Josef Guttmann, a Czech-Jewish refugee in Norway, 1939 - 1940

[Emanuel Šíp]

My name is Emanuel Šíp, I live in Prague, Czechia.

We with our colleges prepare a biographical book on Josef Guttmann, a Czech-Jewish activist and journalist (1902 Tábor, Czechia -1956 New York). As a Jew and left activist, he fled from the then Czechoslovakia after the Munich Agreement in November 1938. He fled probably through Poland and Denmark to Norway, where he arrived, according to Swedish archives, on March 7, 1939. He should have lived in Oslo. Due to the upcoming German occupation of Norway, he illegally crossed the Swedish border on  April 19, 1940.

I would like to get your advice, if and where the following data could be found in your archive:

- on what ship and where (probably in Oslo) Mr. Guttmann entered the Norse territory (Act of 4.5.1917)

- about the process of his settlement in Norway ("Meldebevis” and other documentation according to the Act of 22.4.1927)

- his potential support by Norse leftist organizations (such as Arbeidernes Justisfond).

 

I would be very grateful to you to indicate what specific archive or department I should address to search for the above data. Thank you in advance.

[Arkivverket - Anita Riise]

Please use your full name as your display name according to the Discussion forum rules. How to change your display name:

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/content/change-display-name

 

The process of his settlement in Norway might be found in the local police archives, or in the archives after Sentralpasskontoret. (I have linked to Arkivportalen which is the site there Norwegian archives and museums publish their archives catalogues. You can also order material to use in our reading rooms through this site)

 

If he lived in Oslo, the archives mentioned above would be available at the reading room of the National Archives in Oslo. But you should get in touch with them in advance to make sure that the actual archives material you want to use is available for you:

https://www.arkivverket.no/en/forms/general-enquiry#!/form/0

 

The Archives after “Arbeidernes Justisfond” are kept by The Norwegian Labour Movement Archives and Library. You can read about how to get in touch with them here:

https://www.arbark.no/InEnglish.htm

[Emanuel Šíp]

Thank you very much, Anita! I will try

[Emanuel Šíp]

Dear Anita,

 

I have searched through the existing documentation at www.arkivportalen.no and suppose that the best information about the stay of Josef Guttmann, (*23.05.1902 Tábor, Czechoslovakia), who is to have arrived to Norway on March 7, 1939, can be found in the S-4F-10650 – Sentralpasskontoret Archive. He may have been recorded in the following sections:

 

Ce KARDEXKORT

Cej Flyktninger/deporterte jøder/statistikkbøker

Box L0328 Flyktninger (ca. 1938-45)

 

Da JOURNALSAKER OG PERSONMAPPER

Probably one of the Boxes L0261 up to L0268

 

Dc Fremmedregisteret

Probably one of the Boxes L0225 up to L0230

 

You may know which of the above sources would be the most productive to know as much as possible about the life of Mr. Guttmann in Norway. Then it may be sufficient to research only this one source.

 

As it is not simple for me to travel to Oslo, would it be possible for your archive to find the respective documents and make electronic copies and send them to my e-mail address (e.sip@centrum.cz)? I am ready to cover any incurred costs of this operation.  

 

I am looking forward to your answer. Thank you.

 

Emanuel Šíp

[Arkivverket - Anita Riise]

I don’t have access to this archives (except for a bit of it which are digitalized and I couldn’t find anything there).

 

So please use this scheme to get in touch with the archivists which have direct access to this archives,- hopefully they can help you!

https://www.arkivverket.no/en/forms/general-enquiry#!/form/0  

[Emanuel Šíp]

Many thanks, Anita!