Sverre Østhagen
Encyclopedia
Sverre Østhagen was a Norwegian journalist and politician for the Labour Party
.
He was born in Hamar
, a son of Gunnar Østhagen and Louise Rudberg. From 1937 he worked for the sports magazine Idrettsbladet. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
he edited the illegal newspaper Den annen front from 1941 to 1943, when he had to flee to Sweden. He worked for the military intelligence office at the Norwegian Legation in Stockholm
from 1943 to 1945, assisting Brynjulv Sjetne
, who was the leader of ØXU, the Eastern Norway chapter of the clandestine organization XU
. Østhagen recruited several agents for ØXU, including his own father, who was stationmaster at Ådalsbruk Station
. He also operated as a courier crossing the Norway–Sweden border
several times.
Østhagen was a journalist for Hamar Arbeiderblad
from 1945. He was a member of Elverum
municipality council from 1945 to 1947. From 1947 to 1951 he was vice mayor of Elverum. He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Hedmark
during two terms, from 1950 to 1957. From 1975 to 1979 he was a member of the County council
of Hedmark. He was member of the board of Hedmark Energiverk
from 1979. He was a member of the publicity committee of the Norwegian Press Association
, and chaired local journalist organizations in both Hamar and Elverum.
Østhagen published several books on the local history of Østerdalen
. These include Sør-Østerdal Skikrets historie from 1959 and Østerdalen - vårt nye turistdistrikt from 1965, on skiing and tourism. He wrote the history of three local electricity companies, Elverum Elektrisitetsverk, Åmot Elektrisitetsverk and Hedmark Energiverk.
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 born in Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
, a son of Gunnar Østhagen and Louise Rudberg. From 1937 he worked for the sports magazine Idrettsbladet. During 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...
he edited the illegal newspaper Den annen front from 1941 to 1943, when he had to flee to Sweden. He worked for the military intelligence office 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...
from 1943 to 1945, assisting Brynjulv Sjetne
Brynjulv Sjetne
Brynjulv Sjetne was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany he established the Hedmark and Oppland chapter of XU, later called ØXU...
, who was the leader of ØXU, the Eastern Norway chapter of the clandestine organization XU
XU
XU was a clandestine intelligence organisation working on behalf of Allied powers in occupied Norway during World War II...
. Østhagen recruited several agents for ØXU, including his own father, who was stationmaster at Ådalsbruk Station
Ådalsbruk Station
Ådalsbruk Station was a railway station on the Røros Line in Norway from 1862 to 1972.It was opened in 1862 as Løken, renamed Aadalsbrug in 1881 to correspond with the nearby village. Both were named after the iron works Aadals Brug Jernstøberi og Mek. Værksted...
. He also operated as a courier crossing the Norway–Sweden border
Norway–Sweden border
The Norway–Sweden border is a long land national border, and the longest border for both Norway and Sweden.-Geography:Most of the border follows the drainage divide in the Scandinavian Mountains. In Norway, the border lies along the counties, from south to north, of Østfold, Akershus, Hedmark,...
several times.
Østhagen was a journalist for Hamar Arbeiderblad
Hamar Arbeiderblad
Hamar Arbeiderblad is a local newspaper published in Hamar, Norway. It is part of the media company Hamar Media. The newspaper was first published on 30 March 1925, in 1,200 copies. It was the local branches of the Labour Party that took the initiative to start up the publication. It is no longer a...
from 1945. He was a member of Elverum
Elverum
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Elverum...
municipality council from 1945 to 1947. From 1947 to 1951 he was vice mayor of Elverum. He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
during two terms, from 1950 to 1957. From 1975 to 1979 he was a member of the County council
County council (Norway)
A County Council is the highest governing body of the county municipalities in Norway. The county council sets the scope of the county municipal activity. The council is led by a chairman or county mayor...
of Hedmark. He was member of the board of Hedmark Energiverk
Eidsiva Energi
Eidsiva Energi is a Norwegian energy company based in Hamar with large sections of Oppland and Hedmark as core market, and is the largest producer, distributor and trader of electricity in both counties. The corporation had a revenue of NOK 3.5 billion and market capitalization of NOK 9 billion in...
from 1979. He was a member of the publicity committee of the Norwegian Press Association
Norwegian Press Association
The Norwegian Press Association is Norwegian association established in 1910, for press people with journalism as their main profession. Among its members are the Norwegian Union of Journalists, the Association of Norwegian Editors, Norsk Lokalradioforbund and the Norwegian Media Businesses'...
, and chaired local journalist organizations in both Hamar and Elverum.
Østhagen published several books on the local history of Østerdalen
Østerdalen
Østerdalen is a valley and traditional district in Hedmark County, in Eastern Norway. It consisting of the municipalities Rendalen, Alvdal, Folldal,Tynset, Tolga and Os in the north, Elverum, Stor-Elvdal, Engerdal, Trysil and Åmot in the south.-Geography:...
. These include Sør-Østerdal Skikrets historie from 1959 and Østerdalen - vårt nye turistdistrikt from 1965, on skiing and tourism. He wrote the history of three local electricity companies, Elverum Elektrisitetsverk, Åmot Elektrisitetsverk and Hedmark Energiverk.