Tim Greve
Encyclopedia
Tim Greve was a Norwegian historian, civil servant, diplomatist, newspaper editor and biographer.
as the son of consul Arent Wittendorph Greve (1892–1950) and Anna Gade (1900–1977). His brother Egil Gade Greve was a notable businessman, and Tim Greve was also a distant descendant of Arent Jansen Greve. In 1954 he married jurist Marit Nansen, daughter of architect Odd Nansen
.
, and then studied history at the University of Oslo
, graduating in 1952. He was attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1951 to 1974. He served as Norwegian delegate to NATO and to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD), and was later secretary for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Halvard Lange
. Holding office from 1956 to 1960, he was the first political secretary (today known as political advisor) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was two years at the Norwegian embassy in Bonn
, and later served as Secretary for the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs
of the Parliament of Norway. He then returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as assistant secretary from 1966 to 1967 and deputy under-secretary of state from 1967 to 1974. He served as Director for the Norwegian Nobel Institute
from 1974 to 1977 and Secretary for the Norwegian Nobel Committee
.
He was chief editor for the newspaper Verdens Gang
from 1978 to 1986. In 1978, two long-serving co-editors Oskar Hasselknippe
and Vegard Sletten
resigned, but Greve had Andreas Norland
as a co-editor. During Greve's period as editor-in-chief Verdens Gang became the largest newspaper in Norway, surpassing Aftenposten
in 1981. Reportedly, Greve was not genuinely content with this development. He viewed sensationalist
journalism, which reached the front page of Verdens Gang now and then, with dismay. From 1982 he chaired the Broadcasting Council.
Greve wrote several books. His biography of his wife's grandfather, polar explorer and Nobel Peace Prize
laureate Fridtjof Nansen
, was published in two volumes in 1973 and 1974. His wrote two volumes on World War II
in Bergen, Bergen i krig I-II (1978–1979), and a book on espionage in Norway prior to the war, Spionjakt i Norge (1982). From 1982 to his death he was the deputy board chairman of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Greve was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1968 as well as Commander, First Class of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
. He also received the Bundesverdienstkreuz from West Germany
. He died in April 1986 in Oslo, from cancer
.
Personal life
Greve was born in BergenBergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
as the son of consul Arent Wittendorph Greve (1892–1950) and Anna Gade (1900–1977). His brother Egil Gade Greve was a notable businessman, and Tim Greve was also a distant descendant of Arent Jansen Greve. In 1954 he married jurist Marit Nansen, daughter of architect Odd Nansen
Odd Nansen
Odd Nansen was a Norwegian architect, author, and humanitarian, credited with his humanitarian efforts on behalf of Jews in the early years of World War II and for being a founder of UNICEF.-Biography:...
.
Career
Greve attended the Nansen AcademyNansen Academy
The Nansen Academy the Norwegian Humanistic Academy, is a folk high school in Lillehammer, Norway.It was named after Fritjof Nansen, and established in 1938 by Kristian Vilhelm Koren Schjelderup, Jr. and Anders Platou Wyller...
, and then studied history at the University of Oslo
University 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...
, graduating in 1952. He was attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1951 to 1974. He served as Norwegian delegate to NATO and to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international economic organisation of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade...
(OECD), and was later secretary for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Halvard Lange
Halvard Lange
Halvard Manthey Lange was a Norwegian diplomat, politician and statesman.He became a member of the Norwegian Labour Party in 1927. Two years later, in 1929, he earned a Master of Arts degree...
. Holding office from 1956 to 1960, he was the first political secretary (today known as political advisor) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was two years at the Norwegian embassy in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, and later served as Secretary for the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs is a defunct committee of the Norwegian Parliament responsible for matters related to foreign policy, development assistance, international agreements, Svalbard and the Norwegian polar regions.- Leaders :...
of the Parliament of Norway. He then returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as assistant secretary from 1966 to 1967 and deputy under-secretary of state from 1967 to 1974. He served as Director for the Norwegian Nobel Institute
Norwegian Nobel Institute
The Norwegian Nobel Institute was established in 1904 in Kristiania , Norway.The principal duty of the Nobel Institute is to assist the Norwegian Nobel Committee in the task of selecting the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and to organize the annual Nobel event in Oslo.The institute is situated...
from 1974 to 1977 and Secretary for the Norwegian Nobel Committee
Norwegian Nobel Committee
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Nobel Peace Prize each year.Its five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament and roughly represent the political makeup of that body.-History:...
.
He was chief editor for the newspaper Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang , generally known under the abbreviation VG, is a Norwegian tabloid newspaper...
from 1978 to 1986. In 1978, two long-serving co-editors Oskar Hasselknippe
Oskar Hasselknippe
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....
and 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...
resigned, but Greve had 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 a co-editor. During Greve's period as editor-in-chief Verdens Gang became the largest newspaper in Norway, surpassing Aftenposten
Aftenposten
Aftenposten is Norway's largest newspaper. It retook this position in 2010, taking it from the tabloid Verdens Gang which had been the largest newspaper for several decades. It is based in Oslo. The morning edition, which is distributed across all of Norway, had a circulation of 250,179 in 2007...
in 1981. Reportedly, Greve was not genuinely content with this development. He viewed sensationalist
Sensationalism
Sensationalism is a type of editorial bias in mass media in which events and topics in news stories and pieces are over-hyped to increase viewership or readership numbers...
journalism, which reached the front page of Verdens Gang now and then, with dismay. From 1982 he chaired the Broadcasting Council.
Greve wrote several books. His biography of his wife's grandfather, polar explorer and Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
laureate Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In his youth a champion skier and ice skater, he led the team that made the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888, and won international fame after reaching a...
, was published in two volumes in 1973 and 1974. His wrote two volumes on 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...
in Bergen, Bergen i krig I-II (1978–1979), and a book on espionage in Norway prior to the war, Spionjakt i Norge (1982). From 1982 to his death he was the deputy board chairman of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Greve was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1968 as well as Commander, First Class of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
. He also received the Bundesverdienstkreuz from West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. He died in April 1986 in Oslo, from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
Select bibliography
- Det Norske Storting gjennom 150 år III. (1964)
- Riksrevisjonen 1816–1966. (1966)
- Fridtjof Nansen I-II. (1973–1974)
- Bergen i krig I-II. (Bergen, 1978–1979)
- Spionjakt i Norge. (1982)
- Verdenskrig. (Norge i krig, volume 3. Oslo, 1985)