Oscar Torp
Encyclopedia
was a Norwegian politician for the Norwegian Labour Party
. He was party leader from 1923 to 1945, and mayor of Oslo in 1935 and 1936. In 1935 he became acting Minister of Defence
in the government of Johan Nygaardsvold
. He was also Minister of Social Affairs from 1936 to 1939, and then Minister of Finance
from 1939 to 1942. He was appointed Minister of Defence again in 1942 in the London-based Norwegian exile government. He continued until the election in 1945 when he became Minister of Provisioning and Reconstruction
until 1948.
Hailing from Skjeberg
, he was first elected to the Parliament of Norway representing Oslo
in 1936, but did not take a seat in the Parliament until 1948. He then became the fraction leader for the Labour Party in Parliament. He became Prime Minister of Norway
in 1951 when Einar Gerhardsen
stepped down from this position; the move was reversed in 1955 when Torp became President of the Storting. He held this position until his death.
as a son of Anton Fredrik Andersen Torp (1865–1907) and Anne Bolette Andreassen Gade (1867–1932). He had eight siblings, and lost his father at a young age. His father worked in Canada from 1903, and sailed home to collect his family to emigrate to Canada in 1907. However he died en route, near Liverpool
. Torp attended primary school before joining the workforce at age 13. He eventually became an electrician
, and already at the age of 14 he became deputy treasurer in his local trade union. He also joined the Norwegian Labour Party, and was elected to the national board in 1918, when an opposition of revolutionaries assumed power in the party. Torp chaired the party chapter in Sarpsborg from 1919 to 1921 and in Østfold
county from 1921 to 1923. He was also a supervisory council member in the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
from 1920 to 1925, and board chairman of Østfold Arbeiderblad
from 1921 to 1923. He was married to Kari Hansen (1893–1967) since April 1916. He was the father of Reidar Torp
.
) was four years older than he was. Torp chaired the party until 1945. It has often been said, however, that Martin Tranmæl was the "real" chairman of the Labour Party.
Torp had been a member of Sarpsborg city council from 1919 to 1923 and deputy member of Aker
municipal council from 1925 to 1928 when he in 1930 moved to Oslo
. He served as mayor in 1935 and 1936, and was elected to the Parliament of Norway in the Norwegian parliamentary election, 1936
. By that time he had already become acting Minister of Defence
in Nygaardsvold's Cabinet, filling in for Fredrik Monsen who was ill. He was then Minister of Social Affairs from November 1936 to July 1939, and Minister of Finance
from July 1939 to March 1942. In April 1940 Norway had been invaded by Nazi Germany
, and Torp was responsible for initiating the successful flight of the Norwegian National Treasury
. After overseeing the start of the flight, he fled together with the rest of Nygaardsvold's Cabinet. In Åndalsnes
he was injured in the foot during the German air raids. The Cabinet ultimately reached Tromsø
where they embarked for England, where they stayed until the war's end. Torp was acting Minister of Defence from November 1941 to February 1942, and then the permanent Minister of Defence from March 1942 to November 1945, in Nygaardsvold's and Gerhardsen's First Cabinet. Torp was a former antimilitarist, and was imprisoned for five months in 1924 as he called for a military strike
, but shed this ideology from the mid-1930s.
Before the Second World War, Torp was also chairman of Bærumsbanen
from 1935 to 1940, Oslo Sporveier
from 1935 to 1940 and the Oslo airport committee from 1935 to 1940. He was a board member of Folketeaterbygningen
from 1935 to 1940, Idrettskomiteen av 1935, and Felleskomiteen for forstadsbanene from 1935 to 1940. He was a deputy board member of Norges Kommunalbank from 1935 to 1940. All of these positions were lost when he fled the country.
and acting Minister of Foreign Affairs in Oslo.
Much because of his exile, Torp was no longer found fit to be party chairman, and was replaced, against the party by-laws. He was also demoted to Minister of Provisioning and Reconstruction
in Gerhardsen's Second Cabinet
. He was pressured to leave this office as well, and left on 10 January 1948. He sat through his parliamentary term to which he had been elected in 1945
; until 1948 the deputy Eugen Amandus Pettersen had taken his seat. He was also the Labour Party parliamentary leader. He moved to Vestfold
in 1948 as he was appointed County Governor there. After a short time, he decided to stand for election again, and in 1949
he was elected for the Market towns of Vestfold county
. In the same year he was one of the architects behind the Norwegian NATO membership.
