Bjarne Eriksen

Bjarne Eriksen earned a law degree in 1911 and became a lawyer at the Supreme Court in 1917. From 1926-41, he was head of Norsk Hydro’s legal department, which was merged with the financial department in 1929. Eriksen was a key figure in a conflict with the workers and their unions in 1931, in which he took an anti-socialist stance. In 1941, he became chief executive of the company and subsequently, in 1957, chairman of the board, a position he held until 1960. He kept close ties and continued to work for the company as a consultant. For his services, he was made a Knight (1950) and later Commander (1953) of the Order of St. Olav. Abroad, awarded the Vasa Order, the Dannebrog Order and became a Knight of the Legion of Honour, amongst others.

Eriksen was also a lieutenant in the Norwegian army and, as head of Norsk Hydro, initially cooperated with the occupying forces. In 1943, however, he was taken prisoner by Germany during the “Aktion Polarkreis” purge. He was imprisoned in the POW camps Oflag XXI-C in Schildberg in Poland, and in Stalag III A in Luckenwalde in Germany.

At the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Eriksen competed in the individual fencing events of épée and foil, advancing to the second round with the latter. His brother Einar competed in rowing at the same Olympics. Eriksen was the son of a shipbroker and was married to Ellen Holmboe. The couple had three children, one son and two daughters. He became an honorary member of the Royal Norwegian Academy of Sciences and the Norwegian Medical Society.