Karl Evang
Encyclopedia
Karl Evang was a Norwegian physician and civil servant.
He was born in Kristiania
as a son of assisting secretary Jens Ingolf Evang (1873–1914) and Anna Beate Wexelsen (1875–1954). He was a brother of Vilhelm Evang
, and a relative of Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen
, Per Kvist and Gunnar Jahn
. He met physician Gerda S. Landmark Moe (1905–1985) in 1926, and married her in 1929.
He enrolled in medicine studies at the Royal Frederick University
in 1924, and became a member of the revolutionary group Mot Dag
in 1926. Mot Dag was affiliated with the Communist Party of Norway
at the time, but soon became independent. Evang was also active in the Norwegian Support Committee for Spain and Clarté
. He was elected chairman of the Norwegian Students' Society in 1931, while serving a prison sentence for conscientious objection
. He joined the Norwegian Labour Party
after Mot Dag' s demise in 1933.
In the 1930s he became a noted public debater. He issued the 1934 book Rasepolitikk og reaksjon, and wrote with the purpose of medicinal and hygienic enlightenment in the publications Populært Tidsskrift for Seksuell Oplysning (which he edited) and Arbeidermagasinet
. He was also a popular radio speaker and lecturer. In 1938 he was appointed to the vacant position as director of the Norwegian Directorate for Health
. When World War II
came to Norway
, Evang fled for England together with the cabinet Nygaardsvold
. He spent the war years organizing a health administration for Norwegians abroad, spending time in the USA as well. After the war he co-founded the World Health Organization
; he was also board chairman for some time. His position was strengthened after the war, and Evang signalized technocratic ambitions. Similarly, the health conditions in Norway improved in the post-war years. Poliomyelitis
was eradicated and tuberculosis
diminished. However, several welfare programs were implemented long after Evang's initiatives. He also had political ambitions (Minister of Social Affairs, probably also Prime Minister
) that were never fulfilled.
In 1972 he had to retire due to the age limit of 70. He spent one year as a guest professor at the University of Tromsø
. He also became more radical politically. He had been an opponent of Norwegian participation in the Korean War and NATO, co-founded the newspaper Orientering
and opposed Norwegian EEC membership in 1972. In 1973 he joined the Socialist Electoral League
. He released the book Helse og Samfunn, an overview of the contemporary health sector. Other releases include selected articles from Populært Tidsskrift for Seksuell Oplysning, which were released in book form in 1947 and 1951.
He suffered from a stroke
, and subsequent aphasia
from 1976 to his death in January 1981 in Oslo.
He was born 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...
as a son of assisting secretary Jens Ingolf Evang (1873–1914) and Anna Beate Wexelsen (1875–1954). He was a brother of Vilhelm Evang
Vilhelm Evang
Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen Evang was a Norwegian military officer. He headed the military intelligence in Norway for almost twenty years, from 1946 to 1965.-Personal life:...
, and a relative of Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen
Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen
Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen was a Norwegian bishop and politician for the Liberal Party. He served five terms in the Norwegian Parliament, was Minister of Education and Church Affairs from 1891 to 1892 and from 1898 to 1903 and bishop of Nidaros from 1905 to 1909.Wexelsen graduated as cand.theol....
, Per Kvist and Gunnar Jahn
Gunnar Jahn
Gunnar Jahn was a Norwegian jurist, economist, statistician, politician for the Liberal Party and resistance member...
. He met physician Gerda S. Landmark Moe (1905–1985) in 1926, and married her in 1929.
He enrolled in medicine studies 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 1924, and became a member of the revolutionary group Mot Dag
Mot Dag
Mot Dag was a Norwegian periodical and a communist organization with the same name.It was established in 1921 under the initiative of Erling Falk, partly with origins in the debate forum in the Social Democratic student government in Oslo ; partly from a Falk-led study circle which from 1919...
in 1926. Mot Dag was affiliated with the Communist Party of Norway
Communist Party of Norway
The Communist Party of Norway is a political party in Norway without parliamentary representation. It was formed in 1923, following a split in the Norwegian Labour Party. The party played an important role in the resistance to German occupation during the Second World War, and experienced a brief...
at the time, but soon became independent. Evang was also active in the Norwegian Support Committee for Spain and Clarté
Clarté (Norway)
Clarté was a socialist and pacifist organisation in Norway.It was founded in 1925, and had its roots in a French-based international organization of the same name...
. He was elected chairman of the Norwegian Students' Society in 1931, while serving a prison sentence for conscientious objection
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
. He joined the Norwegian Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
after Mot Dag
In the 1930s he became a noted public debater. He issued the 1934 book Rasepolitikk og reaksjon, and wrote with the purpose of medicinal and hygienic enlightenment in the publications Populært Tidsskrift for Seksuell Oplysning (which he edited) and Arbeidermagasinet
Arbeidermagasinet
Arbeidermagasinet was a Norwegian weekly magazine established in 1927. It changed its name to Magasinet For Alle in 1953, and ceased publication in 1970. The magazine is especially noted for its literary quality and its promotion of the short story.-Editors:Arbeidermagasinet's first editor from...
. He was also a popular radio speaker and lecturer. In 1938 he was appointed to the vacant position as director of the Norwegian Directorate for Health
Norwegian Board of Health Supervision
The Norwegian Board of Health Supervision is a national government institution under the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services. The name was altered from Norwegian Board of Health on 1 January 2007....
. When 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...
came to Norway
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...
, Evang fled for England together with the cabinet Nygaardsvold
Cabinet Nygaardsvold
Nygaardsvold's Cabinet was appointed on 20 March 1935, the second Labour cabinet in Norway. It closed the brought to an end the non-socialist, minority Governments that had been dominating politics since the introduction of the parliamentary system in 1884, and replaced it with stable, Labour...
. He spent the war years organizing a health administration for Norwegians abroad, spending time in the USA as well. After the war he co-founded the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
; he was also board chairman for some time. His position was strengthened after the war, and Evang signalized technocratic ambitions. Similarly, the health conditions in Norway improved in the post-war years. Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route...
was eradicated and tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
diminished. However, several welfare programs were implemented long after Evang's initiatives. He also had political ambitions (Minister of Social Affairs, probably also Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
) that were never fulfilled.
In 1972 he had to retire due to the age limit of 70. He spent one year as a guest professor at the University of Tromsø
University of Tromsø
The University of Tromsø is the world's northernmost university. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of eight universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway...
. He also became more radical politically. He had been an opponent of Norwegian participation in the Korean War and NATO, co-founded the newspaper Orientering
Orientering
Orientering was a Norwegian newspaper which was initially published in December 1952 as an alternative voice. It was absorbed into Ny Tid in 1975....
and opposed Norwegian EEC membership in 1972. In 1973 he joined the Socialist Electoral League
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
. He released the book Helse og Samfunn, an overview of the contemporary health sector. Other releases include selected articles from Populært Tidsskrift for Seksuell Oplysning, which were released in book form in 1947 and 1951.
He suffered from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, and subsequent aphasia
Aphasia
Aphasia is an impairment of language ability. This class of language disorder ranges from having difficulty remembering words to being completely unable to speak, read, or write....
from 1976 to his death in January 1981 in Oslo.