Mamen Hans

Mamen, Reverend Hans Christen In late autumn 1942, Reverend Hans Christen Mamen was a university student and lived with his parents in Asker, a small village outside of Oslo. According to the testimony of Edith Adler, Mamen risked his life and the life of his family to save Jews. Mamen’s family supplied food for many Jews in hiding and they also offered temporary shelter on their farm to Jewish refugees. Mamen personally ventured on a number of dangerous missions and escorted individuals and groups on the escape route to Sweden. Among the rescued persons were Edith and Felix Adler, and three-year-old Ivar Bermann and his parents. Mamen carried little Ivar on his shoulders on the journey through the woods and across the border to Sweden. In his testimony, Mamen recalls that the little boy, who of course did not realize the danger of the situation, started to sing as he sat on the latter’s shoulders and adds: “but we managed to silence him by telling him not to disturb the birds who were sleeping... It was my privilege to see the family safe across the border where they were received by Swedish soldiers and could start talking loud again.” The Adlers, originally from Austria, were sheltered by Mamen in the house of the Eriksmoen family in Valstad, near the Mamen family farm. Mamen, who risked his life in his rescue operations, consequently fell under suspicion and had to escape as well. The Germans arrested his sister, Judith Mamen Olsen and she spent several years in prison. Mamen’s parents were forced to leave their farm, which the Germans confiscated. After the war, they reclaimed the farm, but the war years had taken their toll. Mrs. Adler emphasized that their rescuers received no remuneration for their efforts. On May 23, 1979, Yad Vashem recognized Reverend Hans Christen Mamen as Righteous Among the Nations.