Villa Grande
Encyclopedia
Villa Grande is the name of a property on Bygdøy
in Oslo
.
The construction of the building began in 1917, with drawings of architects Christian Morgenstierne and Arne Eide. It would be handed over to Sam Eyde
, founder of Norsk Hydro
. The uncompleted building was later taken over by the government. In 1941, it was designed as a residence for Maria and Vidkun Quisling
, and they lived there until the latter was arrested in 1945. In this period the villa was known as Gimle.
After Maria Quisling had been thrown out, General Andrew Thorne
, the Commander-in-chief
of Norway
together with his staff, used Villa Grande as their headquarters from 22 May 1945. They stayed there until 31 October, when Thorne went back to Great Britain
.
Today, the Villa Grande houses the Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities
.
Bygdøy
Bygdøy or Bygdø is a peninsula on the western side of Oslo, Norway. Administratively, Bygdøy belongs to the borough of Frogner.Bygdøy has several museums, like the Kon-Tiki Museum, which shows all year long the legendary expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl; the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History ; the...
in Oslo
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...
.
The construction of the building began in 1917, with drawings of architects Christian Morgenstierne and Arne Eide. It would be handed over to Sam Eyde
Sam Eyde
Samuel Eyde was a Norwegian engineer and industrialist, the founder of Norsk Hydro and Elkem.-Biography:Sam Eyde was the son of a shipowner, and studied engineering in Berlin where he graduated in 1891. He started his career in Hamburg, working with the railways where he planned new lines, bridges...
, founder of Norsk Hydro
Norsk Hydro
Norsk Hydro ASA is a Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, headquartered in Oslo. Hydro is the fourth largest integrated aluminium company worldwide. It has operations in some 40 countries around the world and is active on all continents. The Norwegian state holds a 43.8 percent...
. The uncompleted building was later taken over by the government. In 1941, it was designed as a residence for Maria and 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 they lived there until the latter was arrested in 1945. In this period the villa was known as Gimle.
After Maria Quisling had been thrown out, General Andrew Thorne
Andrew Thorne
General Sir Augustus Francis Andrew Nicol Thorne KCB, CMG, DSO & Two Bars was a soldier in the British Army who served in the First and Second World Wars.-Military career:...
, the Commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
together with his staff, used Villa Grande as their headquarters from 22 May 1945. They stayed there until 31 October, when Thorne went back to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
Today, the Villa Grande houses the Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities
Norwegian Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities
The Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities in Norway opened its doors to the public on August 24, 2006 at the former residence of Vidkun Quisling known as Villa Grande, on the peninsula of Bygdøy in Oslo.The center's endowment was donated by the Norwegian government at the behest...
.