Conrad Wilhelm Eger
Encyclopedia
Conrad Wilhelm Eger, often referred to as C. W. Eger (1880–1966) was a Norwegian businessperson. An associate of Sam Eyde
, Eger was the chief executive officer of Elkem
for decades, and later played a role in building the Norwegian iron industry.
. From 1907 to 1908, Eger headed Eyde's engineer office in Kristiania
. Between 1908 and 1910, he oversaw the construction of the power plant at Lienfoss in Telemark. In 1911 Eger took over as CEO of the company Arendals Fossekompani
. The next year, he became CEO of the company Elektrokemisk, later renamed Elkem
. In the same year, he was also named as chair
of the silicon carbide
production company Arendal Smelteverk.
as a part of World War II. The ruling cabinet Nygaardsvold
and the Royal Family
fled the country, and Fascist politician Vidkun Quisling
took advantage of the situation to perform a coup d'etat
. However, this was highly unpopular among the Norwegian people, and the newly arrived German occupants did not support such a government either. The Supreme Court of Norway
, with support by directors in business life and civil administration, were given the green light by German envoy Curt Bräuer
to establish the so-called Administrative Council. On 3 May 1940, the Administrative Council established the Committee for Industry and Trade (Nemnda for industri og omsetning), to maintain industrial production in Norway throughout the hardships of the war. Conrad Wilhelm Eger had a central role in this committee, together with Carl Bøyesen, Einar Schjelderup, Elias Volan
and chairman Einar Sunde. Eger was also a member of a committee which reviewed the potential for building more aluminium
plants.
The German occupants eventually tightened their control over Norway, spearheaded by Reichskommissar
Josef Terboven
. The Administrative Council was abolished on 25 September 1940, and the Committee for Industry and Trade was abolished in February 1941.
Eger was also a central figure in Hjemmefrontens Ledelse.
in Mo i Rana
in 1946, having been appointed as chairman of the national Ironworks Commission in August 1945 by the first cabinet Gerhardsen
. He stepped down as the CEO of Elkem in 1950.
The Committee for Industry and Trade was scrutinized after the war, as a part of the legal purge in Norway after World War II
.
Sam Eyde
Samuel Eyde was a Norwegian engineer and industrialist, the founder of Norsk Hydro and Elkem.-Biography:Sam Eyde was the son of a shipowner, and studied engineering in Berlin where he graduated in 1891. He started his career in Hamburg, working with the railways where he planned new lines, bridges...
, Eger was the chief executive officer of Elkem
Elkem
Elkem is one of Norway's largest industrial companies, and one of the world's leading suppliers of metals and materials. The company's main products are aluminium, energy and silicon as well as specialised products such as ferrosilicon to foundries, microsilica and carbon...
for decades, and later played a role in building the Norwegian iron industry.
Business career
Eger became affiliated with industrialist Sam EydeSam Eyde
Samuel Eyde was a Norwegian engineer and industrialist, the founder of Norsk Hydro and Elkem.-Biography:Sam Eyde was the son of a shipowner, and studied engineering in Berlin where he graduated in 1891. He started his career in Hamburg, working with the railways where he planned new lines, bridges...
. From 1907 to 1908, Eger headed Eyde's engineer office in 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...
. Between 1908 and 1910, he oversaw the construction of the power plant at Lienfoss in Telemark. In 1911 Eger took over as CEO of the company Arendals Fossekompani
Arendals Fossekompani
Arendals Fossekompani ASA is a Norwegian company located in Arendal. Its principal business is production and sale of electric energy from its 3 hydroelectric powerplants. It is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The company is also the controlling owner with a 60% ownership in Markedskraft....
. The next year, he became CEO of the company Elektrokemisk, later renamed Elkem
Elkem
Elkem is one of Norway's largest industrial companies, and one of the world's leading suppliers of metals and materials. The company's main products are aluminium, energy and silicon as well as specialised products such as ferrosilicon to foundries, microsilica and carbon...
