Rolf Gerhardsen
Encyclopedia
Rolf Eilert Gerhardsen was a Norwegian journalist and influential cold warrior.
He was born in Kristiania
as a son of Gerhard Olsen (1867–1949) and Emma Hansen (1872–1949). He was a brother of Einar Gerhardsen
, and through him an uncle of Rune Gerhardsen
and granduncle of Mina Gerhardsen
.
He was a subeditor of Østfold Arbeiderblad
and Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad
from 1928 to 1934 and Vestfold Arbeiderblad
from 1934 to 1940, and editor-in-chief of Den 1ste Mai in 1940. When the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
started, Gerhardsen fled to Sweden where he edited the publication Norges-Nytt at the Norwegian legation in Stockholm
. After the Second World War he was a subeditor in Arbeiderbladet
from 1945 to 1952 and news editor from 1952 to 1970.
He also chaired the Oslo
branch of the Norwegian Labour Party
from 1985 to 1965, and was known as an anti-Communist. In post-World War II Norway he built up a private intelligence service on behalf of the Labour Party, the so-called Alpha Network. He was also chairman of the Norwegian News Agency
. He released three books, including 1967's Einar Gerhardsen som en bror ser ham about his brother. He died in November 1971 in Oslo.
He was born in Kristiania
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...
as a son of Gerhard Olsen (1867–1949) and Emma Hansen (1872–1949). He was a brother of 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...
, and through him an uncle of Rune Gerhardsen
Rune Gerhardsen
Rune Gerhardsen is a Norwegian politician, representing the Norwegian Labour Party. He is son of Einar Gerhardsen.He chaired the Norwegian Skating Association from 1986 to 1990 and 2001 to 2003.-References:...
and granduncle of Mina Gerhardsen
Mina Gerhardsen
Mina Gerhardsen is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.She is the daughter of Rune Gerhardsen and Tove Strand, and granddaughter of Einar Gerhardsen. She led the Oslo branch of Natur og Ungdom from 1993 to 1995, and was deputy leader of the Workers' Youth League in Oslo in 1997. She took...
.
He was a subeditor 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...
and Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad
Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad
Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad is a local newspaper in Sarpsborg, Norway. It is published six days a week. The chief editor is Eirik Moe.It was established in 1929, after the demise of Østfold Arbeiderblad, and was affiliated with the Labour Party. However, the newspaper ultimately became non-partisan...
from 1928 to 1934 and 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...
from 1934 to 1940, and editor-in-chief of Den 1ste Mai in 1940. When 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...
started, Gerhardsen fled to Sweden where he edited the publication Norges-Nytt at the Norwegian legation in Stockholm
Norwegian legation in Stockholm
The Norwegian Legation in Stockholm played a significant role during the Second World War. Until 9 April 1940 the legation consisted of four persons, and at the end of the war about 1,100 persons were connected to the legation. Refugee cases were among the legation's most central tasks...
. After the Second World War he was a subeditor 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...
from 1945 to 1952 and news editor from 1952 to 1970.
He also chaired the 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...
branch 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....
from 1985 to 1965, and was known as an anti-Communist. In post-World War II Norway he built up a private intelligence service on behalf of the Labour Party, the so-called Alpha Network. He was also chairman of the Norwegian News Agency
Norwegian News Agency
The Norwegian News Agency is a Norwegian press agency and wire service that serves many of the largest Norwegian media outlets. It also cooperates closely with the photo agency Scanpix, in which it has a 50% ownership share.NTB was founded in 1867...
. He released three books, including 1967's Einar Gerhardsen som en bror ser ham about his brother. He died in November 1971 in Oslo.