Ole Øisang
Encyclopedia
Ole Thorsen Øisang was a Norwegian newspaper editor and politician for the Labour Party
.
as the son of Theodor Thorsen Kjørvik (1866–1952) og Aase Marie Øisang (1869–1898). He was originally named Ole Kjørvik, but changed his last name to Øisang some time before 1910. As he lost his mother at the age of five, he lived in Søndeled
with his uncle and aunt. He graduated from middle school in Kristiansand
in 1910 and started his journalistic career as a subeditor in Sørlandets Socialdemokrat in 1912.
newspaper Arbeidets Rett
. In Røros he met Ingebjørg Guldahl
, whom he married in October 1917. He then became the editor-in-chief of Vestfold Arbeiderblad
in 1918 and of Sørlandet
in 1920. He also published pamphlets and books, including Klassesamfundets historie. Den sociale utvikling indtil industrialismens gjennembrud (1922) and Marxismens grunntrekk (1926). He has been elected into the national board of the Norwegian Labour Party
in 1918, and served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from the Market towns of Vest-Agder and Rogaland counties
during the term 1925–1927. During the Labour Party turbulence in the 1920s, which saw the Social Democratic Labour Party
and the Communist Party break away, Øisang tried to build bridges between the rival fractions. When this attempt failed, he remained with Labour. He was rewarded with the job as editor-in-chief of Arbeider-Avisa
. He was known for lambasting the Communist Party in his editorial
s, especially the rival newspaper Ny Tid
which was edited by Jørgen Vogt
. In 1928 Øisang was elected to serve as a member of Trondheim
city council.
In the 1930s, Øisang was a key figure in developing the political platform for the Labour Party, having taken a reformist
stance in the 1920s. He also continued in local politics, chairing the city school board from 1938. Øisang stepped down as editor of Arbeider-Avisa in 1940 as he in 1939 had been elected as party secretary of the Labour Party; his successor was Harald Langhelle
. However, things were hampered by the Nazi German invasion
and subsequent occupation of Norway
. First, Øisang represented the Labour Party in the negotiations about administration of Norway after the invasion, as the cabinet Nygaardsvold
had fled the country. However, the negotiations were not fruitful, and in September 1940 all political parties except for Nasjonal Samling were banned. The newspaper Arbeider-Avisa was shut down in 1941, and Harald Langhelle was executed following the martial law in Trondheim in 1942
. Øisang, who had spent the occupation period writing books on local history, was arrested on 9 October 1944, was incarcerated at Vollan and then sent to Berg concentration camp
a few weeks later. He was released in April 1945, one month before the liberation of Norway
.
After the occupation, Øisang returned to local politics and the now-vacant seat as editor of Arbeider-Avisa. He also resumed his work on the school board. The position as party secretary was taken over for a short period by Trygve Bratteli
, and then by Haakon Lie
. Øisang continued publishing books; his last book was on the history of Trøndelag Teater
, released 1962. His wife Ingebjørg died in 1956, and in February 1962 Øisang married again, this time to Kristine Bauck, who was the widow of Stig Bauck (1893–1951) and daughter of well-known newspaper editor Knut Olai Thornæs
. Øisang left both the editor position and the school board in 1958, and continued working in Arbeider-Avisa from 1958 to his death in 1963.
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....
.
Early life and career
He was born in RisørRisør
is a city and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The city belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet. It is a popular tourist place. The surrounding area includes many small lakes and hills, and is known for its beautiful coastline as well....
as the son of Theodor Thorsen Kjørvik (1866–1952) og Aase Marie Øisang (1869–1898). He was originally named Ole Kjørvik, but changed his last name to Øisang some time before 1910. As he lost his mother at the age of five, he lived in Søndeled
Søndeled
Søndeled is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is currently part of the municipality of Risør in the Sørlandet region. The municipality had an area of upon its dissolution. The highway Riksvei 418 passes through Søndeled. Stamsø is a village in Søndeled...
with his uncle and aunt. He graduated from middle school in Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
in 1910 and started his journalistic career as a subeditor in Sørlandets Socialdemokrat in 1912.
Political and professional career
In 1915 he was hired as the editor-in-chief of RørosRøros
is a town and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Gauldalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Røros. Other villages include Brekken, Glåmos, Feragen, Galåa, and Hitterdalen....
newspaper Arbeidets Rett
Arbeidets Rett
Arbeidets Rett is a local newspaper published in Røros, Norway. It was first published as Mauren on 16 January 1907, but has been published under the current name since 4 January 1912. The newspaper is owned by A-Pressen, and had a circulation of 8441 in 2007....
. In Røros he met Ingebjørg Guldahl
Ingebjørg Øisang
Ingebjørg Øisang, née Guldahl was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.She was born in Røros. In 1917 she married Ole Øisang, who had come to Røros as editor-in-chief of the local newspaper Arbeidets Rett....
