwegian society. At this point Hoff contacted the Reichskommissar
iat to propose a Nazi reorganization of sports life in Norway. In September 1940 he was given the position as deputy under-secretary of state in the new Ministry of Labour and Sports
, which was headed by Axel Heiberg Stang
. He also joined the Nasjonal Samling at that time.
However, the Nazi interference with sports resulted in a nationwide boycott of official athletics meetings in Norway from the end of 1940. When the reorganization of sports life was implemented in November 1940, the Germans, knowing that Hoff was unpopular, kept him out of the spotlight. Egil Reichborn-Kjennerud
was installed as leader of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports
, while Hoff used the Hird as an arena for his work. In the spring of 1942, it became clear that Reichborn-Kjennerud had failed to deal with the still-ongoing sports boycott, and Hoff became the new leader of the Confederation of Sports. He had a number of grand plans; sports in Norway should be state-led, and the aim was to produce a broad range of athletes rather than a few stars. In addition to the physical dimension, the "spiritual" dimension should be emphasized. He originally received generous funding, but from 1943 Germany lost interest in his projects, and in 1944 the projects were largely disestablished. Hoff protested this decision, and was removed from his position as a result.
in 1947 he was sentenced to nine years of forced labour. A number of his ideas were actually realized some years later, including a national school of sport sciences and a state-owned gambling company. Norsk Tipping
was established already in 1948, and the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
in 1968.
After serving his sentence, Hoff worked as an editor in the publishing house Hauge & Co. In 1952 he published the crime novel Døden i Bygdø Allé, under the pseudonym Texas Bang. He had formerly published the novel Systemet in 1925 as well as a retelling of his experiences in the United States, titled Fra New York til Hollywood. Mine oplevelser i Amerika, in 1927. Hoff died in 1985 in Oslo
.
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...
athlete, coach, sports journalist and sports administrator.
As an active athlete he competed in pole vault
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
, long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
, triple jump
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
, sprints
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
and middle distance events. He set four world records
World records in athletics
World records in the sport of athletics are ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Athletics records comprise the best performances in the sports of track and field, road running and racewalking....
in the pole vault
World record progression pole vault men
The first world record in the men's pole vault was recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1912.As of June 21, 2009, 71 world records have been ratified by the IAAF in the event.- Record Progression :- See also :...
during his career, became Norwegian champion ten times in different events, and competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
. In 1926 he was excluded from the sport for professionalism.
After his time as an athlete he took up a career as a sports journalist. During World War II
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...
he was a sports leader under the Nazi rule
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...
, leading the Norwegian Confederation of Sports
Norwegian 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...
from 1942 to 1944.
Early life
He was born in FredrikstadFredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
as the son of mechanic Karl Ludvig Hoff and his wife Olga Kristine Karlsen. After taking the 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 1921, he moved to Kristiania
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...
to attend the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
The Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry was established in 1818.In 1996 the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts .-Noted alumni:-External links:*...
. He also briefly attended the Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts
Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts
The Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts is a Norwegian university offering studies in the areas of specialization painting, photography / video / film, digital art, sound art, sculpture, installation, performance art, and art theory.-History:...
as well as a painting school in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Athletics career
Hoff set his first world recordWorld records in athletics
World records in the sport of athletics are ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Athletics records comprise the best performances in the sports of track and field, road running and racewalking....
in the pole vault
World record progression pole vault men
The first world record in the men's pole vault was recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1912.As of June 21, 2009, 71 world records have been ratified by the IAAF in the event.- Record Progression :- See also :...
on 22 July 1922 in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
with 4.12 metres. He increased this record to 4.21 metres exactly one year later in the same city, then to 4.23 metres on 13 August 1925 in Oslo, and finally on 27 September 1925 when he jumped 4.25 metres at a meet in Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
. The record stood until May 1927, when American Sabin Carr
Sabin Carr
Sabin William Carr was an American athlete who competed in the men's pole vault. He competed in Athletics at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam and won gold....
jumped 4.27 metres. Hoff was the first Norwegian athlete to establish a world record, the only to do so before World War II, and the only Norwegian ever to do so in a jumping event. After World War II, world records have been set by several Norwegian throwers and runners: Sverre Strandli
Sverre Strandli
Sverre Strandli was a Norwegian hammer thrower, who won the gold medal at the European Championships in 1950 and the silver medal in 1954....
, Audun Boysen
Audun Boysen
Audun Boysen was a Norwegian middle distance runner. Born in Bjarkøy and raised in Rissa, he first represented Rissa I.L...
, Egil Danielsen
Egil Danielsen
Egil Danielsen is a former Norwegian javelin thrower. He represented Hamar IL.Daielsen won the gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics with a throw of 85.71 metres. This was a new world record as well as a career best for Danielsen...