In November 1951 a political shock happened in Norway as Einar Gerhardsen
unexpectedly resigned as Prime Minister of Norway
. Gerhardsen then asked Oscar Torp to take over. Reportedly, Gerhardsen favored Sverre Støstad, but he rejected the offer. Torp led his cabinet
for four years, and also had to double as acting Minister of Trade and Shipping
from 3 to 15 June 1954. Carl Henry
took his seat in Parliament. Torp was pressured to give the position back to Gerhardsen in January 1955, when Gerhardsen had strengthened himself for a few years as party chairman and President of the Storting. Torp, who was re-elected to Parliament in 1953
and 1957
, succeeded Gerhardsen as President of the Storting, a position he held until his death. He was also County Governor until his death, albeit he was absent from the position for most of the time. Gunvor Katharina Eker
took his seat after his death.
Torp was a member of the Labour Party central board and national board from 1945 to his death. He was also a board member of the Norwegian State Railways from 1948-1957 and chairman of the supervisory council of Folketeatret
from 1948 to his death. In Vestfold he held a multitude of local chairmanships, including of the county tax board and the administration of the Diocese of Tunsberg
.
. This was May Day
, and Torp was scheduled as the main speaker in Stavanger
. He was not able to do it, and thus, Arne Skaug
read Torp's manuscript. When the speech was referred to in the newspapers the next day, it was accompanied by obituaries of Torp. He was buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund
. A memorial stone was raised in Skjeberg in 1976.
Books about Torp include Nils Hønsvald
's Oscar Torp, released in 1959, and Egil Helle
's Oscar Torp – arbeidergutt og statsmann, released in 1983. In 2007 Hans Olav Lahlum
released Oscar Torp. En politisk biografi.
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....
. He was party leader from 1923 to 1945, and mayor of Oslo in 1935 and 1936. In 1935 he became acting Minister of Defence
Minister of Defence (Norway)
The Norwegian Minister of Defence is a Councillor of the Council of State and Chief of the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the position has existed since the Secretary of the Army and Secretary of the Navy was combined into the Minister of Defence...
in the government of Johan Nygaardsvold
Johan Nygaardsvold
Johan Nygaardsvold was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party. He was Prime Minister of Norway from 1935 to 1945 , as head of the cabinet Nygaardsvold.-Political career:...
. He was also Minister of Social Affairs from 1936 to 1939, and then Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (Norway)
- 1st Ministry :- 5th Ministry :- Ministry of Finance, Trade and Customs :- Ministry of Finance and Customs :- Ministry of Finance :...
from 1939 to 1942. He was appointed Minister of Defence again in 1942 in the London-based Norwegian exile government. He continued until the election in 1945 when he became Minister of Provisioning and Reconstruction
Norwegian Ministry of Provisioning and Reconstruction
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Provisioning and Reconstruction was a Norwegian ministry that existed from 1939 to 1950.It was established on 1 October 1939 as the Ministry of Provisioning, though having no relation to the Ministry of Provisioning which existed from 1916 to 1922. The name was...
until 1948.
Hailing from Skjeberg
Skjeberg
Skjeberg is a former municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The last administrative centre was Borgenhaugen.The parish of Skjeberg was established as a municipality January 1, 1838...
, he was first elected to the Parliament of Norway representing 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...
in 1936, but did not take a seat in the Parliament until 1948. He then became the fraction leader for the Labour Party in Parliament. He became Prime Minister of Norway
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...
in 1951 when Einar Gerhardsen
Einar Gerhardsen
was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party of Norway. He was Prime Minister for three periods, 1945–1951, 1955–1963 and 1963–1965. With 17 years in office, he is the longest serving Prime Minister in Norway since the introduction of parliamentarism...
stepped down from this position; the move was reversed in 1955 when Torp became President of the Storting. He held this position until his death.
