Omar Gjesteby

Omar Anton Pedersen Gjesteby (4 June 1899 – 29 October 1979) was a Norwegian trade unionist and politician for the Labour Party.

He was born in Berg, Østfold as a son of farmers Olaf Pedersen Ugjesteby (1867–1918) and Anette Elise Grasmoen (1868–1954).

He finished commerce school Treider College in Kristiania in 1915, and worked in a shop, in a warehouse and with newspaper sales between 1915 and 1926.

[1] In April 1940, some days after the German invasion of Norway, Gjesteby showed signs of willingness to cooperate economically with the invaders.

[3] Shortly after, he was arrested because the Labour Party fraction in the executive committee of Oslo city council criticized the Nazification of the County Governor post.

[4] He found work as office manager in the fish food company Erling Moe, but had to flee the country in 1944.