Sverre Østhagen

Østhagen was born in Hamar, a son of Gunnar Østhagen and Louise Rudberg. From 1937 he worked for the sports magazine Idrettsbladet.[1] During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany he edited the illegal newspaper Den annen front from 1941 to 1943,[1] when he had to flee to Sweden.[2] He worked for the military intelligence office at the Norwegian Legation in Stockholm from 1943 to 1945,[1] assisting Brynjulv Sjetne, who was the leader of ØXU, the Eastern Norway chapter of the clandestine organization XU.[2][3] Østhagen recruited several agents for ØXU, including his own father, who was stationmaster at Ådalsbruk Station. He also operated as a courier crossing the Norway–Sweden border several times.[2]

Østhagen was a journalist for Hamar Arbeiderblad from 1945. He was a member of Elverum municipality council from 1945 to 1947. From 1947 to 1951 he was vice mayor of Elverum. He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Hedmark during two terms, from 1950 to 1957. From 1975 to 1979 he was a member of the County council of Hedmark. He was member of the board of Hedmark Energiverk from 1979. He was a member of the publicity committee of the Norwegian Press Association, and chaired local journalist organizations in both Hamar and Elverum.[1]

Østhagen published several books on the local history of Østerdalen. These include Sør-Østerdal Skikrets historie from 1959 and Østerdalen - vårt nye turistdistrikt from 1965, on skiing and tourism. He wrote the history of three local electricity companies, Elverum Elektrisitetsverk, Åmot Elektrisitetsverk and Hedmark Energiverk.[1]