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Quisling, Vidkun (1887-1945), Norway’s most significant advocate of fascism and of collaboration with NAZISM. A professional soldier, he served as military attache in Petrograd (1918-19), then Helsinki (1919-21), before overseeing relief work in the Soviet Union. As minister of defense (1931-3), he became notorious for tough rightwing attitudes, before leaving government to found the Nasjonal Samling, a fascist party committed to “Nordic” racism. This grouping remained marginal, and Quisling failed to win a parliamentary seat. His moment came early in
The Wiley-Blackwell Dictionary of Modern European History Since 1789 Nicholas Atkin, Michael Biddiss and Frank Tallett
© 2011 Nicholas Atkin, Michael Biddiss, Frank Tallett. ISBN: 978-1-405-18922-4
WORLD WAR II, with the German invasion of April 1940, when he attempted a coup. This reinforced Norwegian antipathy towards the aggressor, and support for the government of King Haakon VII exiled in Britain. Recognizing Quisling’s unpopularity, the Germans occupiers governed Norway through a Reichskommisar, Josef Terboven. However, in February 1942 hitler consented to
Quisling becoming minister-president, whereupon the latter pursued policies aligned with Nazi dictates. This further hardened Norwegian resistance and Quisling had to be kept out of the limelight. He was arrested in May 1945, tried for treason, and executed in October that year. His name became quickly synonymous with that of “collaborator” in the worst sense.
World History
