ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Biographics Vidkun Quisling: The Man Who Sold his Country to the Third Reich
Imagine a quiet town suddenly taken over by an invading army. This army manages to sneak in with the help of a local traitor, a shopkeeper named Corell, who hopes to gain favor and power from the occupiers. However, both the invaders and the townspeople despise him. Under the guidance of Mayor Orden and the town doctor, the locals begin to resist. Their resistance starts with small acts of defiance and grows into sabotage and even attacks on soldiers. This is the plot of John Steinbeck’s novel, The Moon is Down, published in 1942. The book was a form of propaganda, translated and secretly distributed across Europe during World War II, inspiring resistance against the Axis powers. Although the novel doesn’t specify a location, it’s clear that it draws inspiration from the German occupation of Norway, with the character Corell reflecting the real-life traitor Vidkun Quisling.
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was born on July 18, 1887, in Telemark, Norway. His father was a Lutheran minister, but Vidkun chose a different path, joining a military academy. In the 1920s, he became a Major and was sent to Russia as a military attaché. There, he worked with Fridtjof Nansen, a famous explorer, to document a severe famine and help with relief efforts. This experience made Quisling distrustful of Communism and wary of poorly managed socialist states. His work with the British earned him the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Upon returning to Norway, Quisling transitioned from a military to a political career. He joined the Agrarian Party and served as Defense Minister from 1931 to 1933. During the Great Depression, he used the army to suppress a union strike, which was unpopular and led to the government’s downfall. In 1933, Quisling founded his own party, the Nasjonal Samling (National Union), inspired by the ruling parties in Germany and Italy. The party’s platform was nationalistic and anti-Communist, advocating for a ban on strikes and the elimination of unemployment.
Despite a poor performance in elections, Quisling caught the attention of Alfred Rosenberg, a key Nazi ideologist. As World War II loomed, the Nazis saw Norway as strategically important. Quisling proposed a coup in Oslo to install himself as leader and invite German forces. He met with Hitler, who promised military support. However, the German High Command planned a full occupation of Norway.
On April 3, 1940, Quisling met with German secret services in Copenhagen, providing them with military intelligence. Six days later, Germany invaded Norway. Quisling took over the Public Radio offices, declared himself Prime Minister, and urged Norwegians not to resist. However, King Haakon VII rejected Quisling’s government, sparking resistance.
The invasion began on April 9, 1940, with the Norwegian and British Royal Navies opposing the Germans. Despite initial successes, Norway’s military was unprepared, and by April 20, the Germans had advanced significantly. The British faced difficulties and eventually retreated. By June, Norway surrendered, and Quisling was sidelined by the Germans, who appointed Josef Terboven as Reichskommissar.
Quisling was made head of a puppet government but had little real power, as Terboven controlled the administration. Quisling’s efforts to form a volunteer legion to fight the Soviets were undermined by Terboven, who created a larger unit without Quisling’s involvement. The legion suffered heavy losses and was disbanded.
While Quisling collaborated with the Nazis, only about 2% of Norwegians supported him. Many engaged in resistance activities, including sabotage and civil dissent. An underground press thrived, and there was widespread opposition to the occupation. The Germans tried to integrate with the local population through the Lebensborn program, aiming to increase the Aryan population.
As the war progressed, Quisling’s government became increasingly unpopular. He declared war on the Soviet Union and enforced conscription. However, as the Allies gained ground, Quisling’s influence diminished. After the war, he was arrested, tried for treason and war crimes, and executed on October 24, 1945.
Vidkun Quisling left no heirs, and his name has become synonymous with betrayal. His ambition to protect Norway ironically led to his downfall, as he alienated both his German allies and his fellow Norwegians. Even without his actions, Germany likely would have invaded Norway for its resources. In Steinbeck’s novel, Mayor Orden symbolizes moral resistance against oppression, contrasting sharply with Quisling’s betrayal.
Research the historical context of Norway during World War II, focusing on the German occupation and Vidkun Quisling’s role. Prepare a presentation that includes key events, figures, and the impact of the occupation on Norway. Use visuals such as maps and photographs to enhance your presentation.
Participate in a class debate about Vidkun Quisling’s motivations and legacy. Divide into two groups: one defending his actions as strategic for Norway’s survival, and the other condemning him as a traitor. Use evidence from historical sources to support your arguments.
Write a short story imagining an alternate history where Quisling chose to resist the German invasion instead of collaborating. Consider how this decision might have changed the course of events in Norway and the broader context of World War II.
Watch a film adaptation of John Steinbeck’s The Moon is Down and analyze how the themes of resistance and collaboration are portrayed. Discuss how the character of Corell compares to Vidkun Quisling and the impact of propaganda during wartime.
Engage in a role-playing game where you assume the roles of Norwegian resistance members planning strategies against the occupying forces. Develop plans for sabotage, communication, and gathering support, while considering the risks and ethical implications of your actions.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
A peaceful, unnamed town is taken over by an unnamed army. The invaders arrive by surprise, aided by the betrayal of an insider: the scheming shopkeeper Corell. The traitor seeks recognition from the new masters, hoping to be appointed as the new Mayor, but he is despised and sidelined by both the occupiers and the townsfolk. The locals, under the moral leadership of Mayor Orden and the town doctor, gradually wear down the morale of their enemies. Initially through passive resistance, this evolves into sabotage and the killing of soldiers. This is the plot premise of ‘The Moon is Down’, a novel by celebrated American writer John Steinbeck. The novel was published in 1942 as a tool of propaganda, translated into several European languages and distributed clandestinely across occupied Europe, inspiring local resistance movements against the Axis. After the war, King Haakon VII of Norway awarded Steinbeck a medal for his service. ‘The Moon is Down’ does not mention any specific location or the nationality of the characters, but the inspiration is clear: the German occupation of Norway. The character of Corell is inspired by one of the most infamous traitors of all time: Vidkun Quisling, who betrayed his country to the Reich.
