Re: Quisling
Posted by Bruce Kahl on February 12, 2003
In Reply to: Quisling posted by S. Ryan
on February 12, 2003
: : quisling \ 'kwiz-lin\ n [Vidkun Quisling d1945 Norwegian politician]: a traitor
who collaborates with the invaders of his country especially by serving in a puppet
government.
: I am sure that over the centuries and through many wars there
have been those who have served, collaborated or otherwise abetted the enemy and
successfully remained anonymous. What did poor Vidkun do to forever link his name
to treachery?
"AS IN ALL the other occupied countries, the Nazi power profited
from the support of local sympathisers. During a visit to Hitler in Berlin in
the winter of 1939-40, the leader of the national socialist Nasjonal Samling Party,
Vidkun Quisling, had pointed out how valuable it would be for Germany to occupy
Norway. Immediately after the invasion, on the morning of April 9, 1940, he proclaimed
himself the new head of the government and ordered the Norwegian armed forces
to stop battling the Germans. But Quisling's intervention backfired and stimulated
the resistance. Thus, the occupying power quickly realized that -- for the time
being -- Quisling did not serve their interests and they chose to base their administration
of the country on a certain degree of give-and-take with the existing civilian
authorities."
- Re: Quisling S. Ryan 02/13/03
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