. In the same year, he was also named as chair
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the silicon carbide
Silicon carbide
Silicon carbide , also known as carborundum, is a compound of silicon and carbon with chemical formula SiC. It occurs in nature as the extremely rare mineral moissanite. Silicon carbide powder has been mass-produced since 1893 for use as an abrasive...
production company Arendal Smelteverk.
World War II
On 9 April 1940, Norway had been 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...
as a part of World War II. The ruling cabinet Nygaardsvold
Cabinet Nygaardsvold
Nygaardsvold's Cabinet was appointed on 20 March 1935, the second Labour cabinet in Norway. It closed the brought to an end the non-socialist, minority Governments that had been dominating politics since the introduction of the parliamentary system in 1884, and replaced it with stable, Labour...
and the Royal Family
Norwegian Royal Family
The Royal Family of Norway is the family of King Harald V of Norway. In Norway there is a distinction between the Royal House and the Royal Family. The Royal House includes only the King and his spouse, the Queen, the King's eldest son with spouse, being the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and the...
fled the country, and Fascist politician Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
took advantage of the situation to perform a coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
. However, this was highly unpopular among the Norwegian people, and the newly arrived German occupants did not support such a government either. The Supreme Court of Norway
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
, with support by directors in business life and civil administration, were given the green light by German envoy Curt Bräuer
Curt Bräuer
Curt Bräuer was a German career diplomat.Born in Breslau, in what is modern-day Poland, Bräuer entered service in the German foreign ministry in 1920. At the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Bräuer was posted at the German embassy in Paris. Later that year, Bräuer was named as envoy to...
to establish the so-called Administrative Council. On 3 May 1940, the Administrative Council established the Committee for Industry and Trade (Nemnda for industri og omsetning), to maintain industrial production in Norway throughout the hardships of the war. Conrad Wilhelm Eger had a central role in this committee, together with Carl Bøyesen, Einar Schjelderup, Elias Volan
Elias Volan
Elias Karelius Johansen Volan was a Norwegian trade unionist.He was born in Inderøy as a son of crofter Johan Berent Johannessen Volvollan and Lise Eliasdatter Kjærbo. He attended Sund Folk High School from 1903 to 1904, but spent the rest of his youth as a worker. In 1908 he became chairman of...
and chairman Einar Sunde. Eger was also a member of a committee which reviewed the potential for building more aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
plants.
The German occupants eventually tightened their control over Norway, spearheaded by 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....
Josef Terboven
Josef Terboven
Josef Antonius Heinrich Terboven was a Nazi leader, best known as the Reichskommissar during the German occupation of Norway.-Early life:...
. The Administrative Council was abolished on 25 September 1940, and the Committee for Industry and Trade was abolished in February 1941.
Eger was also a central figure in Hjemmefrontens Ledelse.
Post-World War II
Eger was instrumental in the establishment of Norsk JernverkNorsk Jernverk
Norsk Jernverk is a former Norwegian industrial company which was founded in 1946 in Mo i Rana, fully owned by the State of Norway. The production started in 1955. In 1985 it acquired the steel company Christiania Spigerverk, which was later again sold out as a separate company...
in Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana is a town in the municipality of Rana, Nordland, Norway, located just south of the Arctic Circle and in the region Helgeland. The town is called "Mo i Rana" to distinquish it from other places named Mo - most notably the town of Mosjøen, also in Helgeland - though locally the town is...
in 1946, having been appointed as chairman of the national Ironworks Commission in August 1945 by the first cabinet Gerhardsen
First cabinet Gerhardsen
Gerhardsen's First Cabinet, often called the Unification Cabinet , was a Norwegian government appointed to serve under Prime Minister Einar Gerhardsen between 25 July and 5 November 1945, in the aftermath of the Second World War....
. He stepped down as the CEO of Elkem in 1950.
The Committee for Industry and Trade was scrutinized after the war, as a part of the legal purge in Norway after World War II
Legal 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...
.