Olav Larssen
Encyclopedia
Olav Larssen was a Norwegian newspaper editor.
He was a typographer by education. He edited the Labour Party
newspapers Demokraten
in Hamar
from 1920 to 1927, and Hamar Arbeiderblad
from 1927 to 1935. In 1935 he was hired as a journalist in Arbeiderbladet
. In 1940, when Norway became invaded
and occupied by Germany
, Larssen was the acting news editor of Arbeiderbladet before it was stopped by the Germans. He co-edited the illegal Bulletinen
from 1940 to 1942, but for this he was imprisoned. He was held at Møllergata 19
from January to April 1942, then at Grini until February 1943, and thereafter in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp
until the war ended. From this period he wrote the section "Blant landsmenn i Sachsenhausen" ('Among fellow countrymen in Sachsenhausen') in the memoir book 3 fra Sachsenhausen (together with August Lange
, Carl Johan Frederik Jakhelln
and W. Winiarski).
Following the liberation of Norway in 1945, Larssen again became the news editor of Arbeiderbladet. He was editor-in-chief from 1949 to 1963.
He was the father of Randi Bratteli
, and father-in-law of Prime Minister Trygve Bratteli
.
He was a typographer by education. He edited the 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....
newspapers Demokraten
Arbeideren (Hamar)
Arbeideren was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Hamar, Hedmark county. It was started in 1909 as the press organ of the Labour Party in Hedemarken and its adjoining regions, and was called Demokraten until 1923...
in Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
from 1920 to 1927, and Hamar Arbeiderblad
Hamar Arbeiderblad
Hamar Arbeiderblad is a local newspaper published in Hamar, Norway. It is part of the media company Hamar Media. The newspaper was first published on 30 March 1925, in 1,200 copies. It was the local branches of the Labour Party that took the initiative to start up the publication. It is no longer a...
from 1927 to 1935. In 1935 he was hired as a journalist in Arbeiderbladet
Dagsavisen
Dagsavisen is a daily newspaper published in Oslo, Norway. The former party organ of the Norwegian Labour Party, the ties loosened over time from 1975 to 1999, and it is now fully independent...
. In 1940, when Norway became 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 occupied by 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...
, Larssen was the acting news editor of Arbeiderbladet before it was stopped by the Germans. He co-edited the illegal Bulletinen
Bulletinen
Bulletinen was an underground newspaper in Norway during World War II. Its first issue came in November 1940, and the publication continued until the end of the war. The name Bulletinen was adapted in November 1944...
from 1940 to 1942, but for this he was imprisoned. He was held at Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
from January to April 1942, then at Grini until February 1943, and thereafter in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen or Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg was a Nazi concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany, used primarily for political prisoners from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in May, 1945. After World War II, when Oranienburg was in the Soviet Occupation Zone, the structure was used as an NKVD...
until the war ended. From this period he wrote the section "Blant landsmenn i Sachsenhausen" ('Among fellow countrymen in Sachsenhausen') in the memoir book 3 fra Sachsenhausen (together with August Lange
August Lange
Christian August Manthey Lange was a Norwegian educator, non-fiction writer and cultural attaché.-Personal life:...
, Carl Johan Frederik Jakhelln
Carl Johan Frederik Jakhelln
Carl Johan Frederik Jakhelln was a Norwegian diplomat and writer.He was born in Andenne, Belgium, as the son of jurist and diplomatist Johan Fredrik Winter Jakhelln. The family lived in five countries when Jakhelln was young, and he took his first higher education at Sorø Academy before moving to...
and W. Winiarski).
Following the liberation of Norway in 1945, Larssen again became the news editor of Arbeiderbladet. He was editor-in-chief from 1949 to 1963.
He was the father of Randi Bratteli
Randi Bratteli
Randi Bratteli was a Norwegian journalist.She was born in Hamar as the daughter of Olav Larssen. She married Trygve Bratteli, who served as Prime Minister of Norway from 1971 to 1972 and 1973 to 1976. She published several books.-References:...
, and father-in-law of Prime Minister Trygve Bratteli
Trygve Bratteli
was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party and Prime Minister of Norway in 1971–1972 and 1973–1976.-Early life and career:...
.
Further reading
- Larssen, Olav (1969). Sti gjennom ulendt terreng. Læretid, partistrid, ny vekst. Oslo: Aschehoug