Johan Søhr
Encyclopedia
Johan Olaus Søhr was a Norwegian jurist and police officer. Commonly known as Joh. Søhr.
, as the son of farmer and ship owner Johan Christian Sørensen and Ellen Kathrine Sørensen. He was married to Margit Mosgaard. In 1914 he changed his name from Sørensen to Søhr. He died in Bærum
in 1949.
his secondary education in Kristiania
in 1885. He studied at the Norwegian Military Academy
, and then Law at the University of Kristiania
, graduating as cand.jur. in 1890. His first assignments were in Søndre Bergenhus and in Østerdalen
. He started working for the Kristiania Police in 1896, and as police inspector from 1906 to 1913. He was chief of the criminal department of the Kristiania Police from 1913 to 1925. During World War I
he was responsible for the investigation of several espionage cases
. Among these were the Otto von Rosen
case, which involved confiscation of explosives, bottles with the toxin curare
, and anthrax bacteria
, and the Rautenfels case, when 188 kg of explosives were confiscated at the railway station Oslo Ø.
From 1925 to 1937 Søhr was Chief of Police of Aker
. In 1938 he published the book Spioner og bomber. Fra opdagelsespolitiets arbeide under verdenskrigen, an account of the espionage cases during World War I. He was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1917, and was also Knight of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
. He was decorated Knight of the French Légion d'honneur
, Officer of the Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau
, and received the Order of the British Empire
and the Royal Victorian Order
.
Personal life
Søhr was born in Oterøy, SannidalSannidal
Sannidal is a former municipality which is now located in the municipality of Kragerø in Telemark county, Norway.-History:Sannidal is situated at the end of the Kil fjord. For this reason it was one of the earliest settlements in the area, being an important link between the sea and the land...
, as the son of farmer and ship owner Johan Christian Sørensen and Ellen Kathrine Sørensen. He was married to Margit Mosgaard. In 1914 he changed his name from Sørensen to Søhr. 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 1949.
Career
Søhr 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 education 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...
in 1885. He studied at the Norwegian Military Academy
Norwegian Military Academy
The Norwegian Army Academy was established in 1750. It is the oldest university-level educational institution in Norway, and one of the oldest active military academies in the world. Krigsskolen primarily educates officers for the Norwegian Army. There are separate academies for the Royal...
, and then Law at 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...
, graduating as cand.jur. in 1890. His first assignments were in Søndre Bergenhus and in Østerdalen
Østerdalen
Østerdalen is a valley and traditional district in Hedmark County, in Eastern Norway. It consisting of the municipalities Rendalen, Alvdal, Folldal,Tynset, Tolga and Os in the north, Elverum, Stor-Elvdal, Engerdal, Trysil and Åmot in the south.-Geography:...
. He started working for the Kristiania Police in 1896, and as police inspector from 1906 to 1913. He was chief of the criminal department of the Kristiania Police from 1913 to 1925. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was responsible for the investigation of several espionage cases
Espionage in Norway during World War I
Norway was a neutral country during World War I, but the country was subject to extensive espionage from both sides in the conflict.-Background:Two proactive Acts had been sanctioned by the Norwegian Parliament in the early phase of the conflict. These were Lov om forsvarshemmeligheter in 1914, and...
. Among these were the Otto von Rosen
Otto von Rosen
Otto von Rosen was a Swedish military officer and sport shooter.He was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He participated at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London...
case, which involved confiscation of explosives, bottles with the toxin curare
Curare
Curare is a common name for various arrow poisons originating from South America. The three main types of curare are:* tubocurare...
, and anthrax bacteria
Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus anthracis is the pathogen of the Anthrax acute disease. It is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, with a width of 1-1.2µm and a length of 3-5µm. It can be grown in an ordinary nutrient medium under aerobic or anaerobic conditions.It is one of few bacteria known to...
, and the Rautenfels case, when 188 kg of explosives were confiscated at the railway station Oslo Ø.
From 1925 to 1937 Søhr was Chief of Police of Aker
Aker, Norway
Aker is a former municipality in Akershus, which lends its name to a municipality and a county in Norway. The name originally belonged to a farm which was located near the current Old Aker Church...
. In 1938 he published the book Spioner og bomber. Fra opdagelsespolitiets arbeide under verdenskrigen, an account of the espionage cases during World War I. He was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1917, and was also Knight 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....
. He was decorated Knight of the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, Officer of 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...
, and received the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
and the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
.