, Terje Pedersen
Terje Pedersen
Terje Pedersen is a former Norwegian javelin thrower. He represented SK Vidar.At the 1960 Summer Olympics he progressed from the qualifying round, but did not start in the final. At the 1964 Summer Olympics he did not qualify for the final. He became Norwegian champion in the years 1960 and...
, Grete Waitz
Grete Waitz
Grete Waitz was a Norwegian marathon runner and former world record holder. Waitz won nine New York City Marathons between 1978 and 1988, more than any other runner in history...
, Ingrid Kristiansen
Ingrid Kristiansen
Ingrid Kristiansen née Christensen , was one of the best female long distance runners in the second half of the 1980s. She finished in fourth place in the first women's Olympic marathon race, at the 1984 Summer Olympics.-Career:Kristiansen started her career quite unremarkably, running 2:30 - 2:40...
and Trine Hattestad
Trine Hattestad
Trine Hattestad is a former Norwegian javelin thrower. She was born on 18 April 1966 in Lørenskog, Norway....
.
Internationally he competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
, in both 400
Athletics at the 1924 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metres
The men's 400 metres event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1924 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Thursday, July 10, 1924 and on Friday, July 11, 1924.As for all other races the track was 500 metres in circumference....
and 800 metres
Athletics at the 1924 Summer Olympics - Men's 800 metres
The men's 800 metres event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1924 Summer Olympics. The competition was held from Sunday, July 6, 1924 to Tuesday, July 8, 1924.As for all other races the track was 500 metres in circumference....
. He reached the semi-final in the 400 metres and finished eighth in the 800 metres final. He did not participate in the pole vault
Athletics at the 1924 Summer Olympics - Men's pole vault
The men's pole vault event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1924 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Wednesday, July 9, 1924 on Thursday, July 10, 1924.Twenty pole vaulters from 13 nations competed.-Records:...
due to an injured ankle. He was the Norwegian champion in the 200 metres from 1923 and 1924, in the 400 metres from 1924, in the pole vault from 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1933, and in the triple jump from 1922 and 1923. Representing the sports club Torshaug IF, Hoff won the King's Cup twice. In total he held fourteen Norwegian records in 200, 400 and 800 metres, long jump and pole vault.
In the winter of 1926, Hoff toured the United States, staging show competitions as a part of a varieté
Varieté
Variety is a 1925 silent drama film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont based on the novel Der Eid des Stephan Huller by . Jannings portrays "Boss Huller," an ex-trapeze artist who runs a seedy carnival with his wife and child...
performance group. Among other things he beat Olympic gold medalist Harold Osborn
Harold Osborn
Harold Marion Osborn was a U.S. track athlete. He won a gold medal in Olympic decathlon and high jump in 1924....
in a heptathlon
Heptathlon
A heptathlon is a track and field athletics combined events contest made up of seven events. The name derives from the Greek hepta and athlon . A competitor in a heptathlon is referred to as a heptathlete.-Women's Heptathlon:...
competition. He also set several unofficial world indoor records. Following this tour, however, he was considered to be a professional sportsperson. This affected his eligibility to compete in the sport of athletics as a whole, since the sport was governed under amateurist
Amateur sports
Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. Sporting amateurism was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century, especially among the upper classes, but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports...
rules at the time. Hoff explained that the paid performances were necessary to earn a living, as the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
had withheld some money that had been promised to Hoff in advance, but to no avail. Thus, when jumping a new world record of 4.32 metres in Hønefoss
Hønefoss
Hønefoss is a city in Buskerud county, Norway, and the center of the municipality of Ringerike.In 1852, Hønefoss received town status and was separated from Norderhov. Hønefoss celebrated its 150th year of township in 2002...
on 27 September 1931, the record was not ratified by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF).
Non-active career
In December 1925 he married Heddy Aubert, a daughter of the Director General of Norsk HydroNorsk Hydro
Norsk Hydro ASA is a Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, headquartered in Oslo. Hydro is the fourth largest integrated aluminium company worldwide. It has operations in some 40 countries around the world and is active on all continents. The Norwegian state holds a 43.8 percent...
, Axel Aubert
Axel Aubert
Axel Aubert was a Norwegian businessman.He was born in Kristiania. He took his engineer's education in that city in 1893, as well as a doctorate in chemistry Basel in 1895. He became the managing director of Engene Dynamitfabrik and Norsk Sprængstofindustri. In 1926 he was hired as...
. The marriage was dissolved after a few years, but Hoff married for the second time, this time to Aase Synnøve Bing Nilsen. Hoff was also a brother-in-law of Per Mørch Hansson.
