Inger Gamburg facts for kids

Ingeborg (Inger) Johanne Gamburg (1892–1979) was an important Danish woman who worked hard for others. She was a trade unionist, which means she helped workers get fair pay and good working conditions. She was also a member of the Communist Party of Denmark.

From 1925, Inger led an organization called the Women Workers' Enlightenment Association. During World War II, when Germany occupied Denmark, she was arrested in 1941 because she was a Communist. She was sent to the Stutthof concentration camp and stayed there for 30 months until the war ended. After the war, from 1946, she became a member of the Copenhagen City Council, helping to make decisions for the city.

Biography

Early Life and First Jobs

Inger Mohr was born on 25 January 1892 in Holbæk, Denmark. Her father, August Andreas Søren Mohr, was a metal worker. He died in an accident when Inger was only two years old. Her mother, Ane Sofie Christensen, raised Inger and her five siblings.

Sadly, Inger's mother died when Inger was just 12 years old. Because of this, Inger had to start working very young. She first worked as a maid, then in a chocolate factory. After that, she spent six years working at the Tuborg Brewery.

Fighting for Workers' Rights

At the Tuborg Brewery, Inger saw that women workers were not being treated fairly. She encouraged them to go on strike to demand better wages. This strike helped the workers get more money, but Inger lost her job after a disagreement with a union leader.

Her next job was at Hellesens Elementfabrik, where she worked with coal and graphite. Inger's early experiences showed her how important it was to fight for workers' rights.

Union Work and Political Involvement

In 1922, Inger married Abram Itzik Gamburg, a timber worker. Their marriage ended in 1933. After her marriage, Inger Gamburg became very active in the Danish Women Workers' Union (KAD). She became the secretary for the metal workers' section in 1924.

In 1925, Inger, along with another Communist named Marie-Sophie Nielsen, started the Women Workers' Enlightenment Association (AO). Inger became the leader of this group. She strongly believed in equal pay for men and women, meaning everyone should get paid the same for the same work. This idea became a main goal for the organization after World War II.

In 1928, Inger joined the Danish Communist Party (DKP) after visiting Moscow. She became an important member of the party's central committee.

World War II and Imprisonment

When Germany occupied Denmark during World War II, many Communists were arrested. Inger Gamburg was arrested in June 1941. She was first held in prisons in Copenhagen and then in Horserød.

In October 1943, she was sent to the Stutthof concentration camp near Gdansk. She was held there for a long time, facing very difficult conditions. When the war ended in May 1945, she was rescued by the Allies and returned to Denmark. She was very sick with typhus and had to be hospitalized.

Life After the War

After recovering, Inger Gamburg continued her important work. She went back to leading the metalworkers' section of the Danish Women Workers' Union (KAD) and later joined the union's main executive committee. She also stayed on the central committee of the Danish Communist Party until 1955.

From 1946 to 1958, Inger was a member of the Copenhagen City Council. This meant she helped make decisions about how the city was run. She also tried several times to be elected to the Danish Parliament (Folketing) but was not successful.

Inger Gamburg passed away in Copenhagen on 29 March 1979. She is buried in Bispebjerg Cemetery. Her life showed her strong dedication to helping workers and fighting for equality.