Olaf Gjerløw
Encyclopedia
Jens Olaf Gjerløw was a Norwegian newspaper editor. He was editor for the newspaper Morgenbladet
from 1920 until his death in 1949, except for a period in German prisons during World War II
.
as a son of vicar Ole Ohnstad Jensen Gjerløw (1845–1924) and Agnethe Hermine Brun (1854–1936). He grew up in Hamarøy
and Vågan
, where his father was stationed. He was a nephew of Mons Klingenberg Gjerløw
and Ragnvald Gjerløw
and a first cousin of Lilli Gjerløw
. From 1914 to 1920 he was married to Gretchen Scheen (1890–1981), and from February 1924 he was married to Dagmar Helene Jæger (1889–1979), a daughter of Henrik Bernhard Jæger. He was the maternal grandfather of Socialist
politician Tora Aasland
.
his secondary education in 1903, and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
in 1909 with the cand.philol. degree. In 1910 he was hired in the conservative newspaper Fredrikstad Tilskuer. After half a year he was hired in Høires Pressekontor, a centralized office that helped conservative newspapers with articles. In 1916 he went on to be sub-editor in Morgenbladet
, and in 1918 he became acting editor-in-chief, succeeding Carl Joachim Hambro. He was appointed editor for the newspaper in 1920, and remained editor until 1949, except for some years during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
. He chaired Den konservative presses forening from 1925 to 1936. Following the milk strike
in September 1941, he was arrested for "anti-German sentiments" and sentenced to fifteen years in jail. He was imprisoned at Grini concentration camp from 13 September to 8 October, then at Akershus Fortress
for a week, then at Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel from 16 October 1941 to April 1942. He was released, but kept under close scrutiny, and Morgenbladet was stopped between 1943 and 1945. Gjerløw was then editor again from 1945 to his death, when he was succeeded by Rolv Werner Erichsen
.
He also wrote the conservative-tinted history work Norges politiske historie, released in three volumes between 1934 and 1936. The purpose of the work was to discredit the "Liberal Party version" of the political history, represented by Ernst Sars
' works. Specifically, Gjerløw wanted to show that the Conservative Party did not lack nationalist goals. The accusations of lacking such goals stemmed from the party's attitudes to the Union between Sweden and Norway
. After the war Gjerløw became less of a Conservative Party
supporter; he advocated broad political cooperation and was against NATO membership. He died in December 1949 in Oslo.
Morgenbladet
Morgenbladet is a Norwegian weekly newspaper. It was founded in 1819 by the book printer Niels Wulfsberg, and was the country's first daily newspaper. For a long time, it was also the country's biggest newspaper. It was closed down by the German Wehrmacht during World War II...
from 1920 until his death in 1949, except for a period in German prisons during 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...
.
Personal life
Gjerløw was born in StavangerStavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
as a son of vicar Ole Ohnstad Jensen Gjerløw (1845–1924) and Agnethe Hermine Brun (1854–1936). He grew up in Hamarøy
Hamarøy
Hamarøy is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Salten traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Oppeid...
and Vågan
Vågan
Vågan is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Lofoten traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Svolvær....
, where his father was stationed. He was a nephew of Mons Klingenberg Gjerløw
Mons Klingenberg Gjerløw
Mons Klingenberg Gjerløw was a Norwegian editor.He was born in Aurland as a son of Jens Larsen Gjerløw and Anne Marie Nitter Ohnstad. He was a brother of Ragnvald Gjerløw. He took secondary education as well as the entrance exam at the university, but then followed a career in the press. His first...
and Ragnvald Gjerløw
Ragnvald Gjerløw
Ragnvald Gjerløw was a Norwegian priest and writer.He was born in Aurland as a son of Jens Larsen Gjerløw and Anne Marie Nitter Ohnstad. He was a brother of Mons Klingenberg Gjerløw. He spent some time at sea and took secondary education before enrolling in higher education. He graduated with the...
and a first cousin of Lilli Gjerløw
Lilli Gjerløw
Lilli Gjerløw was a Norwegian archivist.She was born in Nord-Audnedal as a daughter of vicar John Jenssøn Gjerløw and Agnes Christine Boye. The family moved to Arendal when she was young. She was a niece of Mons Klingenberg Gjerløw and Ragnvald Gjerløw and a first cousin of Olaf Gjerløw...
. From 1914 to 1920 he was married to Gretchen Scheen (1890–1981), and from February 1924 he was married to Dagmar Helene Jæger (1889–1979), a daughter of Henrik Bernhard Jæger. He was the maternal grandfather of Socialist
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
politician Tora Aasland
Tora Aasland
Tora Aasland is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party.She was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Akershus in 1985, and was re-elected on one occasion....
.
Career
Gjerløw finishedExamen 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 1903, and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
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...
in 1909 with the cand.philol. degree. In 1910 he was hired in the conservative newspaper Fredrikstad Tilskuer. After half a year he was hired in Høires Pressekontor, a centralized office that helped conservative newspapers with articles. In 1916 he went on to be sub-editor in Morgenbladet
Morgenbladet
Morgenbladet is a Norwegian weekly newspaper. It was founded in 1819 by the book printer Niels Wulfsberg, and was the country's first daily newspaper. For a long time, it was also the country's biggest newspaper. It was closed down by the German Wehrmacht during World War II...
, and in 1918 he became acting editor-in-chief, succeeding Carl Joachim Hambro. He was appointed editor for the newspaper in 1920, and remained editor until 1949, except for some years 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 chaired Den konservative presses forening from 1925 to 1936. Following the milk strike
Milk strike
The milk strike was a strike in Nazi occupied Oslo on 8 and 9 September 1941. It led to strong reprisals from the German occupiers, in the form of martial law, court-martial, mass arrests, two executions and several long-term jail sentences.-Start:...
in September 1941, he was arrested for "anti-German sentiments" and sentenced to fifteen years in jail. He was imprisoned at Grini concentration camp from 13 September to 8 October, then at Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
for a week, then at Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel from 16 October 1941 to April 1942. He was released, but kept under close scrutiny, and Morgenbladet was stopped between 1943 and 1945. Gjerløw was then editor again from 1945 to his death, when he was succeeded by Rolv Werner Erichsen
Rolv Werner Erichsen
Rolv Werner Erichsen was a Norwegian newspaper editor. Born in Holt outside Tvedestrand in Aust-Agder, he was hailed as a "gentleman of the press" with a "pronounced sense for correctness, precision and reliability"....
.
He also wrote the conservative-tinted history work Norges politiske historie, released in three volumes between 1934 and 1936. The purpose of the work was to discredit the "Liberal Party version" of the political history, represented by Ernst Sars
Ernst Sars
Johan Ernst Welhaven Sars was a Norwegian historian, publicist and editor. His main work was Udsigt over den norske Historie, four volumes issued from 1873 to 1891. He co-edited the magazines Nyt norsk Tidskrift from 1877 to 1878, and Nyt Tidsskrift from 1882 to 1887...
' works. Specifically, Gjerløw wanted to show that the Conservative Party did not lack nationalist goals. The accusations of lacking such goals stemmed from the party's attitudes to the Union between Sweden and Norway
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
. After the war Gjerløw became less of a Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
supporter; he advocated broad political cooperation and was against NATO membership. He died in December 1949 in Oslo.