Einar Gerhardsen
A former bricklayer who rebuilt Norway after Nazi occupation into a model of social democracy and shared prosperity.
1897–1987 (age 90)·Prime minister of Norway (1945–1951, 1955–1963, 1963–1965)·Birthday: May 10·The Lost Generation
Biography
Einar Gerhardsen’s political journey began not in a lecture hall but on the streets of Oslo, where he worked as a road worker and later as a political organizer. His early activism, including a stint in prison for anti-Nazi resistance, forged a deep connection with ordinary Norwegians. After the liberation in 1945, he was the natural choice to lead the shattered nation. As Prime Minister, Gerhardsen didn't just administer; he envisioned and executed a radical project of national reconstruction. He channeled collective sacrifice into building the modern Norwegian welfare state, funding it with pragmatic economic management and a consensus-driven politics that became known as the 'Gerhardsen era.' His legacy is the stable, equitable society Norwegians inhabit today, a testament to his belief in politics as a tool for practical, human betterment.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Einar was born in 1897, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Einar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1897
Einar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1897Born
President: William McKinley
1902Started school
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Became a teenager
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1913Could drive
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1915Could vote
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Turned 21
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Turned 30
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1937Turned 40
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 50
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 60
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 70
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 80
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Died at 90
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
Key Achievements
- Served as Prime Minister of Norway for a total of 17 years, the longest tenure under parliamentary rule.
- Led Norway's dramatic post-World War II reconstruction and economic recovery.
- Was instrumental in establishing the foundational policies of the Norwegian welfare state.
- Served as the Chairman of the Labour Party for two decades, from 1945 to 1965.
Did You Know?
He was nicknamed 'Landsfaderen,' which translates to 'the Father of the Nation.'
Before entering politics full-time, he worked as a road worker and a bricklayer.
He was imprisoned by the Nazi occupation authorities in 1941 at the Grini concentration camp.
His brother was also a government minister, and his son later became Prime Minister.
“We have built this country with our own hands, and we will defend it with our lives.”
