Kaare Filseth
Encyclopedia
Kaare Krabbe Filseth was a Norwegian newspaper editor who was killed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
.
He was born in Lillehammer
. His father Johan Filseth (1862–1927) hailed from Romedal
and his mother Laura Krabbe (1879–1969) from Copenhagen
, Denmark
. After taking his examen artium
he was hired as sub-editor for the newspaper Gudbrandsdølen
in 1920. His father was a former editor-in-chief of that newspaper. Kaare Filseth remained in his position until 1931, except for a year from 1923 to 1924, when he worked as a secretary for the League of Nations
information department in Geneva
. In 1934 in Oslo
he married a woman from Hønefoss
. They had one child. In 1938 Filseth became editor-in-chief of the Hønefoss-based newspaper Ringerikes Blad
.
Filseth's sub-editor in Ringerikes Blad since 1938 was Oskar Hasselknippe
. Hasselknippe was an active resistance
member during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
; it has been said that he did "more secret work than newspaper work". In 1943, the same year he became district commander in Milorg
, Hasselknippe left Ringerikes Blad. Filseth was repeatedly asked by German authorities to reveal information about Hasselknippe, but feigned ignorance and covered for him every time.
One day, resistance members under the leadership of Hasselknippe, but with orders from more highly placed Milorg officers, blew up the command central of the State Police in Ringerike
. Martial law
was declared, and Filseth was taken hostage, selected among the populace of Hønefoss. Hostages during the occupation were taken as retaliation of resistance acts. Hostages did not necessarily have any connection to the matter at hand, but were mostly family, friends or townspeople of the suspected perpetrators. Filseth was shot in the staircase of his own home. He was buried in Hønefoss.
His sister Tove Filseth (1905–1994) was a journalist. She was married to Silesian Jewish writer Max Tau
from May 1944 to his death in 1976 and physician Haakon Natvig from 1988. Another sister Aase Filseth was married to Carl Ferdinand Gjerdrum
, who was executed during the war. His brother Tyge Filseth
was a marketer.
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...
.
He was born in Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
. His father Johan Filseth (1862–1927) hailed from Romedal
Romedal
Romedal is a former municipality in Hedmark county, NorwayRomedal was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was merged with Stange January 1, 1964.-History:...
and his mother Laura Krabbe (1879–1969) from 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...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. After taking his examen artium
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...
he was hired as sub-editor for the newspaper Gudbrandsdølen
Gudbrandsdølen
Gudbrandsdølen was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Lillehammer in Oppland county.Gudbrandsdølen was started on 1 January 1894, after editor-in-chief Johan Filseth had been jettisoned from another newspaper Framgang. After his death in 1927, Jul Sundsvik and Johan's son Kaare Filseth took over....
in 1920. His father was a former editor-in-chief of that newspaper. Kaare Filseth remained in his position until 1931, except for a year from 1923 to 1924, when he worked as a secretary for 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...
information department in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. In 1934 in Oslo
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...
he married a woman from Hønefoss
Hønefoss
Hønefoss is a city in Buskerud county, Norway, and the center of the municipality of Ringerike.In 1852, Hønefoss received town status and was separated from Norderhov. Hønefoss celebrated its 150th year of township in 2002...
. They had one child. In 1938 Filseth became editor-in-chief of the Hønefoss-based newspaper Ringerikes Blad
Ringerikes Blad
Ringerikes Blad is a local newspaper published in Hønefoss, Norway. It covers Ringerike, Hole and Jevnaker. It was established in 1845.It has a circulation of 12684, of whom 12227 are subscribers....
.
Filseth's sub-editor in Ringerikes Blad since 1938 was Oskar Hasselknippe
Oskar Hasselknippe
Oskar Hasselknippe was a Norwegian newspaper editor. He is known for his work in the Norwegian resistance movement and as editor of Verdens Gang during its swift ascent among Norwegian newspapers....
. Hasselknippe was an active resistance
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
member during the occupation of Norway 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...
; it has been said that he did "more secret work than newspaper work". In 1943, the same year he became district commander in Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
, Hasselknippe left Ringerikes Blad. Filseth was repeatedly asked by German authorities to reveal information about Hasselknippe, but feigned ignorance and covered for him every time.
One day, resistance members under the leadership of Hasselknippe, but with orders from more highly placed Milorg officers, blew up the command central of the State Police in Ringerike
Ringerike
oskar er kjempe kulRingerike is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Ringerike...
. Martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
was declared, and Filseth was taken hostage, selected among the populace of Hønefoss. Hostages during the occupation were taken as retaliation of resistance acts. Hostages did not necessarily have any connection to the matter at hand, but were mostly family, friends or townspeople of the suspected perpetrators. Filseth was shot in the staircase of his own home. He was buried in Hønefoss.
His sister Tove Filseth (1905–1994) was a journalist. She was married to Silesian Jewish writer Max Tau
Max Tau
Max Tau was a German-Norwegian writer, editor, and publisher noted for his contribution to promoting literary exchange between Germany and Norway, especially in the context of reconciliation after World War II.-Biography:...
from May 1944 to his death in 1976 and physician Haakon Natvig from 1988. Another sister Aase Filseth was married to Carl Ferdinand Gjerdrum
Carl Ferdinand Gjerdrum (barrister)
Carl Ferdinand Gjerdrum was a Norwegian jurist and resistance member.He was born in Kristiania as a son of Albert Gjerdrum and Olivia Kloumann. He was a grandson of Carl Ferdinand Gjerdrum, grandnephew of Jørgen and Otto Gjerdrum and great-grandson of Ole Gjerdrum...
, who was executed during the war. His brother Tyge Filseth
Tyge Filseth
Tyge Krabbe Filseth was a Norwegian marketing agent, known for co-founding two research institutions related to advertising....
was a marketer.