Peder Furubotn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peder Furubotn
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 August 1890 Brekke, Norway |
| Died | 28 November 1975 (aged 85) Oslo, Norway |
| Political party | Communist Party of Norway (1923-1949) |
| Other political affiliations |
Labour Party |
| Spouse | Gina Dorthea Sandal |
| Alma mater | Communist University of the National Minorities of the West |
| Occupation | Cabinetmaker, and politician |
Peder Furubotn (born August 29, 1890 – died November 28, 1975) was a Norwegian cabinetmaker and politician. He was an important member of the Communist Party of Norway and a key figure in the Norwegian resistance during World War II.
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Early Life and Work
Peder Furubotn was born in Brekke, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. His parents were Jørgen Furubotn and Valgjerd Miljeteig. In 1912, he married Gina Dorthea Sandal.
When he was just 14 years old, Peder started working as a cabinetmaker in Bergen. He quickly became involved in workers' rights. In 1909, he joined a local union. He also served on the board of the Labour Party in Bergen. He was part of a group called Fagopposisjonen av 1911, which worked for better conditions for workers.
Political Career Before the War
In 1923, Peder Furubotn helped start the Communist Party of Norway (Norges Kommunistiske Parti, NKP). He became the general secretary of the party. From 1925 to 1930, he was the chairman. During this time, he was a strong supporter of the Communist Party's ideas. He sometimes disagreed with other political groups, like the Labour Party.
From 1930 to 1938, Peder Furubotn lived in Moscow. He returned to Norway in 1938.
Leading the Resistance in World War II
When Germany invaded Norway in 1940, Peder Furubotn was arrested. However, he was released after being questioned. He then went into hiding to avoid being caught again.
In 1941, after the German attack on the Soviet Union, the leader of the NKP was arrested. Peder Furubotn was then chosen as the new secretary general. He took charge of a secret resistance organization in Norway. This group fought against the German occupation.
Peder Furubotn set up a hidden headquarters, often in isolated mountain farms. From these secret locations, he organized resistance groups across the country. These groups worked on many important tasks. They managed money, transport, and how supplies were shared. They also printed secret newspapers, planned sabotage, gathered information, and sent messages using couriers. The organization also included farmers, women, and young people.
The secret camps had strong security. They often had a safe zone of 10 kilometers around them. Meetings were usually held in mountain huts or farms in a wider area. Security people watched the surrounding rural districts. They even got reports from the Gestapo headquarters in Oslo and other cities.
The Germans tried many times to catch Peder Furubotn and his group. In June 1944, during a big German operation called "Almenrausch," he had a very close escape. He managed to get away with his family and other important activists, including Ørnulf Egge, Roald Halvorsen, Samuel Titlestad, and Arne Taraldsen. Samuel Titlestad was in charge of Peder Furubotn's safety. He helped create the clever hiding places in huts in Øystre Slidre.
After the War
After World War II, Peder Furubotn continued to play a central role in the Communist Party. In 1946, he became the deputy chairman of the party. However, in 1947, he stepped down as secretary general.
In 1949, Peder Furubotn was removed from the NKP. This happened because of disagreements within the party and influence from Moscow. He and his supporters were accused of having different ideas from the main party. Even though he was no longer part of the official party, Peder Furubotn continued his political activities. He wrote several books, including Kampen for Norges suverenitet (1948) and Vi må våkne (1951).
Peder Furubotn passed away in Oslo in 1975. His life story was later written by historian Torgrim Titlestad.
Biographies
- Torgrim Titlestad: Peder Furubotn 1890 – 1938 (1975).
- Torgrim Titlestad: Stalin midt imot (1977)
- Torgrim Titlestad: I kamp, i krig (1977)