Early life and career
He was born in SkjebergSkjeberg
Skjeberg is a former municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The last administrative centre was Borgenhaugen.The parish of Skjeberg was established as a municipality January 1, 1838...
as a son of Anton Fredrik Andersen Torp (1865–1907) and Anne Bolette Andreassen Gade (1867–1932). He had eight siblings, and lost his father at a young age. His father worked in Canada from 1903, and sailed home to collect his family to emigrate to Canada in 1907. However he died en route, near Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. Torp attended primary school before joining the workforce at age 13. He eventually became an electrician
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
, and already at the age of 14 he became deputy treasurer in his local trade union. He also joined the Norwegian Labour Party, and was elected to the national board in 1918, when an opposition of revolutionaries assumed power in the party. Torp chaired the party chapter in Sarpsborg from 1919 to 1921 and in Østfold
Østfold
is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden , while Buskerud and Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The seat of the county administration is Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad is the largest city.Many manufacturing facilities are situated here. Moss and...
county from 1921 to 1923. He was also a supervisory council member in the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions is a national trade union center, decidedly the largest and probably the most influential umbrella organization of labour unions in Norway. The 21 national unions affiliated to the LO have more than 850,000 members of a Norwegian population of 4.8 million...
from 1920 to 1925, and board chairman of Østfold Arbeiderblad
Østfold Arbeiderblad
Østfold Arbeiderblad was a newspaper published in Sarpsborg in Østfold county, Norway.It was started in 1921 as the regional newspaper for the Norwegian Labour Party. In the same year the Labour Party had lost its newspaper in the region, Smaalenenes Social-Demokrat in Fredrikstad, which had...
from 1921 to 1923. He was married to Kari Hansen (1893–1967) since April 1916. He was the father of Reidar Torp
Reidar Torp
Reidar Torp is a Norwegian military officer.He was born in Sarpsborg. A son of politician Oscar Torp, he fled Norway on the cruiser HMS Devonshire on 7 June 1940, together with the royal family, the cabinet and other important personnel...
.
Party chairman and cabinet member
In 1922 Torp was a delegate at the Fourth Comintern Congress. In 1923 the revolutionary wing that had assumed power in the Labour Party in 1918 had split into two wings, one for and one against Comintern membership. Torp belonged to the latter wing, which assumed power at the 1923 national convention. Torp was elected chairman of the entire party. When he became chairman, the chairman of the party's youth wing (Peder FurubotnPeder Furubotn
Peder Furubotn was a Norwegian cabinetmaker, politician for the Communist Party and resistance member during World War II.-Early and personal life:...
) was four years older than he was. Torp chaired the party until 1945. It has often been said, however, that Martin Tranmæl was the "real" chairman of the Labour Party.
Torp had been a member of Sarpsborg city council from 1919 to 1923 and deputy member of Aker
Aker, Norway
Aker is a former municipality in Akershus, which lends its name to a municipality and a county in Norway. The name originally belonged to a farm which was located near the current Old Aker Church...
municipal council from 1925 to 1928 when he in 1930 moved to 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 served as mayor in 1935 and 1936, and was elected to the Parliament of Norway in the Norwegian parliamentary election, 1936
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1936
The parliamentary election of 1936 was the last one held in Norway before World War II and the German invasion of Norway.-Results:*...
. By that time he had already become acting Minister of Defence
Minister of Defence (Norway)
The Norwegian Minister of Defence is a Councillor of the Council of State and Chief of the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the position has existed since the Secretary of the Army and Secretary of the Navy was combined into the Minister of Defence...
in Nygaardsvold's Cabinet, filling in for Fredrik Monsen who was ill. He was then Minister of Social Affairs from November 1936 to July 1939, and Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (Norway)
- 1st Ministry :- 5th Ministry :- Ministry of Finance, Trade and Customs :- Ministry of Finance and Customs :- Ministry of Finance :...
from July 1939 to March 1942. In April 1940 Norway had been invaded by Nazi Germany
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 Torp was responsible for initiating the successful flight of the Norwegian National Treasury
Flight of the Norwegian National Treasury
The National Treasury of Norway consisted of in 1940 value worth of gold weighing around 50 tons. The entire gold deposit was stored at Norges Bank's main vault at their headquarters in Oslo. During the increasing tension of the 1930s, plans were made to make the deposit more mobile...
