Thread by @bambooshooti

Norwegian polymath and Nobel Prize laureate Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen died on this day in 1930. His humanitarian efforts after WWI led him to develop the “Nansen passport,” which enabled refugees to cross borders legally. /1

#ResistanceRoots

Before WWI, Nansen was a scientist who studied marine life, and an adventurer who undertook numerous Arctic voyages. In these voyages he contributed to the development of modern oceanographic equipment, and also designed expeditionary and scientific equipment. /2

After WWI, Nansen became one of Norway’s delegates to the League of Nations. H turned his boundless energy toward organizing the repatriation of about 500,000 prisoners of war, where he saw horrible suffering. His efforts led to the repatriation of almost 428,000 prisoners. /3

Nansen then became the League’s High Commissioner for Refugees, overseeing the resettlement of around 2 million Russian refugees displaced by the Russian Revolution and famine. Few refugees had documentary proof of identity or nationality, limiting their ability to travel. /4

The “Nansen passport” became a form of identity for stateless persons. In time, it was recognized by more than 50 governments, allowing refugees to cross borders legally. Nansen was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 for his work on behalf of refugees. /end