Viggo Hansteen
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| Harald Viggo Hansteen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 September 1900 Oslo, Norway |
| Died | 10 September 1941 Årvoll, Oslo, Norway |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Politician |
| Spouse(s) | Kirsten Hansteen |
Harald Viggo Hansteen (13 September 1900 – 10 September 1941) was a Norwegian lawyer and Communist politician. He was born in Oslo.
As a student he was a part of the establishment of Mot Dag. When cooperation between Mot Dag and the Norwegian Communist Party came to an end in 1929, he stayed in the Communist Party. He became a Supreme Court advocate in 1933 and judicial consultant for the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions in 1936. In 1940 he went with the government in exile to London, but came back to Oslo in June. He contributed strongly to the prevention of the Nasjonal Samling's attempt to gain control of the Confederation of Trade Unions.
Hansteen was executed on 10 September 1941 during the state of martial law which followed the milk strike, together with convener Rolf Wickstrøm. At the place of execution, Østre skytterlags bane at Årvoll in Oslo, a memorial was erected in granite with bronze relief. The memorial was directed by Nic. Schiøll. It bears the following inscription: "Viggo Hansteen, Rolf Wickstrøm. The first victims in Norway's struggle for freedom from 1940-45. Shot by the Germans 10 September 1941." Viggo Hansteen is also remembered in a section of road around Oslo which bears his name. Hansteen and Rolf Wickstrøm are buried in Vår Frelsers gravlund.
Hansteen's widow Kirsten Hansteen became a part of Einar Gerhardsen's coalition government in 1945 and was Norway's first female cabinet member.
