Gunnar Baumann

Gunnar Baumann graduated from secondary school in 1897 and completed his military training in Norway and Germany. He became a first lieutenant in 1890 and spent two years at the Prussian Military Riding Institute in Hannover (1894-96). He bought a large farm in Bærum and moved there in 1900 but continued his military career. From 1896-99, he was an instructor at the cavalry riding school and from 1911-15, its commander. During this period, he acted as a dressage judge at the 1912 Olympic Games. After being promoted to captain in 1899, he became a major in 1915.

Between his assignments at the cavalry school, Baumann worked at the army board in the Ministry of Defence, including three years as office manager. Promoted to colonel, he became commander of the Nordenfjeldske Dragoonregiment (1922-28) and then inspector general of the cavalry. In 1927, he unsuccessfully attempted to run for a seat in parliament for Nord-Trøndelag. His distinctions included Commander of the Swedish Order of Vasa, Knight of the Italian Order of Saint Mauritius and Saint Lazarus, the Prussian Order of the Crown and the Prussian War Merit Medal.

In addition to farming, Baumann also bred horses on his farm. From 1919-31, he was chairman of the Norwegian Trotting Association. In 1924 he married Dagmar Emilie Soelberg and together they had two sons and two daughters. Gunnar’s brother Hans Adolf Victor was a navy officer and captain of the ship “Fram” during a polar expedition from 1898-1902.