Conrad Bonnevie-Svendsen
Encyclopedia
Conrad Bonnevie-Svendsen (11 April 1898 – 12 June 1983) was a Norwegian
priest and government minister. His father was Conrad Svendsen, Norway's first priest for the deaf. Conrad the son worked at his father's school for deaf at Nordstrand
while studying theology at the university, and eventually took over his father's leadership of the school. During the German occupation of Norway in World War II
, he helped organise the resistance
, and had to flee to Sweden
towards the end of the war.
After the war, Einar Gerhardsen
formed an interim coalition government lasting from 25 June till 5 November. Bonnevie-Svendsen was appointed consultative Minister of Education and Church Affairs, representing Hjemmefronten (the Norwegian resistance movement
). He later helped found the organisation now known as Norwegian Church Aid
. He became vice president of Rotary International
in 1949, and in 1952 he was made honorary doctor at the University of Kiel
.
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...
priest and government minister. His father was Conrad Svendsen, Norway's first priest for the deaf. Conrad the son worked at his father's school for deaf at Nordstrand
Nordstrand, Norway
Nordstrand is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway.The borough is located in the southern part of the city and is the second most populated district of Oslo with over 40,000 inhabitants...
while studying theology at the university, and eventually took over his father's leadership of the school. During the German occupation of Norway in 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 helped organise the resistance
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:...
, and had to flee to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
towards the end of the war.
After the war, Einar Gerhardsen
Einar Gerhardsen
was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party of Norway. He was Prime Minister for three periods, 1945–1951, 1955–1963 and 1963–1965. With 17 years in office, he is the longest serving Prime Minister in Norway since the introduction of parliamentarism...
formed an interim coalition government lasting from 25 June till 5 November. Bonnevie-Svendsen was appointed consultative Minister of Education and Church Affairs, representing Hjemmefronten (the Norwegian 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:...
). He later helped found the organisation now known as Norwegian Church Aid
Norwegian Church Aid
Norwegian Church Aid , "Kirkens Nødhjelp" in Norwegian, is an independent humanitarian and ecumenical organisation with headquarters in Oslo, Norway. The organisation also has offices in 65 countries worldwide and receives funding from the Norwegian Protestant church, their institutions and...
. He became vice president of Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
in 1949, and in 1952 he was made honorary doctor at the University of Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
.