Sivert Andreas Nielsen (1916-2004)
Encyclopedia
Sivert Andreas Nielsen was a Norwegian diplomat, civil servant, state secretary and banker. He is known for shaping Norwegian defense policy in the 1950s, and as ambassador to the United Nations
.
as a son of professor Konrad Nielsen
(1875–1953) and his wife Gudrun Agnes Augusta Müller (1889–1954). He was a paternal grandson of politician Sivert Andreas Nielsen
. The family moved to Vettakollen
when Nielsen was one year old. He finished
his secondary education in 1934, and graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1940. He also fought in the Norwegian Campaign
of the same year. During the subsequent German occupation of Norway, he was arrested by the Nazi occupant authorities in 1941. He was imprisoned at Møllergata 19
from 2 April to 28 June 1941, and then in Grini concentration camp until 15 November. He was then incarcerated in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
until March 1945. In December 1945 he married Harriet Eyde (1922–1986).
from 1946 to 1948 and to the United States
from 1948 to 1950. Among others, he helped shape and write the North Atlantic Treaty
which was ratified in 1949. He then worked in the Ministry of Defence
, as assistant secretary from 1950, deputy under-secretary of state from 1952 and State Secretary
from 1955 to 1958. In the latter position he was a part of the third cabinet Gerhardsen
; however he was not a member of the Norwegian Labour Party
. In his time it was speculated that he was offered a government minister position, but this never happened. From 1958 to 1966 he returned as Norwegian ambassador to the United Nations
. During this period, Norway was a member of the Security Council in 1963 and 1964.
From 1966 to 1976 he worked as a banker. He was also the chair of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
from 1969 to 1974. He was decorated as a Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1964, and died in March 2004 in Oslo.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Early life and career
He was born in CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
as a son of professor Konrad Nielsen
Konrad Nielsen
Konrad Hartvig Isak Rosenvinge Nielsen was a Norwegian philologist. He spent most of his career as a professor at the Royal Frederick University , as a lecturer, textbook writer, lexicographer and translator...
(1875–1953) and his wife Gudrun Agnes Augusta Müller (1889–1954). He was a paternal grandson of politician Sivert Andreas Nielsen
Sivert Andreas Nielsen (1823-1904)
Sivert Andreas Nielsen was a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party.He was born in Brønnøy.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1859. He was not re-elected in 1861, but returned in 1865 to serve twelve more terms. When political parties were introduced in the 1880s, Nielsen joined the...
. The family moved to Vettakollen
Vettakollen
Vettakollen is a hill and neighbourhood in the borough of Vestre Aker in Oslo, Norway.The hill lies west of Sognsvann and southeast of Voksenåsen and Holmenkollen, and measures 419 metres above mean sea level. The built-up residential area south of the hill is served by the Oslo Metro station...
when Nielsen was one year old. 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 1934, and graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1940. He also fought in the Norwegian Campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
of the same year. During the subsequent German occupation of Norway, he was arrested by the Nazi occupant authorities in 1941. He was imprisoned at Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
from 2 April to 28 June 1941, and then in Grini concentration camp until 15 November. He was then incarcerated in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen or Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg was a Nazi concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany, used primarily for political prisoners from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in May, 1945. After World War II, when Oranienburg was in the Soviet Occupation Zone, the structure was used as an NKVD...
until March 1945. In December 1945 he married Harriet Eyde (1922–1986).
Later career
After the war he served as a diplomat to the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from 1946 to 1948 and to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1948 to 1950. Among others, he helped shape and write the North Atlantic Treaty
North Atlantic Treaty
The North Atlantic Treaty is the treaty that brought NATO into existence, signed in Washington, D.C. on 4 April 1949. The original twelve nations that signed it and thus became the founding members of NATO were:...
which was ratified in 1949. He then worked in the Ministry of Defence
Norwegian Ministry of Defence
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence is a Norwegian government ministry in charge of the formation and implementation of national security and defence policy, and for the overall management and control of the activities of subordinate agencies. The ministry is located at Glacisgata 1, Oslo,...
, as assistant secretary from 1950, deputy under-secretary of state from 1952 and State Secretary
State Secretary (Norway)
In Norway, a State Secretary is a partisan political position within the executive branch of government. Contrary to the position Secretary of State in many other countries, the Norwegian State Secretary does not head his or her Ministry, rather, they are second in rank to a Minister...
from 1955 to 1958. In the latter position he was a part of the third cabinet Gerhardsen
Third cabinet Gerhardsen
Gerhardsen's Third Cabinet governed Norway between 22 January 1955 and 28 August 1963. The Labour Party cabinet was led by Einar Gerhardsen. It had the following composition:-Cabinet members:-State Secretaries:-References:* - Regjeringen.no...
; however he was not a member 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 his time it was speculated that he was offered a government minister position, but this never happened. From 1958 to 1966 he returned as Norwegian ambassador to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. During this period, Norway was a member of the Security Council in 1963 and 1964.
From 1966 to 1976 he worked as a banker. He was also the chair of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation is a directorate under the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its task is to ensure effective foreign aid, with quality assurance and evaluation. NORAD both finances NGOs, and does its own research and projects. The current director general is...
from 1969 to 1974. He was decorated as a Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1964, and died in March 2004 in Oslo.