Gerda Grepp
Encyclopedia
Gerda J. Helland Grepp was a Norwegian translator and journalist. She was the daughter of former chairman of the Norwegian Labour Party
Kyrre Grepp
and journalist Rachel Grepp
.
as a reporter for the Labour Party newspaper Arbeiderbladet from 1936. She arrived in Barcelona
in October 1936, as the first female reporter from Scandinavia. She travelled to Madrid
, where she experienced bombing attacks on the city. With Ludwig Renn
she drove to the Toledo
front. During her travels she was also accompanied by her friend André Malraux
. While in Spain, Grepp served as an interpreter for other Norwegians.
Both Grepp and the other Norwegian correspondents in Spain, like Nordahl Grieg and Nini Gleditsch
, sympathized with the Republican
cause in the war. Gleditsch and Grepp helped organize a large-scale aid effort for Spain based around the Norwegian labour movement
.
According to professor Rune Ottosen
, Grepp and Birgit Nissen were marked with "sharp pens against the growing fascism".
In January and February 1937 she visited Málaga
, together with Hungarian journalist and reporter for the British daily newspaper News Chronicle
, Arthur Koestler
. During the battle of Málaga
she barely escaped the attacking fascist forces
. Grepp left Málaga on 6 February, while Koestler was still in the city. On 7 February Italian fascist troops
occupied the city. Koestler was arrested, sentenced to death as a spy, and placed in a death cell in Sevilla. However, after considerable international pressure he was released from custody. From May 1937 Grepp spent several weeks in the Basque Country
. She visited the Republican Basque Army
defensive line called the Iron Belt
, and experienced the Battle of Bilbao
. Grepp frequently found herself in dangerous situations while in Spain. During her time in Spain Grepp was suffering from tuberculosis
. Eventually she was compelled by her ill health to leave the war zone and return to Norway.
on 29 August 1940, 33 years old. She was buried in Vestre gravlund
in Oslo. Grepp's work has since been largely forgotten, her fellow journalist Lise Lindbæk
instead being commonly seen as Norway's first female war correspondent.
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....
Kyrre Grepp
Kyrre Grepp
Kyrre Grepp Norwegian politician, leader of the Norwegian Labour Party. Grepp became a Communist by the end of his life and was active in the Comintern.A street is named after Grepp in the Sagene borough of Oslo....
and journalist Rachel Grepp
Rachel Grepp
Rachel Grepp, née Helland was a Norwegian journalist and politician for the Norwegian Labour Party.She was among the founders of Bergens Socialdemokratiske Ungdomslag in 1902. From 1923 to 1945 she was a journalist in Arbeiderbladet, a member of Oslo city council as well as international secretary...
.
Spanish Civil War
Grepp covered the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
as a reporter for the Labour Party newspaper Arbeiderbladet from 1936. She arrived in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
in October 1936, as the first female reporter from Scandinavia. She travelled to Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, where she experienced bombing attacks on the city. With Ludwig Renn
Ludwig Renn
Ludwig Renn was a German writer. His real name was Arnold Friedrich Vieth von Golßenau.Born in Dresden into a Saxon noble family, he fought in World War I on the Western Front. He wrote the book Krieg on his experiences...
she drove to the Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
front. During her travels she was also accompanied by her friend André Malraux
André Malraux
André Malraux DSO was a French adventurer, award-winning author, and statesman. Having traveled extensively in Indochina and China, Malraux was noted especially for his novel entitled La Condition Humaine , which won the Prix Goncourt...
. While in Spain, Grepp served as an interpreter for other Norwegians.
Both Grepp and the other Norwegian correspondents in Spain, like Nordahl Grieg and Nini Gleditsch
Nini Haslund Gleditsch
Nini Haslund Gleditsch was a Norwegian political activist and advocate for peace.-Personal life:Nini was born in Moss as the daughter of deputy education officer Johannes Emmanuel Haslund and Aagot Mathilde Løken. She married fellow Mot Dag activist and geodesist Kristian Gleditsch in 1934...
, sympathized with the Republican
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
cause in the war. Gleditsch and Grepp helped organize a large-scale aid effort for Spain based around the Norwegian labour movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
.
According to professor Rune Ottosen
Rune Ottosen
Rune Ottosen is a Norwegian professor.He graduated in journalism in 1973 at the Norwegian College of Journalism and in Political Science in 1984 at the University of Oslo. He teaches journalism at Oslo University College...
, Grepp and Birgit Nissen were marked with "sharp pens against the growing fascism".
In January and February 1937 she visited Málaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
, together with Hungarian journalist and reporter for the British daily newspaper News Chronicle
News Chronicle
The News Chronicle was a British daily newspaper. It ceased publication on 17 October 1960, being absorbed into the Daily Mail. Its offices were in Bouverie Street, off Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8DP, England.-Daily Chronicle:...
, Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler CBE was a Hungarian author and journalist. Koestler was born in Budapest and, apart from his early school years, was educated in Austria...
. During the battle of Málaga
Battle of Málaga
The Battle of Málaga was the culmination of an offensive in early 1937 by the combined Nationalist and Italian forces to eliminate Republican control of the province of Málaga during the Spanish Civil War...
she barely escaped the attacking fascist forces
Spanish State
Francoist Spain refers to a period of Spanish history between 1936 and 1975 when Spain was under the authoritarian dictatorship of Francisco Franco....
. Grepp left Málaga on 6 February, while Koestler was still in the city. On 7 February Italian fascist troops
Corpo Truppe Volontarie
The Corps of Volunteer Troops was an Italian expeditionary force which was sent to Spain to support General Francisco Franco and the Spanish Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War...
occupied the city. Koestler was arrested, sentenced to death as a spy, and placed in a death cell in Sevilla. However, after considerable international pressure he was released from custody. From May 1937 Grepp spent several weeks in the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
. She visited the Republican Basque Army
Euzko Gudarostea
Euzko Gudarostea was the name of the army commanded by the Basque Government during the Spanish civil war. It was formed by Basque nationalists, socialists and communists under the direction of lendakari José Antonio Aguirre and coordinating with the army of the Second Spanish Republic...
defensive line called the Iron Belt
Iron Belt
The Iron Ring , was a vast, labyrinthine fortification around Bilbao, consisting of bunkers, tunnels, and fortified trenches in several rings, protected by artillery.It was hurriedly built during the Spanish Civil War by the Basque Government....
, and experienced the Battle of Bilbao
Battle of Bilbao
The Battle of Bilbao was part of the War in the North, during the Spanish Civil War where the Nationalist Army captured the city of Bilbao and the remaining parts of the Basque Country still held by the Republic....
. Grepp frequently found herself in dangerous situations while in Spain. During her time in Spain Grepp was suffering from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. Eventually she was compelled by her ill health to leave the war zone and return to Norway.
Death and legacy
Gerda Grepp died of tuberculosis in German-occupied NorwayOccupation 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...
on 29 August 1940, 33 years old. She was buried in Vestre gravlund
Vestre gravlund
Vestre gravlund is a cemetery in the Frogner borough of Oslo, Norway, located next to the Borgen metro station. At , it is the largest cemetery in Norway...
in Oslo. Grepp's work has since been largely forgotten, her fellow journalist Lise Lindbæk
Lise Lindbæk
Lise Lindbæk was a Norwegian freelance journalist and foreign correspondent, and writer of several books. She is commonly regarded as Norway's first female war correspondent.-Personal life:...
instead being commonly seen as Norway's first female war correspondent.