From 1927 to 1936 he was the editor of the sports magazine Sportsmanden
Sportsmanden
Sportsmanden was a Norwegian sports newspaper.It was established in 1913 by Magnus Brænden, absorbed the competitor Idrætsliv in 1933, and went defunct in 1965. Editors include Magnus Brænden and Charles Hoff....
. He made his mark on Sportsmanden by emphasizing sensationalist news, front page headlines and the inclusion of pictures. The overall layout, which Hoff in retrospect described as "revolutionary", was inspired by his time in the United States. As a writer he was not uncontroversial, though, and after he was found guilty of libel, he was pressured by the magazine owner to resign. He found a new job as sports editor of Oslo Illustrerte from 1936 to 1940, and also wrote for the Nasjonal Samling party newspaper Fritt Folk
Fritt Folk
Fritt Folk was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Oslo. It was the official organ of the Fascist party Nasjonal Samling, and came to prominence during the Second World War.-History:...
in the late 1930s. He was also a coach in the Norwegian Athletics Association
Norwegian Athletics Association
The Norwegian Athletics Association is the national governing body for the sport of athletics in Norway, including track and field, road running, cross country running and racewalking...
.
World War II
When Norway was invaded by GermanyOperation 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...
in April 1940, many Norwegian athletes volunteered to fight in the Norwegian Campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
. Hoff then made his mark as he called on the fighters to lay down their weapons and return to the sports field. For this he was sacked by the Norwegian Athletics Association. However, Germany was able to establish an occupation of 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 soon moved to tighten their grip on Norwegian society. At this point Hoff contacted the Reichskommissar
Reichskommissar
Reichskommissar , in German history, was an official gubernatorial title used for various public offices during the period of the German Empire and the Nazi Third Reich....
iat to propose a Nazi reorganization of sports life in Norway. In September 1940 he was given the position as deputy under-secretary of state in the new Ministry of Labour and Sports
Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Sports
The Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Sports was a government ministry during the German occupation of Norway.The ministry was set up on 25 September 1940 by Reichskommissar Josef Terboven as a consequence of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany during World War II. The ministry was headed by...
, which was headed by Axel Heiberg Stang
Axel Heiberg Stang
Axel Heiberg Stang was a Norwegian who was appointed councillor of state in the Nasjonal Samling government of Vidkun Quisling , and minister ....
. He also joined the Nasjonal Samling at that time.
However, the Nazi interference with sports resulted in a nationwide boycott of official athletics meetings in Norway from the end of 1940. When the reorganization of sports life was implemented in November 1940, the Germans, knowing that Hoff was unpopular, kept him out of the spotlight. Egil Reichborn-Kjennerud
Egil Reichborn-Kjennerud
Egil Reichborn-Kjennerud was a Norwegian judge, cyclist and sports administrator. He was a Norwegian champion in cycling. During World War II he was a sports leader under the Nazi rule, leading the Norwegian Confederation of Sports from 1940 to 1942.He administrated the court which sentenced...
was installed as leader of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports
Norwegian 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...
, while Hoff used the Hird as an arena for his work. In the spring of 1942, it became clear that Reichborn-Kjennerud had failed to deal with the still-ongoing sports boycott, and Hoff became the new leader of the Confederation of Sports. He had a number of grand plans; sports in Norway should be state-led, and the aim was to produce a broad range of athletes rather than a few stars. In addition to the physical dimension, the "spiritual" dimension should be emphasized. He originally received generous funding, but from 1943 Germany lost interest in his projects, and in 1944 the projects were largely disestablished. Hoff protested this decision, and was removed from his position as a result.
Post-war life
As a part of the legal purge in Norway after World War IILegal purge in Norway after World War II
When the occupation of Norway ended in May 1945, several thousand Norwegians and foreign citizens were tried and convicted for various acts that the occupying powers sanctioned...
in 1947 he was sentenced to nine years of forced labour. A number of his ideas were actually realized some years later, including a national school of sport sciences and a state-owned gambling company. Norsk Tipping
Norsk Tipping
Norsk Tipping AS is the national lottery in Norway, located in Hamar. The company offers a wide range of lottery, sports and instant games in the Norwegian market. Norsk Tipping is owned by the Norwegian government and administered by Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs...
was established already in 1948, and the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences is a public university located at Sognsvann in Oslo, Norway. It has the national responsibility for education and research related within sport sciences. It provides education at Bachelor, Master and Doctorate level....
in 1968.
After serving his sentence, Hoff worked as an editor in the publishing house Hauge & Co. In 1952 he published the crime novel Døden i Bygdø Allé, under the pseudonym Texas Bang. He had formerly published the novel Systemet in 1925 as well as a retelling of his experiences in the United States, titled Fra New York til Hollywood. Mine oplevelser i Amerika, in 1927. Hoff died in 1985 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...
.