**Vidkun Quisling’s Background:**
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was born on July 18, 1887, in Telemark, Norway, the son of a Lutheran minister and genealogist. In his youth, he chose to join a military academy instead of continuing the family tradition of pastoral service. In the 1920s, with the rank of Major, Quisling was sent to Russia as a military attaché to the Norwegian Embassy. During his mission, he worked with Fridtjof Nansen, a well-known explorer and diplomat. They documented the terrible famine gripping the Soviet population and participated in relief efforts. This experience instilled in him a distrust of Communism and the consequences of a mismanaged socialist state. He also collaborated with the British, which earned him an appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Upon returning to Norway, Quisling shifted from a military to a political career. He served with the Agrarian Party and was appointed Defense Minister from 1931 to 1933. During the Great Depression, he sent the Army against a union strike, which did not gain much support. Eventually, the government fell in 1933. Quisling sought to create his own party and looked to Germany for inspiration. On May 17, he and state attorney Johan Bernhard Hjort founded the Nasjonal Samling or National Union, modeled after the ruling parties in Germany and Italy, adopting their symbols and tactics. The National Union’s program was nationalistic and anti-Communist, including a total ban on strikes and the elimination of unemployment.
**Quisling’s Political Ambitions:**
After a poor showing in the parliamentary elections, Quisling met Alfred Rosenberg, a leading ideologist for Hitler, who saw potential in him. As World War II began, the Nazi leadership recognized Norway’s strategic importance for their war effort. Quisling proposed a coup in Oslo, intending to install himself as leader and invite a German landing. He met with Hitler, who granted military support for his coup. However, the German High Command had plans for a full occupation of Norway.
On April 3, 1940, Quisling traveled to Copenhagen for a meeting with German secret services, providing military intelligence. Six days later, Germany invaded. Quisling seized the Public Radio offices, proclaimed himself Prime Minister, and urged Norwegians not to resist the Germans. However, King Haakon VII declared Quisling’s government illegitimate, fueling resistance against the occupiers.
**The Invasion of Norway:**
The German invasion began on April 9, 1940, opposed by the Norwegian and British Royal Navies. Despite initial successes, the Norwegian army was ill-prepared, and by April 20, the German army had advanced significantly. The British forces faced challenges and ultimately had to retreat. By June, Norway had capitulated, and Quisling was sidelined by the Germans, who appointed Josef Terboven as Reichskommissar for Norway.
**Quisling’s Puppet Government:**
Despite being appointed head of a puppet collaborationist government, Quisling had little real power, as Terboven controlled the administration. Quisling’s attempts to establish a legion of volunteers to fight against the Soviets were undermined by Terboven, who created a larger unit without Quisling’s input. The legion faced heavy losses and was eventually disbanded.
**Resistance and Collaboration:**
While Quisling was a prominent collaborator, only about 2% of the Norwegian population supported him. Many Norwegians engaged in resistance activities, including acts of sabotage and civil dissent. The underground press flourished, and there was widespread opposition to the occupation. The Germans attempted to integrate with the local population, particularly through the Lebensborn program, which aimed to increase the Aryan population.
**Quisling’s Downfall:**
As the war progressed, Quisling’s government became increasingly unpopular. He declared war on the Soviet Union and instituted mandatory conscription. However, as the Allies gained the upper hand, Quisling’s influence waned. After the war, he was arrested, tried for treason and war crimes, and executed on October 24, 1945.
**Legacy:**
Vidkun Quisling left no heirs, and his name has become synonymous with betrayal. His ambition to protect Norway ultimately led to his downfall, as he alienated both his German allies and his fellow countrymen. The irony remains that even without his actions, Germany would likely have invaded Norway for its resources. In Steinbeck’s novel, Mayor Orden represents the moral resistance against oppression, contrasting sharply with Quisling’s betrayal.
Quisling – A person who betrays their own country by aiding an invading enemy, often serving as a puppet leader. – In literature, a character might be labeled a quisling if they collaborate with an oppressive regime, betraying their own people for personal gain.
Resistance – The refusal to accept or comply with something; the attempt to prevent something by action or argument. – The novel depicted the underground resistance movement that fought against the occupying forces, highlighting their courage and determination.
Occupation – The control and possession of a territory by a foreign military power. – During the occupation, the citizens faced severe restrictions, but many found ways to subtly undermine the authority of the invaders.
Betrayal – The act of being disloyal or treacherous to one’s country, friends, or principles. – The theme of betrayal runs deep in the historical novel, as characters grapple with the consequences of their actions during wartime.
Propaganda – Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view. – The government used propaganda to sway public opinion, but the protagonist saw through the lies and sought the truth.
Sabotage – Deliberate destruction, disruption, or damage, especially for political or military advantage. – The story’s climax involved a daring act of sabotage that turned the tide in favor of the resistance fighters.
Norway – A country in Northern Europe, known for its history of resistance during World War II. – The novel is set in Norway during the war, capturing the spirit of the people as they resisted the occupying forces.
Military – Relating to or characteristic of soldiers or armed forces. – The military strategies described in the historical account were crucial to understanding the outcome of the conflict.
Government – The governing body of a nation, state, or community. – The novel explores the complexities of government decisions during times of crisis and their impact on ordinary citizens.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – The history class focused on the literature of the era, examining how authors reflected the social and political issues of their time.
