Lise Børsum
Encyclopedia
Milly Elise "Lise" Børsum (18 September 1908 – 29 August 1985) 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.
, as the daughter of pianist and composer Eyvind Alnæs
and his wife Emilie Thorne. She was married to physician Ragnar Børsum from 1930 to 1949, and was mother of actress Bente Børsum
.
prisoner at the Ravensbrück concentration camp
, a camp specifically for women. She stayed in Ravensbrück until 8 April 1945, when the surviving Scandinavian prisoners were transported home with the White Buses
organized by the Swedish Red Cross.
for many years.
In 2006 actress Bente Børsum
performed a monologue based on the life of her mother Lise, at Cafeteatret in Oslo.
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...
, 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 ....
, and known for her writings and organizing work after the war.
Personal life
Lise Alnæs was born in KristianiaOslo
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 daughter of pianist and composer Eyvind Alnæs
Eyvind Alnæs
Eyvind Alnæs was a Norwegian composer, pianist, organist and choir director.Alnæs studied music first in Oslo with Iver Holter, then in Leipzig with Carl Reinecke and, after the première of his first symphony in 1896, in Berlin with Julius Ruthardt.From 1895 to 1907 Alnæs served as an organist in...
and his wife Emilie Thorne. She was married to physician Ragnar Børsum from 1930 to 1949, and was mother of actress Bente Børsum
Bente Børsum
Bente Børsum is a Norwegian actress, probably best known for her roles in the movies "Mors hus" and "Reisen til julestjernen" . Børsum had her debut in the movie "Jakten" in 1959, and worked at Oslo Nye Teater from 1979...
.
World War II
During World War II, Børsum was active in warning and helping Jews that risked deportation to German camps, and came to be member of a network which helped people escape to Sweden. She was arrested in April 1943, and incarcerated at the Grini concentration camp for two months. 28 June 1943 she was sent to Germany, with SS Monte Rosa from Oslo to Århus, and further with railway transport to Hamburg. After a short stay at the Hütten Gefängnis in Hamburg she ended up as Nacht und NebelNacht 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...
prisoner at 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 ....
, a camp specifically for women. She stayed in Ravensbrück until 8 April 1945, when the surviving Scandinavian prisoners were transported home with the White Buses
White Buses
"White Buses" refers to a program undertaken by the Swedish Red Cross and the Danish government in the spring of 1945 to rescue concentration camp inmates in areas under Nazi control and transport them to Sweden, a neutral country...
organized by the Swedish Red Cross.
Post war career
After World War II Børsum wrote books on her experiences as a prisoner and on the characteristics of concentration camps. Her Fange i Ravensbrück ("Prisoner in Ravensbrück") was published in 1946, and Speilbilder in 1947. In 1951 she published a book on Soviet concentration camps, Fjerndomstol Moskva. Fra dagens Berlin og Sovjets fangeleirer. Børsum was co-founder of the organization Nasjonalhjelpen for krigens ofre in 1947, and headed the organization from 1966 to 1978. She was a member of the Commission Internationale Contre le Régime Concentrationnaire from its establishment in 1950. She was also a freelance writer for the newspaper DagbladetDagbladet
Dagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
for many years.
In 2006 actress Bente Børsum
Bente Børsum
Bente Børsum is a Norwegian actress, probably best known for her roles in the movies "Mors hus" and "Reisen til julestjernen" . Børsum had her debut in the movie "Jakten" in 1959, and worked at Oslo Nye Teater from 1979...
performed a monologue based on the life of her mother Lise, at Cafeteatret in Oslo.