This article examines Norwegian academics (celticists, historians, etc.) and their confrontation with the German authorities in Norway between 1940 and 1945.
Prof. Dr. Carl Johan Sverdrup Marstrander (1883-1965), Professor of Celtic Languages in the University of Oslo (1913-1954), spent time in prison on three occasions during the German occupation of Norway (1940-45), seemingly for patriotic reasons on the one hand and in opposition to the German presence in Norway on the other. This article looks more closely at the detention not only of Marstrander himself but also that of his son Kai Sverdrup and two colleagues Prof. Dr. Anton Wilhelm Brøgger and Dr. Sigurd Jebsen Grieg, and considers the circumstances of their opposition vis-à-vis the German authorities in Norway at the time.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. BINCHY, Daniel A. (1966): ‘Carl J. S. Marstrander 1883-1965’. Ériu XX (1966): 237-238:
1.2. GREENE, David (1967): ‘Carl J. S. Marstrander (1883-1965)’. Studia Celtica XI (1967): 204-205.
1.3. Ó LÚING, Seán (1984): ‘Carl Marstrander (1883-1965)’. Cork Historical Society Journal lxxxix (1984): 108-124.
1.4. NÍ MHUNGHAILE, Lesa (2009): ‘Marstrander, Carl’ Dictionary of Irish Biography.
1.5. Magne Oftedal does not mention anything about Marstrander’s arrest and imprisonment in his obituary to him in Studia Celtica XI (1967/2 (Jan. 1)): 202-204.
1.6. According to the foregoing, Marstrander’s plight seemingly involved:
2. NORWAY BEFORE AND AFTER 1940
2.1. Norway before 1940
2.2. The Germans in Norway 1940-1945
2.2.1. Norwegian resistance to the German occupation
2.2.2. Combatting the Resistance
2.2.3. Norwegian collaboration
2.2.4. Norwegian government “purges” of collaborators after the war
3. DAS SS-WISSENSCHAFTSAMT „AHNENERBE“ (1935-1945)
3.1. Its founders:
3.2. Its aims:
3.3. Its various tuition and research institutes:
4. MARSTRANDER AND COLLEAGUES AND THE GERMAN AUTHORITIES IN NORWAY
4.1. The Schwalm-Vollberg Report of 23 October 1942
4.1.1. Contents of the Report in brief:
4.1.2. The Report
4.1.3. Comment:
4.2. The Prison Registers
4.3. MARSTRANDER, Prof. Dr. Carl Johan Sverdrup (1883-1965)
4.3.1. MØLLERGATA 19, Prison, Oslo, Norway.
4.3.2. BREDTVEIT Prison, Grorud, Akershus, Norway.
4.3.3. GRINI Camp, Akershus, Norway.
4.3.4. Comment:
4.3.4.1. Details of Marstrander’s arrest in 1941 notified to the Royal Irish Academy
4.3.4.2. Details of a police raid on Marstrander’s Oslo appartment, November 1944
4.3.5. MARSTRANDER, Kai Sverdrup (son) (1922-1995)
4.3.5.1. BREDTVEIT Prison, Grorud, Akershus, Norway
4.3.5.2. GRINI Camp, Akershus, Norway
4.3.5.3. KZ SACHSENHAUSEN, Oranienburg, Brandenburg, Germany.
4.3.5.4. LUND, SCHWEDEN (28. April 1945)
4.3.6. MARSTRANDER Jr. and MARSTRANDER Jr. Lengths of sentences compared:
4.4. BRØGGER, Prof. Dr. Anton Wilhelm (1884-1951)
4.4.1. ÅKERBERGVEIEN Prison, Oslo
4.4.2. MØLLERGATA 19, Prison, Oslo
4.4.3. GRINI Camp, Akershus, Norway
4.5. GRIEG, Dr. Sigurd Jebsen (1894-1973)
4.5.1. GRINI Camp, Akershus, Norway
5. CONCLUSION
Research Objective and Themes
This paper examines the detention and political opposition of Professor Carl J. S. Marstrander, his son Kai Sverdrup, and colleagues Professor Anton Wilhelm Brøgger and Dr. Sigurd Jebsen Grieg during the German occupation of Norway (1940-1945). It seeks to document the circumstances of their imprisonment and their interactions with the German authorities, specifically the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) and the SS-Wissenschaftsamt „Ahnenerbe“.
- The experiences of Norwegian intellectuals under German occupation.
- The role and activities of the SS-Wissenschaftsamt „Ahnenerbe“ in Norway.
- Documentary evidence of the imprisonment of Marstrander, Brøgger, and Grieg.
- The clash between Norwegian academic independence and German political interference.
- Analysis of resistance versus collaboration in the context of Norwegian scholarship.
Excerpt from the book
4.1. The Schwalm-Vollberg Report of 23 October 1942
When we look at the available evidence what does it tell us about the situation? Apart from the archive material available on the Fanger.no. website, which will be dealt with presently, additional information, as already noted, can be found in a confidential report to the SS-Wissenschaftsamt „Ahnenerbe“, which dealt with matters dealing with research and science conducted throughout the Third Reich and in those areas under its control, including Norway.