. After overseeing the start of the flight, he fled together with the rest of Nygaardsvold's Cabinet. In Åndalsnes
Åndalsnes
is a town in the municipality of Rauma in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Åndalsnes is the administrative center of Rauma. The town has a population of 2,207...
he was injured in the foot during the German air raids. The Cabinet ultimately reached Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
where they embarked for England, where they stayed until the war's end. Torp was acting Minister of Defence from November 1941 to February 1942, and then the permanent Minister of Defence from March 1942 to November 1945, in Nygaardsvold's and Gerhardsen's First Cabinet. Torp was a former antimilitarist, and was imprisoned for five months in 1924 as he called for a military strike
Military strike
A military strike is a limited attack on a specified target. Strikes are used, amongst other things, to render facilities inoperable , to assassinate enemy leaders, and to limit supply to enemy troops. A strike can often be the prelude to a war or siege, whose initial strike is for a strategic or...
, but shed this ideology from the mid-1930s.
Before the Second World War, Torp was also chairman of Bærumsbanen
Bærumsbanen
A/S Bærumsbanen was a tram company that operated the Lillaker-, Kolsås and Østensjø Line of the Oslo Tramway, Norway, from 1924 to 1971 when the company became part of Oslo Sporveier.-History:...
from 1935 to 1940, Oslo Sporveier
Oslo Sporveier
Kollektivtransportproduksjon AS is a municipal owned public transport operator of Oslo, Norway, the name meaning simply "public transportation producer". It operates the trackage and maintains the stock of the Oslo Metro and Oslo Tramway, as well as owning eight operating subsidiaries...
from 1935 to 1940 and the Oslo airport committee from 1935 to 1940. He was a board member of Folketeaterbygningen
Folketeatret
Folketeatret is a theatre in Oslo, Norway. The building has existed longer than the theatre, and been used as a movie theatre and opera house....
from 1935 to 1940, Idrettskomiteen av 1935, and Felleskomiteen for forstadsbanene from 1935 to 1940. He was a deputy board member of Norges Kommunalbank from 1935 to 1940. All of these positions were lost when he fled the country.
Post-war career
The German occupation ended on 8 May 1945, and the exiled politicians returned home. Torp chaired the Government Delegation from London to Oslo on 14 May 1945, and until 31 May 1945 he was thus the acting Prime MinisterPrime 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...
and acting Minister of Foreign Affairs in Oslo.
Much because of his exile, Torp was no longer found fit to be party chairman, and was replaced, against the party by-laws. He was also demoted to Minister of Provisioning and Reconstruction
Norwegian Ministry of Provisioning and Reconstruction
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Provisioning and Reconstruction was a Norwegian ministry that existed from 1939 to 1950.It was established on 1 October 1939 as the Ministry of Provisioning, though having no relation to the Ministry of Provisioning which existed from 1916 to 1922. The name was...
in Gerhardsen's Second Cabinet
Gerhardsen's Second Cabinet
Gerhardsen's Second Cabinet governed Norway between 5 November 1945 and 19 November 1951. The Labour Party cabinet was led by Einar Gerhardsen....
. He was pressured to leave this office as well, and left on 10 January 1948. He sat through his parliamentary term to which he had been elected in 1945
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1945
These elections were held on 8 October 1945. The Labour Party won an absolute majority in the Storting which they would keep until 1961.-Results:...
; until 1948 the deputy Eugen Amandus Pettersen had taken his seat. He was also the Labour Party parliamentary leader. He moved to Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
in 1948 as he was appointed County Governor there. After a short time, he decided to stand for election again, and in 1949
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1949
The general election of 1949 was held to elect 150 MPs to the Storting. The Norwegian Labour Party increased its share of the vote an won a large majority of seats in the chamber....
he was elected for the Market towns of Vestfold county
Market towns of Vestfold county
The Market towns of Vestfold county was an electoral district for parliamentary elections in Norway. It comprised the market towns of Holmestrand, Horten, Tønsberg, Sandefjord and Larvik in Vestfold county....
. In the same year he was one of the architects behind the Norwegian NATO membership.
In November 1951 a political shock happened in Norway as Einar Gerhardsen
Einar Gerhardsen
was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party of Norway. He was Prime Minister for three periods, 1945–1951, 1955–1963 and 1963–1965. With 17 years in office, he is the longest serving Prime Minister in Norway since the introduction of parliamentarism...
unexpectedly resigned as Prime Minister of Norway
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...
