Grini

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Grini fangeleir is the name of a Nazi concentration camp located outside of Oslo, Norway in the municipality of Bærum. It was originally built as a women's prison in 1939, but was put into use as a concentration camp, primarily for Norwegian political prisoners on May 2, 1941. The prisoner inducted on that day was Andreas Møll Hansen, a student in the Norwegian underground.

Altogether, 20 000 prisoners passed through Grini, and at most there were 5 000 inmates at any time. It is not known how many were killed there, though the Gestapo and police often used the area for purposes of torture, and at least 8 were executed. Executions commonly took place at Akershus festning.

After the war, the prison was used for Norwegians convicted of treason and renamed Ilebu. It was closed in 1950, and reopened in 1952 as Ila landsfengsel og sikringsanstalt for long-term prisoners.

Famous inmates included:

  • Johannes Andenæs
  • Reidar Aulie
  • Lars Berg
  • Johan Borgen
  • Abraham Borøchstein
  • Trygve Bratteli
  • Anton Wilhelm Brøgger
  • Francis Bull
  • Hermann Fischer
  • Per Krogh
  • Marie Lous Mohr
  • Abelone Møkster
  • Otto Nielsen
  • Odd Nansen
  • Rasmus Navelsaker
  • Peder J. M. Pedersen
  • Birger Ruud
  • Lauritz Sand
  • Didrik Arup Seip
  • Arne Sælensminde
  • Lars Sæther
  • Gustav Sønsteby
  • Henrik Sørensen
  • Kristian Welhaven
  • Arnulf Øverland