Alf Whist
Encyclopedia
Alf Larsen Whist was a Norwegian businessperson and politician for Nasjonal Samling.
He was born in Fredrikshald
as a son of Svend Larsen (1833–1893) and Sofie Mathilde Laumann (1842–1897). He was married to Augusta Kathinka Hals from 1904. He finished middle school in 1896, and after a period at sea he started working with insurance in Kristiania
. He was involved in several insurance companies, among others Norske Lloyd from 1905 to 1920–1921, when it went bankrupt. He moved from Ullern
to France, but here he was sentenced for economic crimes in 1935 (the sentence was overturned in 1942 under Nazi control). Some time after the sentence he returned to Norway, now running the company Alf L. Whist & Co.
Following the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
which started on 9 April 1940, Whist made himself a new career as a profiteer
. Despite having no political experience, he now joined the only legal political party in the country, the Fascist party Nasjonal Samling (NS), in the summer of 1940, and was soon installed in the board of directors of Vinmonopolet
(as chairman) and Norges Brannkasse. On 8 November 1941 he was proclaimed as the NS Ombudsman for Businesses . This was a new office, suggested by Whist himself. Its purpose was in part to establish a network of NS sympathizers in the Norwegian business life and to recruit businesspeople to the party, but the mandate was vague. Whist used it as a vehicle to further his own interests, but also to strengthen national socialist economic ideas within business.
He was behind the merger of several employers' associations to found Norges Næringssamband on 1 May 1943, where he also became president. As chairman Lars Hasvold
was installed, a former secretary-general who had been a contact of Whist since the autumn of 1941. Norges Næringssamband was also used as a personal vehicle for political power, as well as an organization to outline technological visions for a future Fascist Norway. On 4 November 1943 Whist's power platform became even larger, as he was named in Quisling's Second Cabinet as a minister without ministry, responsible for the coordination of provisions and industrial war efforts. In January 1944 he was allowed to accompany Vidkun Quisling
on his visit to Adolf Hitler
. He tried unsuccessfully to become Minister of Finance, but on 12 June 1944 he took over for Eivind Blehr
as Minister of Industry and Shipping. Blehr was pressured out of government because he was too Norwegian-nationalist, whereas Whist was more German-friendly.
The German occupation ended on 8 May 1945
, and Whist promptly lost his jobs. As a part of the legal purge in Norway after World War II
, in 1946 he was sentenced to forced labour for life as well as in repairs. A minority of two judges voted to impose the death penalty. He was pardoned in 1952, and died in 1962.
He was born in Fredrikshald
Halden
is a both a town and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The seat of the municipality, Halden is a border town located at the Tista river delta on the Iddefjord, the southernmost border crossing between Norway and Sweden.-History:...
as a son of Svend Larsen (1833–1893) and Sofie Mathilde Laumann (1842–1897). He was married to Augusta Kathinka Hals from 1904. He finished middle school in 1896, and after a period at sea he started working with insurance in Kristiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. He was involved in several insurance companies, among others Norske Lloyd from 1905 to 1920–1921, when it went bankrupt. He moved from Ullern
Ullern
Ullern is an affluent borough of the city of Oslo, Norway.- History :The borough has its name from an old farm, Norse Ullarin. The first element is the genitive case of the name of the Norse god Ullr. The last element is vin, meaning pasture or meadow. In Medieval times, the farm belonged to the...
to France, but here he was sentenced for economic crimes in 1935 (the sentence was overturned in 1942 under Nazi control). Some time after the sentence he returned to Norway, now running the company Alf L. Whist & Co.
Following the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
which started on 9 April 1940, Whist made himself a new career as a profiteer
War profiteering
A war profiteer is any person or organization that profits from warfare or by selling weapons and other goods to parties at war. The term has strong negative connotations. General profiteering may also occur in peace time.-International arms dealers:...
. Despite having no political experience, he now joined the only legal political party in the country, the Fascist party Nasjonal Samling (NS), in the summer of 1940, and was soon installed in the board of directors of Vinmonopolet
Vinmonopolet
Vinmonopolet , symbolized by Ⓥ and colloquially shortened to Polet, is a government owned alcoholic beverage retailer and the only company allowed to sell beverages containing an alcohol content higher than 4.75% in Norway....
(as chairman) and Norges Brannkasse. On 8 November 1941 he was proclaimed as the NS Ombudsman for Businesses . This was a new office, suggested by Whist himself. Its purpose was in part to establish a network of NS sympathizers in the Norwegian business life and to recruit businesspeople to the party, but the mandate was vague. Whist used it as a vehicle to further his own interests, but also to strengthen national socialist economic ideas within business.
He was behind the merger of several employers' associations to found Norges Næringssamband on 1 May 1943, where he also became president. As chairman Lars Hasvold
Lars Hasvold
Øistein Lars Hasvold was a Norwegian organizational director.He was a member of Fedrelandslaget in the 1930s, and was its secretary-general from 1938 to the disestablishment in 1940. The disestablishment followed the German occupation of Norway, and in January 1942 Hasvold joined the only legal...
was installed, a former secretary-general who had been a contact of Whist since the autumn of 1941. Norges Næringssamband was also used as a personal vehicle for political power, as well as an organization to outline technological visions for a future Fascist Norway. On 4 November 1943 Whist's power platform became even larger, as he was named in Quisling's Second Cabinet as a minister without ministry, responsible for the coordination of provisions and industrial war efforts. In January 1944 he was allowed to accompany Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
on his visit to Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. He tried unsuccessfully to become Minister of Finance, but on 12 June 1944 he took over for Eivind Blehr
Eivind Blehr
Eivind Blehr was a Norwegian minister in the NS government of Vidkun Quisling, from 1942 to 1944. He was son of former prime minister Otto Blehr.-References:...
as Minister of Industry and Shipping. Blehr was pressured out of government because he was too Norwegian-nationalist, whereas Whist was more German-friendly.
The German occupation ended on 8 May 1945
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
, and Whist promptly lost his jobs. As a part of the legal purge in Norway after World War II
Legal purge in Norway after World War II
When the occupation of Norway ended in May 1945, several thousand Norwegians and foreign citizens were tried and convicted for various acts that the occupying powers sanctioned...
, in 1946 he was sentenced to forced labour for life as well as in repairs. A minority of two judges voted to impose the death penalty. He was pardoned in 1952, and died in 1962.