Gunnar Haarstad
Encyclopedia
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.
as the son of police sergeant Jørgen Haarstad and Agnes Azora Bordoe. One of his hobbies was sports shooting. He competed at the national competition several times, winning his junior class three years in a row. In his first senior year he placed fourth. He was also present at the 1937 ISSF World Shooting Championships
in Helsinki
, where he participated in a shooting competition between the Scandinavian capitals. Among his school friends from Secondary School was Tore Gjelsvik
, who took private shooting lessons from him early in 1940. After finishing
his secondary education at the Oslo Cathedral School in 1936, he studied law at the University of Oslo
, and graduated as cand.jur. in 1941. His first job was as a junior solicitor in Halden
. From 1942 he worked at the police in Oslo. He married Inger Tøger-Lie in 1942.
in April 1940 Haarstad participated in the Norwegian Campaign
. Later he took part in various resistance activities, including working for the clandestine intelligence organization XU
. He was arrested by the Germans 11 June 1944 and held at Møllergata 19
until 14 February 1945, when he was incarcerated at the Grini concentration camp until end of the war.
. From 1948 he became second-in-command under leader Asbjørn Bryhn
at the Norwegian Police Surveillance Agency . From 1958 to 1967 he was Chief of Police of Sør-Varanger
. When Bryhn had to leave POT in 1967, Haarstad returned to the Police Surveillance Agency, as the next leader, and led the service until he retired in 1982. After his retirement he published the book I hemmelig tjeneste. Etterretning og overvåkning i krig og fred in 1988. He died in Bærum
in 1992.
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 for fifteen years.
Early life and career
Haarstad was born in NittedalNittedal
Nittedal is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Rotnes....
as the son of police sergeant Jørgen Haarstad and Agnes Azora Bordoe. One of his hobbies was sports shooting. He competed at the national competition several times, winning his junior class three years in a row. In his first senior year he placed fourth. He was also present at the 1937 ISSF World Shooting Championships
ISSF World Shooting Championships
The ISSF World Shooting Championships are governed by the International Shooting Sport Federation. World Shooting Championships began in 1897, after the successful 1896 Summer Olympics, and although the ISSF was not founded until 1907, these early competitions are still seen by the organization as...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, where he participated in a shooting competition between the Scandinavian capitals. Among his school friends from Secondary School was Tore Gjelsvik
Tore Gjelsvik
Tore Gjelsvik was a Norwegian geologist and polar explorer. He headed the Norwegian Polar Institute from 1960 to 1983, and played an important role in the Norwegian resistance during World War II.-Personal life:...
, who took private shooting lessons from him early in 1940. After finishing
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...
his secondary education at the Oslo Cathedral School in 1936, he studied law at the University of Oslo
University 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...
, and graduated as cand.jur. in 1941. His first job was as a junior solicitor in Halden
Halden
is a both a town and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The seat of the municipality, Halden is a border town located at the Tista river delta on the Iddefjord, the southernmost border crossing between Norway and Sweden.-History:...
. From 1942 he worked at the police in Oslo. He married Inger Tøger-Lie in 1942.
Resistance work
During the German invasion of NorwayOperation 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 Haarstad participated 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...
. Later he took part in various resistance activities, including working for the clandestine intelligence organization XU
XU
XU was a clandestine intelligence organisation working on behalf of Allied powers in occupied Norway during World War II...
. He was arrested by the Germans 11 June 1944 and held at Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
until 14 February 1945, when he was incarcerated at the Grini concentration camp until end of the war.
Post-war career
Haarstad participated as a police investigator during 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...
. From 1948 he became second-in-command under leader Asbjørn Bryhn
Asbjørn Bryhn
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.-Personal life:...
at the Norwegian Police Surveillance Agency . From 1958 to 1967 he was Chief of Police of Sør-Varanger
Sør-Varanger
Sør-Varanger is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kirkenes. Sør-Varanger was separated from the municipality of Vadsø on 1 July 1858.-Name:...
. When Bryhn had to leave POT in 1967, Haarstad returned to the Police Surveillance Agency, as the next leader, and led the service until he retired in 1982. After his retirement he published the book I hemmelig tjeneste. Etterretning og overvåkning i krig og fred in 1988. He died in Bærum
Bærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
in 1992.