Henriette Bie Lorentzen
Encyclopedia
Henriette Bie Lorentzen born Anna Henriette Wegner Haagaas, was a Norwegian humanist, peace activist, feminist, editor, one of the founders of the Nansen Academy
, resistance member during World War II
and survivor from the Ravensbrück concentration camp
.
She earned the degree Magister
in history of literature
at the Royal Frederick University
in 1937, and along with Andreas Wyller and Kristian Schjelderup, she founded the Nansen Academy the following year, where she was a lecturer and also in charge of most practical matters until 1940. She was also assistant editor (1938-1940) of the journal Fritt Ord, of which Schjelderup was editor.
During the Second World War, she became involved, along with her husband, in the Norwegian resistance movement. In 1943 she was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo
, even though she was pregnant, while her husband escaped to Sweden
. She soon after gave birth to a daughter, who was taken from her. Thanks to an Austrian military doctor, the baby was given to her father and sister, instead of facing the prospect of being sent to Germany. As a Nacht und Nebel
political prisoner, she was sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp
where she remained until the end of the war. After returning from the concentration camp, she believed women should have a central role in rebuilding the country, and founded the journal Kvinnen og tiden together with Kirsten Hansteen
, the first Norwegian female member of cabinet, of which she served as editor and publisher for ten years. She was subsequently also active in Amnesty Norway
, the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights and the anti-nuclear organisation Bestemødre mot atomvåpen
in the 1980s and 1990s.
She was the daughter of a noted private-school owner and the great-granddaughter of industrialist Benjamin Wegner
, as well as the first cousin of publisher Henrik Groth
and noted freemason Bernhard Paus
. She married into the Lorentzen family, a ship-owner's family from Holmestrand
, a branch of which is known for its relation to the royal family of Norway. Her branch used Bie Lorentzen as a double surname.
She received the Medal of St. Hallvard
in 1995, for her educational work on women and peace.
Nansen Academy
The Nansen Academy the Norwegian Humanistic Academy, is a folk high school in Lillehammer, Norway.It was named after Fritjof Nansen, and established in 1938 by Kristian Vilhelm Koren Schjelderup, Jr. and Anders Platou Wyller...
, resistance member 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...
and survivor from the Ravensbrück concentration camp
Ravensbrück concentration camp
Ravensbrück was a notorious women's concentration camp during World War II, located in northern Germany, 90 km north of Berlin at a site near the village of Ravensbrück ....
.
She earned the degree Magister
Magister (degree)
Magister is an academic degree used in various systems of higher education.-Argentina:...
in history of literature
History of literature
The history of literature is the historical development of writings in prose or poetry which attempts to provide entertainment, enlightenment, or instruction to the reader/hearer/observer, as well as the development of the literary techniques used in the communication of these pieces. Not all...
at the Royal Frederick University
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...
in 1937, and along with Andreas Wyller and Kristian Schjelderup, she founded the Nansen Academy the following year, where she was a lecturer and also in charge of most practical matters until 1940. She was also assistant editor (1938-1940) of the journal Fritt Ord, of which Schjelderup was editor.
During the Second World War, she became involved, along with her husband, in the Norwegian resistance movement. In 1943 she was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
, even though she was pregnant, while her husband escaped 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....
. She soon after gave birth to a daughter, who was taken from her. Thanks to an Austrian military doctor, the baby was given to her father and sister, instead of facing the prospect of being sent to Germany. As a Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel was a directive of Adolf Hitler on 7 December 1941 signed and implemented by Armed Forces High Command Chief Wilhelm Keitel, resulting in the kidnapping and forced disappearance of many political activists and resistance 'helpers' throughout Nazi Germany's occupied...
political prisoner, she was sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp
Ravensbrück concentration camp
Ravensbrück was a notorious women's concentration camp during World War II, located in northern Germany, 90 km north of Berlin at a site near the village of Ravensbrück ....
where she remained until the end of the war. After returning from the concentration camp, she believed women should have a central role in rebuilding the country, and founded the journal Kvinnen og tiden together with Kirsten Hansteen
Kirsten Hansteen
Kirsten Hansteen was the Norwegian appointed Minister of Social Affairs in 1945, and the first ever female member of cabinet in Norway. She represented the Communist Party of Norway. Her husband Viggo Hansteen was executed by the German occupation forces in 1941. She edited the underground...
, the first Norwegian female member of cabinet, of which she served as editor and publisher for ten years. She was subsequently also active in Amnesty Norway
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights and the anti-nuclear organisation Bestemødre mot atomvåpen
Bestemødre mot atomvåpen
Bestemødre mot atomvåpen was a Norwegian anti-nuclear organisation, founded in Oslo in 1983. Each Wednesday during the school term, they demonstrated against nuclear arms at the square Stortings plass in Oslo...
in the 1980s and 1990s.
She was the daughter of a noted private-school owner and the great-granddaughter of industrialist Benjamin Wegner
Jacob Benjamin Wegner
Jacob Benjamin Wegner was a Prussian-born, Norwegian investor, industrialist, diplomat and landowner.-Biography:Jacob Benjamin Wegner was born in Königsberg in East Prussia. He was from a shipping family...
, as well as the first cousin of publisher Henrik Groth
Henrik Groth
Henrik Groth was a Norwegian publisher and essayist.The son of a banker, he was hired in the publishing house J.W. Cappelens Forlag in 1927, and continued to climb the career ladder there....
and noted freemason Bernhard Paus
Bernhard Paus
Bernhard Cathrinus Paus was a Norwegian orthopedic surgeon and the Grand Master of the Norwegian Order of Freemasons from 1969 to 1990.-Biography:...
. She married into the Lorentzen family, a ship-owner's family from Holmestrand
Holmestrand
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Holmestrad. The city was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . The neighboring rural municipality of Botne was merged into the municipality of Holmestrand on 1 January...
, a branch of which is known for its relation to the royal family of Norway. Her branch used Bie Lorentzen as a double surname.
She received the Medal of St. Hallvard
Medal of St. Hallvard
The Medal of St. Hallvard is the highest award of the city of Oslo. It is named after the city's patron, Saint Hallvard . The medal has been awarded since 1956.-Recipients:The following people have received the medal:...
in 1995, for her educational work on women and peace.
Literature
- Lise BørsumLise BørsumMilly Elise "Lise" Børsum was a Norwegian resistance member during World War II, survivor from the Ravensbrück concentration camp, and known for her writings and organizing work after the war.-Personal life:...
: Fange i Ravensbrück, 1946 - Kristian OttosenKristian OttosenKristian Ottosen was a Norwegian non-fiction writer and public servant.While still a student, he was also active in the Norwegian resistance movement during World War II and was imprisoned as a Nacht und Nebel inmate...
: Kvinneleiren, 1991