Oskar Hasselknippe
Encyclopedia
Oskar Hasselknippe was a Norwegian newspaper editor. He is known for his work in the Norwegian resistance movement
and as editor of Verdens Gang
during its swift ascent among Norwegian newspapers.
as a son of car mechanic Lars Hasselknippe (1891–1946) and Paula Elvestad (1889–1979). He finished
his secondary education in 1931, and worked as a journalist in Velgeren
until 1938 (with interruptions), and then as subeditor in Ringerikes Blad
. When World War II
reached Norway on 9 April 1940, with the German invasion
, Hasselknippe fought for Norway as a lieutenant in the engineer corps. When the battles were over, Hasselknippe joined Milorg
. He also got married in 1940, to technician Jenny Hansen (1907–1979). Besides illegal Milorg work, he continued in Ringerikes Blad.
Hasselknippe's main task was to receive and distribute weapons, ammunition, and supplies dropped in the forest by aircraft. He operated in the Ringerike
district, as well as in Hallingdal
, Krokskogen
, and Hadeland
. Hasselknippe eventually became wanted by the German occupiers of Norway
. His editor-in-chief in Ringerikes Blad, Kaare Filseth
, covered for him, but was ultimately taken hostage and shot. Hasselknippe went into hiding and survived, and was district commander for Milorg from 1943 to 1945. He was decorated with the British King's Medal for Courage.
, but this did not go through. Instead a new newspaper with roots in the Home Front was created: Verdens Gang
. He was subeditor during the initial economic hardships, and in 1953 he was promoted to co-editor alongside Christian A. R. Christensen
. In 1967 Vegard Sletten
succeeded Christensen, and between 1969 and 1974 Arne Bonde
sat as a third editor. Hasselknippe stepped down in 1978, and was succeeded by Tim Greve
with Andreas Norland
as co-editor.
The newspaper grew influential, and has been the largest in Norway since 1981. In 1963 it was first in Norway to adopt the tabloid format, and contrary to Christian A. R. Christensen, Hasselknippe was a proponent of this modernization, and also of the introduction of VG as the commonly used name for the newspaper. He also chaired the Oslo branch of the Association of Norwegian Editors from 1972 to 1977.
Hasselknippe had a sense for technological innovation and sound economic administration. He supported several entrepreneurs, including Vebjørn Tandberg
, Olav Selvaag
and Ludvig G. Braathen
. He died in July 2001 in Oslo.
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
and as editor of Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang , generally known under the abbreviation VG, is a Norwegian tabloid newspaper...
during its swift ascent among Norwegian newspapers.
Early life and World War II
Hasselknippe was born in BiriBiri, Norway
Biri is a village in the municipality of GjøvikOppland county, Norway. It was formerly classified as a municipality.The parish of Biri was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . On 1 January 1910, the district Snertingdal was divided from Biri to form a municipality of its own,...
as a son of car mechanic Lars Hasselknippe (1891–1946) and Paula Elvestad (1889–1979). He finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1931, and worked as a journalist in Velgeren
Velgeren
Velgeren was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Gjøvik in Oppland county.It started on 2 September 1904 under the name Vælgeren, and was affliated with De forenede norske Arbeidersamfund who had lost their organ Oplændingen...
until 1938 (with interruptions), and then as subeditor in Ringerikes Blad
Ringerikes Blad
Ringerikes Blad is a local newspaper published in Hønefoss, Norway. It covers Ringerike, Hole and Jevnaker. It was established in 1845.It has a circulation of 12684, of whom 12227 are subscribers....
. 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...
reached Norway on 9 April 1940, with the 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...
, Hasselknippe fought for Norway as a lieutenant in the engineer corps. When the battles were over, Hasselknippe joined Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
. He also got married in 1940, to technician Jenny Hansen (1907–1979). Besides illegal Milorg work, he continued in Ringerikes Blad.
Hasselknippe's main task was to receive and distribute weapons, ammunition, and supplies dropped in the forest by aircraft. He operated in the Ringerike
Ringerike
oskar er kjempe kulRingerike is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Ringerike...
district, as well as in Hallingdal
Hallingdal
Hallingdal is a valley and traditional district in Buskerud county in Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Flå, Nes, Gol, Hemsedal, Ål and Hol.-History:Ancient routes went to Vestlandet through Valdres and Hallingdal and down Røldal to Odda...
