Otto Øgrim
Encyclopedia
Johan Otto Øgrim was a Norwegian
physicist
and author
.
in 1947. For more than 35 years, Øgrim worked as a lecturer at the Institute of Physics and a prolific textbook author at the Oslo University.
Together with Helmut Ormestad
, he was best known for presenting the TV series Fysikk på Roterommet on NRK. The two won the Cappelen Prize
in 1983 for work on a widely-used series of textbooks at high school level. In 2003, he was appointed honorary member of the Norsk Fysisk Selskap, a Norwegian organization which promotes research in physics.
During the Second World War, Øgrim together with Arvid Storsveen
was central in establishing the secret intelligence organization XU
, from its start in the summer of 1940. After Storsveen had to flee to Sweden
in 1942 and was shot and killed by the Gestapo
in 1943, Øgrim continued as a central XU operative in southern Norway under Øistein Strømnæs
and Anne-Sofie Østvedt
. He was not exposed before the end of the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
in May 1945.
in Norway. In 1938, he married Odlaug Marit Eggen (1915-2008). Øgrim was the father of author Tron Øgrim
. He was the grandfather of rappers Elling and Aslak Borgersrud in Gatas Parlament
.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Biography
Johan Otto Øgrim was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, but grew up in Norway. He graduated from the Trondheim Cathedral School in 1934. He graduated with a cand.real. degree with a physics major in 1946. He became a professor of experimental physics at the University of OsloUniversity of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1947. For more than 35 years, Øgrim worked as a lecturer at the Institute of Physics and a prolific textbook author at the Oslo University.
Together with Helmut Ormestad
Helmut Ormestad
Helmut Ormestad was a Norwegian pysicist, a researcher at the University of Oslo who specialized in acoustics. He was known for his ability to impart knowledge on physics. He was a co-writer of the textbook series Rom Stoff Tid, together with Otto Øgrim and Kåre Lunde, for which he was awarded the...
, he was best known for presenting the TV series Fysikk på Roterommet on NRK. The two won the Cappelen Prize
Cappelen Prize
The Cappelen Prize is a Norwegian literary award that is awarded each year by the Cappelen Damm publishing company. It was established in 1979, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the publishing house of Cappelen.-Laureates:...
in 1983 for work on a widely-used series of textbooks at high school level. In 2003, he was appointed honorary member of the Norsk Fysisk Selskap, a Norwegian organization which promotes research in physics.
During the Second World War, Øgrim together with Arvid Storsveen
Arvid Storsveen
Arvid Kristian Storsveen , was the Norwegian organizer of XU, the main intelligence gathering organisation within occupied Norway during World War II.-Biography:...
was central in establishing the secret intelligence organization XU
XU
XU was a clandestine intelligence organisation working on behalf of Allied powers in occupied Norway during World War II...
, from its start in the summer of 1940. After Storsveen had to flee to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1942 and was shot and killed by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
in 1943, Øgrim continued as a central XU operative in southern Norway under Øistein Strømnæs
Øistein Strømnæs
Øistein Stømnæs was the head of XU, the main Norwegian intelligence organization from 1943 to 1945. Strømnæs was born in Sarpsborg in Østfold county, Norway. He studied biology at the University of Oslo and was working of his Master's degree student in botany when Norway was attacked in 1940...
and Anne-Sofie Østvedt
Anne-Sofie Østvedt
Anne-Sofie Østvedt, , was one of the leaders of the Norwegian intelligence organisation XU....
. He was not exposed before the end of the Occupation of Norway by Nazi 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...
in May 1945.
Personal life
Otto Øgrim was the son of Tobias Immanuel Øgrim (1886-1962), leader of the Salvation ArmySalvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
in Norway. In 1938, he married Odlaug Marit Eggen (1915-2008). Øgrim was the father of author Tron Øgrim
Tron Øgrim
Tron Øgrim was a Norwegian journalist, author and politician. He was active in Socialist Youth Union from 1965 to 1973, and a central figure in the Workers' Communist Party from 1973 to 1984. In addition to being a politician, Øgrim was an author of political works and several science fiction...
. He was the grandfather of rappers Elling and Aslak Borgersrud in Gatas Parlament
Gatas Parlament
Gatas Parlament is a Norwegian group of rap artists. It consists of the brothers Aslak and Elling Borgersrud and DJ Don Martin. All three have strong left-leaning political views, and make their feelings on many things, including American president George W...
.