Jens Bull
Encyclopedia
Jens Steenberg Bull was a Norwegian jurist and diplomatist. He played his most important role during World War II
, when he represented his country in Stockholm, Sweden
.
as the son of Ole Bornemann Bull
(1842–1916) and Kaja Constance Steenberg (1855–1939). He was the eleventh of fifteen children in his family, and his younger brother Johan Bull was a notable illustrator. His older half-brother was Fredrik Rosing Bull
. From November 1917, Jens Bull was married to Aslaug Malling.
his secondary school in 1905, and graduated from the University of Kristiania
with the cand.jur. degree in 1909. He was hired in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in 1911, worked with international law
and was a delegate to the League of Nations
from 1921 to 1924. He was a counsellor at the Norwegian legation
s in Berlin
from 1925 to 1931, in The Hague
from 1931 to 1933, and in Stockholm
from 1934 to 1938. He was appointed deputy under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1938, and was promoted to permanent under-secretary of state in 1939. In 1938 he also published a genealogical
work on his own lineage.
Following 9 April 1940, when Norway was invaded
and subsequently occupied by Nazi Germany
, Bull took part in various negotiations, being dispatched to non-occupied Stockholm
in Sweden. He was ambassador
in Stockholm from 1940 to 1945, taking over as chargé d'affaires
after the death of Johan Wollebæk
in October 1940. He was recognized as minister by the Swedish authorities from 1942. He played an important role at the Norwegian legation in Stockholm
during the World War II
, when there was a colony of more than 50,000 Norwegian refugees in Sweden.
He was made ambassador in The Hague in March 1945, and continued after the war's end, to 1951. During this period he also helped establish the Council of Europe
. He was then the Norwegian ambassador in Copenhagen
from 1951 until his death in 1956.
Bull was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1948. He received the Grand Cross of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
and the Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau
.
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...
, when he represented his country in Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.
Personal life
He was born in ChristianiaOslo
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...
as the son of Ole Bornemann Bull
Ole Bornemann Bull (physician)
Ole Bornemann Bull was a Norwegian ophthalmologist.He was born in Arendal as the son of priest August Theodor Bull and Theodora Regina Madsen . He enrolled as a student in 1859 and graduated with the cand.med. degree in 1869. He spent the years 1872 to 1876 in the Minneapolis...
(1842–1916) and Kaja Constance Steenberg (1855–1939). He was the eleventh of fifteen children in his family, and his younger brother Johan Bull was a notable illustrator. His older half-brother was Fredrik Rosing Bull
Fredrik Rosing Bull
Fredrik Rosing Bull was an Information technology pioneer, known for his works on improved punched card machines....
. From November 1917, Jens Bull was married to Aslaug Malling.
Career
He finishedExamen 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 school in 1905, and graduated from the University of Kristiania
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...
with the cand.jur. degree in 1909. He was hired in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Norway...
in 1911, worked with international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and was a delegate to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
from 1921 to 1924. He was a counsellor at the Norwegian legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
s in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
from 1925 to 1931, in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
from 1931 to 1933, and in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
from 1934 to 1938. He was appointed deputy under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1938, and was promoted to permanent under-secretary of state in 1939. In 1938 he also published a genealogical
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
work on his own lineage.
Following 9 April 1940, when Norway was invaded
Operation 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...
and subsequently occupied by Nazi Germany
Occupation 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...
, Bull took part in various negotiations, being dispatched to non-occupied Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
in Sweden. He was ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
in Stockholm from 1940 to 1945, taking over as chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
after the death of Johan Wollebæk
Johan Wollebæk
Johan Herman Wollebæk was a Norwegian jurist and diplomatist. He worked with international law, and is known for his time as leader of the Norwegian legation in Stockholm from 1921 to October 1940, a period which includes the early phase of the World War II.-Personal life:He was born in Lier as...
in October 1940. He was recognized as minister by the Swedish authorities from 1942. He played an important role at the Norwegian legation in Stockholm
Norwegian legation in Stockholm
The Norwegian Legation in Stockholm played a significant role during the Second World War. Until 9 April 1940 the legation consisted of four persons, and at the end of the war about 1,100 persons were connected to the legation. Refugee cases were among the legation's most central tasks...
during the 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...
, when there was a colony of more than 50,000 Norwegian refugees in Sweden.
He was made ambassador in The Hague in March 1945, and continued after the war's end, to 1951. During this period he also helped establish the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
. He was then the Norwegian ambassador in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
from 1951 until his death in 1956.
Bull was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1948. He received the Grand Cross of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
and the Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau
Order of Orange-Nassau
The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
.