, Krokskogen
Krokskogen
Krokskogen is a wooden area of around 300 square kilometres, a part of Oslomarka area in Oslo, the capital of Norway, and the neighbour municipalities Ringerike, Hole and Bærum. The old road through Krokskogen was part of the King's Road from Oslo to Bergen, opened in 1805....
, and Hadeland
Hadeland
Hadeland is a traditional district in the south-eastern part of Norway. It is located around the southern part of lake Randsfjorden in Oppland county, and consists of the municipalities of Gran, Jevnaker and Lunner. Hadeland occupies the area north of the hills of Nordmarka close to the Norwegian...
. Hasselknippe eventually became wanted by the German occupiers 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...
. His editor-in-chief in Ringerikes Blad, Kaare Filseth
Kaare Filseth
Kaare Krabbe Filseth was a Norwegian newspaper editor who was killed during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
, covered for him, but was ultimately taken hostage and shot. Hasselknippe went into hiding and survived, and was district commander for Milorg from 1943 to 1945. He was decorated with the British King's Medal for Courage.
Later career
After the war, some members of the Norwegian Home Front discussed a restart of the newspaper Tidens TegnTidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1910 to 1941.-Editors:The founder and first editor-in-chief of Tidens Tegn was Ola Thommessen, who edited the newspaper until 1917. Thommessen had recently left the editor chair of Verdens Gang in protest, bringing much of Verdens...
, but this did not go through. Instead a new newspaper with roots in the Home Front was created: Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang , generally known under the abbreviation VG, is a Norwegian tabloid newspaper...
. He was subeditor during the initial economic hardships, and in 1953 he was promoted to co-editor alongside Christian A. R. Christensen
Christian A. R. Christensen
Christian A. R. Christensen was a Norwegian newspaper editor. He is known for his work in the Norwegian resistance movement, as editor of Verdens Gang and as a historical writer...
. In 1967 Vegard Sletten
Vegard Sletten
Vegard Sletten was a Norwegian newspaper editor. He worked in Stavanger Aftenblad from 1929 to 1945, except for the World War II years during parts of which he was imprisoned, and then in Verdens Gang from 1945...
succeeded Christensen, and between 1969 and 1974 Arne Bonde
Arne Bonde
Arne Andreas Bonde was a Norwegian newspaper editor and radio executive.He was born in Ålesund as a son of engineer Jens Gustav Bonde and Ester Sandborg Røe . He started his journalistic career in the Norwegian News Agency at the age of eighteen, without much education. He stayed there for ten...
sat as a third editor. Hasselknippe stepped down in 1978, and was succeeded by Tim Greve
Tim Greve
Tim Greve was a Norwegian historian, civil servant, diplomatist, newspaper editor and biographer.-Personal life:...
with Andreas Norland
Andreas Norland
Andreas Norland is a Norwegian newspaper editor. He is known as editor of three large newspapers Adresseavisen, Verdens Gang and Aftenposten, and has also held other positions in the Schibsted media conglomerate.-Early life:...
as co-editor.
The newspaper grew influential, and has been the largest in Norway since 1981. In 1963 it was first in Norway to adopt the tabloid format, and contrary to Christian A. R. Christensen, Hasselknippe was a proponent of this modernization, and also of the introduction of VG as the commonly used name for the newspaper. He also chaired the Oslo branch of the Association of Norwegian Editors from 1972 to 1977.
Hasselknippe had a sense for technological innovation and sound economic administration. He supported several entrepreneurs, including Vebjørn Tandberg
Vebjørn Tandberg
Vebjørn Tandberg was a Norwegian electronics engineer. An alumnus of the Norwegian Institute of Technology, founded Tandbergs Radiofabrikk of Oslo in 1933, and made it a great success....
, Olav Selvaag
Olav Selvaag
Olav Selvaag was a Norwegian engineer and residential contractor, known for his innovative approach to designing and building affordable housing in the post-war era.-Biography:...
and Ludvig G. Braathen
Ludvig G. Braathen
Ludvig Gustav Braathen was a Norwegian entrepreneur that founded the shipping company Ludvig G. Braathens Rederi and the airline Braathens SAFE. He was CEO of both companies until his death.-Biography:...
. He died in July 2001 in Oslo.