. Gerhardsen then asked Oscar Torp to take over. Reportedly, Gerhardsen favored Sverre Støstad, but he rejected the offer. Torp led his cabinet
Torp's Cabinet
Torp's Cabinet governed Norway between 19 November 1951 and 21 January 1955. The Labour Party cabinet was led by Oscar Torp....
for four years, and also had to double as acting Minister of Trade and Shipping
Minister of Trade and Shipping (Norway)
The Norwegian Minister of Trade and Shipping is a defunct minister who was head of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Shipping between 6 December 1947 and 1 January 1988 when it was merged with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The function of trade has since been transferred to the...
from 3 to 15 June 1954. Carl Henry
Carl Henry
Carl Henry is a Jamaican-born R&B singer, who was raised in Montreal, Canada.His debut album, entitled RNB, garnered him his first Juno nomination for Best R&B/Soul recording of the Year...
took his seat in Parliament. Torp was pressured to give the position back to Gerhardsen in January 1955, when Gerhardsen had strengthened himself for a few years as party chairman and President of the Storting. Torp, who was re-elected to Parliament in 1953
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1953
-Results:...
and 1957
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1957
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 7 October 1957. The election was a victory for the Labour Party, and Gerhardsen's Third Cabinet could continue. The Labour party again achieved an absolute majority in parliament, together with the highest popular vote in the...
, succeeded Gerhardsen as President of the Storting, a position he held until his death. He was also County Governor until his death, albeit he was absent from the position for most of the time. Gunvor Katharina Eker
Gunvor Katharina Eker
Gunvor Katharina Eker was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.She was born in Marker.She was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Vestfold in 1961, and was re-elected on one occasion...
took his seat after his death.
Torp was a member of the Labour Party central board and national board from 1945 to his death. He was also a board member of the Norwegian State Railways from 1948-1957 and chairman of the supervisory council of Folketeatret
Folketeatret
Folketeatret is a theatre in Oslo, Norway. The building has existed longer than the theatre, and been used as a movie theatre and opera house....
from 1948 to his death. In Vestfold he held a multitude of local chairmanships, including of the county tax board and the administration of the Diocese of Tunsberg
Diocese of Tunsberg
Tunsberg is a diocese of the Church of Norway. It includes parishes located within the counties of Vestfold and Buskerud, with the cathedral city located in Tønsberg.-History:...
.
Death
Torp had a cerebral haemorrhage in the early 1950s, which he kept secret to most his acquaintances, even family. On 1 May 1958 he had a new cerebral haemorrhage, this time with a fatal outcome. He died at RikshospitaletRikshospitalet
Rikshospitalet is located in Oslo, Norway. From January 1, 2009, the hospital is part of Oslo University Hospital....
. This was May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
, and Torp was scheduled as the main speaker in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
. He was not able to do it, and thus, Arne Skaug
Arne Skaug
Arne Skaug was a Norwegian economist, civil servant, diplomat and politician for the Labour Party. He is known as director of Statistics Norway from 1946 to 1948, Norwegian Minister of Trade and Shipping from 1955 to 1962 and later ambassador.-Early life and career:He was born in Horten as a son...
read Torp's manuscript. When the speech was referred to in the newspapers the next day, it was accompanied by obituaries of Torp. He was buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund
Vår Frelsers gravlund
Vår Frelsers gravlund is a cemetery in Oslo, Norway, located north of Hammersborg in Gamle Aker district. It was created in 1808 as a result of the great famine and cholera epidemic of the Napoleonic Wars. Its grounds were extended in 1911. The cemetery has been full since 1952...
. A memorial stone was raised in Skjeberg in 1976.
Books about Torp include Nils Hønsvald
Nils Hønsvald
Nils Hønsvald was a Norwegian newspaper editor and politician for the Labour Party. He was one of the leading figures in Norwegian politics from 1945 to 1969.Hønsvald was born in Horten, Vestfold County, Norway...
's Oscar Torp, released in 1959, and Egil Helle
Egil Helle
Egil Helle was a Norwegian newspaper editor, information worker and biographer.He was born in Bergen. He started his journalist career in 1942, during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, in the illegal press. The name of his illegal newspaper changed several times, from Ukenytt via Norges...
's Oscar Torp – arbeidergutt og statsmann, released in 1983. In 2007 Hans Olav Lahlum
Hans Olav Lahlum
Hans Olav Lahlum is a Norwegian historian, crime author, chess player and organizer, and politician. He has written biographies on Oscar Torp and Haakon Lie, and a history book about all the US presidents.-Career:...
released Oscar Torp. En politisk biografi.