Trygve Bratteli

Bratteli was arrested by the Nazi occupation forces in Norway in 1943 for resistance activities. He was sent to the Grini concentration camp in Norway and later to the Sachsenhausen camp in Germany, where he survived until liberation in 1945.

On March 17, 1971, Bratteli became Prime Minister, leading a Labour Party government. His tenure focused on expanding the welfare state and managing the early stages of Norway's oil boom, including the establishment of Statoil.

Bratteli resigned as Prime Minister in October 1972 after a referendum rejected Norwegian membership in the European Economic Community (EEC). The result was a major defeat for his government, which had strongly supported membership.

Bratteli's government established Statoil (now Equinor) as a state-owned oil company in 1972. This decision ensured that Norway retained control over its oil resources and became a major player in the global energy market.

Bratteli returned as Prime Minister in October 1973 after the Labour Party won the general election. His second term was marked by economic challenges, including inflation and the oil crisis, and he resigned again in 1976.