, whom he married in October 1917. He then became the editor-in-chief of Vestfold Arbeiderblad
Vestfold Arbeiderblad
Vestfold Arbeiderblad was a daily newspaper published in Tønsberg, Norway.It was established in 1909 under the name Vestfold Arbeiderblad. Politically it belonged to the Norwegian Labour Party, but in 1924 it was usurped by the newly established Communist Party...
in 1918 and of Sørlandet
Sørlandet (newspaper)
Sørlandet was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Kristiansand in Vest-Agder county.Sørlandets Social-Democrat was started on 5 January 1907, after a trisal issue on 21 December 1906, as a Labour Party newspaper. It was weekly from the start, but daily from 1909. The name was changed to Sørlandet...
in 1920. He also published pamphlets and books, including Klassesamfundets historie. Den sociale utvikling indtil industrialismens gjennembrud (1922) and Marxismens grunntrekk (1926). He has been elected into the national board of 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....
in 1918, and served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from the Market towns of Vest-Agder and Rogaland counties
Market towns of Vest-Agder and Rogaland counties
The Market towns of Vest-Agder and Rogaland counties was an electoral district for parliamentary elections in Norway. It comprised the market towns of Flekkefjord, Kristiansand and Mandal in Vest-Agder county and Haugesund and Stavanger in Rogaland county....
during the term 1925–1927. During the Labour Party turbulence in the 1920s, which saw the Social Democratic Labour Party
Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway
The Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway was a Norwegian political party in the 1920s. Following the Labour Party's entry into the Comintern in 1919, its right wing left the party to form the Social Democratic Labour Party in 1921...
and the Communist Party break away, Øisang tried to build bridges between the rival fractions. When this attempt failed, he remained with Labour. He was rewarded with the job as editor-in-chief of Arbeider-Avisa
Arbeider-Avisa
Arbeider-Avisa was a daily newspaper published in Trondheim, Norway, started in 1924 and defunct in 1996...
. He was known for lambasting the Communist Party in his editorial
Editorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
s, especially the rival newspaper Ny Tid
Ny Tid (Trondheim)
Ny Tid was a Norwegian newspaper established in 1899 by the typographers Joh. Halseth and Alf Scheflo at the same time as they established their own printing office in Trondheim. The publishers meant to create a worker's newspaper, not a socialist paper...
which was edited by Jørgen Vogt
Jørgen Vogt
Jørgen Herman Vogt was a Norwegian newspaper editor and politician representing the Communist Party. He edited the newspapers Ny Tid and Friheten, served four terms in Trondheim city council and one term in the Norwegian Parliament.-Personal life:He was born in Kristiania as the son of professor...
. In 1928 Øisang was elected to serve as a member of Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
city council.
In the 1930s, Øisang was a key figure in developing the political platform for the Labour Party, having taken a reformist
Reformism
Reformism is the belief that gradual democratic changes in a society can ultimately change a society's fundamental economic relations and political structures...
stance in the 1920s. He also continued in local politics, chairing the city school board from 1938. Øisang stepped down as editor of Arbeider-Avisa in 1940 as he in 1939 had been elected as party secretary of the Labour Party; his successor was Harald Langhelle
Harald Langhelle
Harald H. Langhelle was a Norwegian newspaper editor and politician for the Labour Party.He was born in Dale, Hordaland, and became editor-in-chief of Nordlands Social-Demokrat in 1919. He was elected to the Parliament of Norway from the Market towns of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark in 1921, and...
. However, things were hampered by the Nazi German invasion
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 subsequent occupation of Norway
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...
. First, Øisang represented the Labour Party in the negotiations about administration of Norway after the invasion, as 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...
had fled the country. However, the negotiations were not fruitful, and in September 1940 all political parties except for Nasjonal Samling were banned. The newspaper Arbeider-Avisa was shut down in 1941, and Harald Langhelle was executed following the martial law in Trondheim in 1942
Martial law in Trondheim in 1942
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, the occupying powers imposed martial law in Trondheim and surrounding areas effective October 6, 1942 through October 12, 1942. During this time, 34 Norwegians were murdered by extrajudicial execution...
. Øisang, who had spent the occupation period writing books on local history, was arrested on 9 October 1944, was incarcerated at Vollan and then sent to Berg concentration camp
Berg concentration camp
Berg was a concentration camp near Tønsberg in Norway that served as an internment and transit center for political prisoners and Jews during the Nazi occupation of Norway.-Establishment:...
a few weeks later. He was released in April 1945, one month before the liberation of Norway
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
.
After the occupation, Øisang returned to local politics and the now-vacant seat as editor of Arbeider-Avisa. He also resumed his work on the school board. The position as party secretary was taken over for a short period by 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:...
, and then by Haakon Lie
Haakon Lie
Haakon Lie was a Norwegian politician who served as party secretary for the Norwegian Labour Party from 1945 to 1969. Coming from humble origins, he became involved in the labour movement at an early age, and quickly rose in the party system...
. Øisang continued publishing books; his last book was on the history of Trøndelag Teater
Trøndelag Teater
Trøndelag Teater is a large theater in the city of Trondheim, in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway.-Background:Trøndelag Teater stages large-scale dance and musical performances. Originally built in 1816, the theater is the oldest stage in Scandinavia in continuous use...
, released 1962. His wife Ingebjørg died in 1956, and in February 1962 Øisang married again, this time to Kristine Bauck, who was the widow of Stig Bauck (1893–1951) and daughter of well-known newspaper editor Knut Olai Thornæs
Knut Olai Thornæs
Knut Olai Thornæs was a Norwegian newspaper editor and politician. He was a member of the Labour Party from 1900, and represented the party politically, but joined the Communist Party upon the split in 1923. He was the editor-in-chief of several newspapers, most notably Ny Tid.-Career:He hailed...
. Øisang left both the editor position and the school board in 1958, and continued working in Arbeider-Avisa from 1958 to his death in 1963.