Finn Støren
Encyclopedia
Finn Sofus Støren was a Norwegian businessperson and civil servant for Nasjonal Samling.
He was born in Kristiansand
as a son of customs officer Petter Johan Nicolay Støren (1866–1924) and Elise Christopha Rude (1867–1926). He had a twin brother, was a nephew of Ernest Rude
and his father was a cousin of Johan Nicolai Støren
. The family moved to Kristiania
when Finn was seven years old. He took his examen artium
as a private candidate in 1914, and spent time in Belgium
, the United States
, Norway, Germany
, Spain
and Russia
. He spent four years in Russia, and became an anti-Communist
. He then lived for two years in Colombia
and four years in Panama
. In 1930 he became Norwegian consul
in Panama. In April 1919 in he had married Inger Lorange Suhrke, a daughter of architect and politician Wilhelm Christian Suhrke
.
Støren moved back to Norway in 1933, settled in Drangedal
, and joined the newly formed Fascist party Nasjonal Samling. He continued as a businessman until May 1940, one month after the start of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
. He then "offered his services" to Nasjonal Samling's leader Vidkun Quisling
, and in September 1940 he was appointed as deputy under-secretary of state in the directorate
Direktoratet for spesialorientering (from 1940 to 1942 named Direktoratet for utenriks orientering, from 1944 to 1945 named Kansliets utenriksavdeling). Serving until 1945, he has been called "Quisling's informal Minister of Foreign Affairs" (formally, Norway had none).
Støren was a commissarian leader of Nordmannsforbundet from 1941, and member of the supervisory council of the Bank of Norway from 1942. From 1944 he acted as an ambassador, accompanying Quisling on visits to Adolf Hitler
. He probably had an influence on Quisling's views, but this has not been researched thoroughly. Together with Frederik Prytz he was also a driving force behind Norwegian land claims in Eastern Europe. It has also been written that Støren wrote books during the Second World War, under the pseudonyms Finn Balg and Finn Grong. This is not correct. They were written by Støren's childhood friend Håkon Meyer, but as Meyer was more of an outsider Støren claimed in "NS circles" that he wrote the books.
The German occupation ended on 8 May 1945
, and Støren was arrested by Danish police in Copenhagen
on 15 May. Extradited to Norway, he was imprisoned until 1947. He was released from prison, and was soon to be tried as a part of the legal purge in Norway after World War II
; however he escaped on an Argentina
-bound ship. He made it to Argentina despite having been arrested for a short while in Tangier
. He lived as a businessman and died in Buenos Aires
in April 1962. He was buried in Haslum
, Norway.
He was born in Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
as a son of customs officer Petter Johan Nicolay Støren (1866–1924) and Elise Christopha Rude (1867–1926). He had a twin brother, was a nephew of Ernest Rude
Ernest Rude
Ernest Rude was a Norwegian photographer.He was born in Drammen as a son of photographer Christoffer Gade Rude and his wife Andrea Elise Geelmuyden . He was an uncle of Finn Støren....
and his father was a cousin of Johan Nicolai Støren
Johan Nicolai Støren
Johan Nicolai Støren was a Norwegian bishop and theologian.Støren was born in Trysil, Hedmark county, Norway, the son of vicar Abraham Wilhelm Støren and his wife Lagertha Johanne Diriksdatter. He had eleven siblings, including the brother Kristoffer Støren and a first cousin of engineer Ragnvald...
. The family moved to 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...
when Finn was seven years old. He took his examen artium
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...
as a private candidate in 1914, and spent time in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Norway, Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, Spain
Spain under the Restoration
The Restoration was the name given to the period that began on December 29, 1874 after the First Spanish Republic ended with the restoration of Alfonso XII to the throne after a coup d'état by Martinez Campos, and ended on April 14, 1931 with the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic.After...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. He spent four years in Russia, and became an anti-Communist
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
. He then lived for two years in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and four years in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. In 1930 he became Norwegian consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
in Panama. In April 1919 in he had married Inger Lorange Suhrke, a daughter of architect and politician Wilhelm Christian Suhrke
Wilhelm Christian Suhrke
Wilhelm Christian Suhrke was a Norwegian architect and politician for the Conservative Party.He was born in Fredrikshald as a son of architect Ernst Suhrke and his wife Barthe Svendsen. His father was a German immigrant. Suhrke graduated from Trondhjem Technical School in 1882, and studied at the...
.
Støren moved back to Norway in 1933, settled in Drangedal
Drangedal
Drangedal is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Prestestranda. The municipality of Drangedal was established on 1 January 1838...
, and joined the newly formed Fascist party Nasjonal Samling. He continued as a businessman until May 1940, one month after the start of 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 then "offered his services" to Nasjonal Samling's leader Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
, and in September 1940 he was appointed as deputy under-secretary of state in the directorate
Directorate
A directorate is an agency usually headed by a director, often a subdivision of a major government department.* Immigration and Nationality Directorate* Dairat al-Mukhabarat al-Ammah * Veterinary Medicines Directorate...
Direktoratet for spesialorientering (from 1940 to 1942 named Direktoratet for utenriks orientering, from 1944 to 1945 named Kansliets utenriksavdeling). Serving until 1945, he has been called "Quisling's informal Minister of Foreign Affairs" (formally, Norway had none).
Støren was a commissarian leader of Nordmannsforbundet from 1941, and member of the supervisory council of the Bank of Norway from 1942. From 1944 he acted as an ambassador, accompanying Quisling on visits to Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. He probably had an influence on Quisling's views, but this has not been researched thoroughly. Together with Frederik Prytz he was also a driving force behind Norwegian land claims in Eastern Europe. It has also been written that Støren wrote books during the Second World War, under the pseudonyms Finn Balg and Finn Grong. This is not correct. They were written by Støren's childhood friend Håkon Meyer, but as Meyer was more of an outsider Støren claimed in "NS circles" that he wrote the books.
The German occupation ended on 8 May 1945
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
, and Støren was arrested by Danish police in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
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...
on 15 May. Extradited to Norway, he was imprisoned until 1947. He was released from prison, and was soon to be tried as a part of the legal purge in Norway after World War II
Legal purge in Norway after World War II
When the occupation of Norway ended in May 1945, several thousand Norwegians and foreign citizens were tried and convicted for various acts that the occupying powers sanctioned...
; however he escaped on an Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
-bound ship. He made it to Argentina despite having been arrested for a short while in Tangier
Tangier
Tangier, also Tangiers is a city in northern Morocco with a population of about 700,000 . It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel...
. He lived as a businessman and died in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
in April 1962. He was buried in Haslum
Haslum
Haslum is a district in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Its population is 6,041. Haslum is noted for its medieval parish church, which is surrounded by a cemetery.-References:...
, Norway.