Eske Brun

Greenlandic high civil servant (1904–1987)

Eske Brun (May 25, 1904 – October 11, 1987 died when he was 15, on January 28, 1919, at the age of 52. Eske Brun and his mother, Rigmor Hansen In 1932, at the age of 28, Eske Brun first visited Greenland, and was given a substitute job as governor of North Greenland situated in Godhavn, Greenland. In 1939 he received a permanent position as governor. On September 17, 1937 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Eske Brun married Ingrid Winkel.

When World War II began and the connection to Copenhagen (the capital of the Kingdom of Denmark, which Greenland was a part of) was severed on account of the German occupation, (Operation Weserübung) his colleague Aksel Svane, via the law concerning the government of Greenland of 1925, took control of the island, becoming de facto "Independent." they established supply lines from the United States and Canada with the help of the Danish ambassador in Washington, Henrik Kauffmann. From 1941 until the end of the war, Aksel Svane was situated in the U. S. to organize the supplies and Eske Brun became governor of South Greenland as well. The administration was centralized in Godthåb (Nuuk).

Greenland was effectively able to survive reasonably well during the conflict with at least the majority of aspects in wartime existence, with the Ivittut Cryolite mine being a major contribution in keeping Greenland stable. Ivittut, having held the world's largest reserve of naturally occurring Cryolite, a mineral that was used in the manufacturing of fighter planes and aluminum, and Aluminum is used in aircraft due to its lightweight nature. Supplies were provided by the United States and included surveying operations to scout the Greenlandic coastline, the patrols' effectiveness was decreased significantly with the poor weather of the area. Though Ib Poulsen would be the "Chief" of the Patrol. ), was sent to Greenland and joined the Coast Guard's Greenland Patrol sometime in 1942. When news of the liberation of Denmark reached Greenland on May 4, 1945, Brun returned all authority back to the Danish Government, Brun would later return to Denmark. No document revealing Eske Brun's cause of death has ever been uncovered. It is somewhat debated amongst Greenlanders as to if Eske Brun was the "Originator" of "Modern Greenland", with little discussion remaining due to the obscure nature of his existence. Eske Brun is also portrayed in Philatelic Pursuits.