The Schwalm-Vollberg meeting focuses on the following five topics:
- 1. The anti-German sentiment of the Norwegian academic community, particularly affecting the University of Oslo, where National Socialist-orientated students, including members of the Waffen-SS, had been refused admission into the University.
- 2. In this regard the conduct of certain individual academics regarded as being of anti-German persuasion, namely: Anton Wilhelm Brøgger (2a), Sigurd Jebsen Grieg (2b), Carl Johan Sverdrup Marstrander (2c), and Johannes Bøe (2d), was discussed. In addition, there was some irritation on the part of the German authorities at the rejection of NS personnel as students at the university.
- 3. Of particular concern was the appointment of Johannes Bøe to a prestigious position without consulting the German authorities first, as if they were irrelevant as far as matters academic in the University of Oslo were concerned. Schwalm asked to be kept up to date on such matters.
- 4. Also discussed was the suitability of Eberhard Günther Kern of the Language School Kern, noting that while he had valuable connections and knowledge, his personal behaviour could be inimical to their cause.
- 5. Then there was the alleged destruction of archaeological sites by members of the Wehrmacht and the need to find ways to secure the finds. Vollberg noted that the Wehrmacht would not allow Norwegian academics to participate, so a team of German scientists was required. Finally, it was noted that the poor relations between Senior SS-cum-Police Chief Wilhelm Redieß and the Wehrmacht was an obstacle. Vollberg asked that Schwalm investigate whether the Reichskommissariat might be involved, as their relations with the Wehrmacht were much better.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the scope of the investigation into the opposition of Norwegian scholars to German presence in Norway, focusing on the detention of Prof. Marstrander and his peers.
2. NORWAY BEFORE AND AFTER 1940: Describes the political and social climate in Norway prior to and during the German occupation, including the emergence of resistance and collaborationist entities.
3. DAS SS-WISSENSCHAFTSAMT „AHNENERBE“ (1935-1945): Explores the origins, aims, and organizational structure of the Ahnenerbe research institute under the Nazi regime.
4. MARSTRANDER AND COLLEAGUES AND THE GERMAN AUTHORITIES IN NORWAY: Provides detailed case studies and documentary evidence of the arrests and imprisonment of Marstrander, his son Kai, Brøgger, and Grieg.
5. CONCLUSION: Synthesizes the conflicts between the Norwegian academic community and German occupying authorities, highlighting the persistence of anti-German sentiment among the Norwegian intelligentsia.
Keywords
Carl J. S. Marstrander, German Occupation of Norway, Ahnenerbe, Norwegian resistance, Nazi persecution, University of Oslo, Grini camp, Sachsenhausen, Anton Wilhelm Brøgger, Sigurd Jebsen Grieg, Academic suppression, Sicherheitsdienst, World War II, Norwegian collaboration, Prison records.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this paper?
The paper explores the detention and political resistance of prominent Norwegian scholars, specifically Carl J. S. Marstrander, his son Kai, and colleagues Anton Wilhelm Brøgger and Sigurd Jebsen Grieg, during the German occupation of Norway in World War II.
Which central topics are discussed in the work?
The main topics include the friction between Norwegian academic institutions and German authorities, the activities of the SS-Ahnenerbe research institute, and the documentation of political arrests and prison conditions for those labeled as anti-German.
What is the core objective of the research?
The goal is to document the personal and professional hardships of these specific Norwegian figures under the German regime, utilizing archival records to establish the timeline and circumstances of their arrests and the political motivations behind them.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses historical-documentary analysis, evaluating primary sources such as police reports, prison records, and confidential correspondence from the Ahnenerbe and other German agencies in occupied Norway.
What does the main section of the book cover?
The main part contains a detailed analysis of German reports concerning anti-German sentiments at the University of Oslo, followed by extensive individual profiles documenting the incarceration history of the mentioned scholars and their family members.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The most relevant keywords include Marstrander, German Occupation, Norway, resistance, Ahnenerbe, academic suppression, and prison history.
What was the role of the SS-Ahnenerbe in Norway according to the text?
The Ahnenerbe acted as an umbrella organization for German academic activities and research, often exerting pressure on local Norwegian institutions and seeking control over archaeological sites, which caused significant resentment among Norwegian academics.
How does the author characterize the resistance of the scholars mentioned?
The scholars are generally portrayed as expressing their resistance through their professional activities, steadfast refusal to support Nazi ideology, and maintaining their Norwegian nationalist identity, which the German authorities perceived as detrimental to their control.
What specific evidence does the author provide for Marstrander's case?
The author provides detailed logs from the Grini camp and Møllergata 19 prison, alongside specific reports from the German Sicherheitspolizei regarding Marstrander's involvement with the "Worm-Müller and Paasche circle" and his alleged radio contacts with England.
- Quote paper
- George Broderick (Author), 2025, Prof. Carl. J. S. Marstrander and the German Occupation of Norway 1940-45, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1611047
