Asbjørn Stensaker

Who was Asbjørn Stensaker?

Asbjørn Stensaker was a Norwegian educator and politician for the Conservative Party. He is best known as Mayor of Bergen.

He was born in Vågå as the son of teacher Thor Stensaker and Anne Baarstad. He grew up in Fana, where his father was a teacher. He finished his secondary education in 1903, and spent one year at the Norwegian Military Academy before enrolling at the Royal Frederick University. He graduated with the cand.philol. degree in 1909, with the master's thesis Norges forsvar under Hannibal Sehesteds statholderskap. He continued in the military, and reached the rank of premier lieutenant in 1910. He spent his professional career as a teacher at three schools in Bergen: at Hambros skole from 1910 to 1912, Bergen Cathedral School from 1912 to 1932 and Sydneshaugen høyere almenskole as headmaster from 1932 to 1955. He was also a theatre and literature critic in Bergens Aftenblad from 1917 to 1932. In June 1914 he married Sigrid Ibsen Rogge.

Stensaker was elected to Bergen's city council in 1919. He remained there for several years, and became deputy mayor in 1933. In 1935 he became mayor. He continued as mayor during World War II and the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, and in 2 January 1941 he was officially endorsed by Nasjonal Samling. Stensaker tried to remain in his post in order to limit Nazi influence and nazification of the city, but found himself in a difficult situation. He tried to step down in November 1941, but this move was stopped by the Nazi authorities; however Stensaker was removed on 28 March 1942 after rejecting Lærersambandet among other things. Nasjonal Samling member Alf Johannesen took over. In August 1943 Stensaker was imprisoned for fourteen days at Hvalsmoen, but was released due to old age. Stensaker returned as mayor for half a year in 1945 after the war's end. In 1946 he released the book Det hendte i Bergen 9. april 1940–28. mars 1942, explaining his role. Stensaker was also a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway from Bergen during the terms 1934–1936 and 1937–1945.