Vidkun Quisling: Norwegian Fascist Leader and Nazi Collaborator Executed for Treason

Vidkun Quisling, a Norwegian fascist leader and Nazi collaborator, became a symbol of treachery during the Second World War. In the 1930s, he founded the fascist Nasjonal Samling party, promoting authoritarianism, anti-communism, and racial ideology inspired by Nazi Germany. When German forces invaded Norway in April 1940, Quisling infamously declared himself head of government during a radio broadcast—without support from either the Norwegian people or the German high command. Despite his lack of legitimacy, Quisling was later installed by the Nazis as minister-president of occupied Norway. In this role, he actively collaborated with the Third Reich, enforcing antisemitic laws, suppressing Norwegian resistance, and facilitating the deportation of Jews to concentration camps. His regime attempted to indoctrinate youth and dismantle democratic institutions, earning him widespread hatred across the country. After Germany’s defeat, Quisling was arrested and tried by Norwegian courts. In one of the most significant war crimes trials in post-war Scandinavia, he was convicted of high treason, embezzlement, and murder. On 24 October 1945, he was executed by firing squad at Akershus Fortress in Oslo. His last words—“I am convinced that the struggle I have led will one day be understood”—did little to soften his legacy.Today, “quisling” has become a universal term for a traitor. His name lives on not in honor, but in infamy, symbolizing the dangers of collaboration and betrayal during wartime. Norway continues to remember the occupation years and the resistance that stood against both German oppression and domestic collaborators like Quisling.This episode is part of the series High Ranking Fascist Collaborators: Politicians.Watch the full documentary and explore hundreds of historical films at:WorldHistory.tv