Stavrum & Eikeland

– Støre bør ta tilbake ordene om at hans morfar var anti-nazist

Aug 28, 2025
Aage Sivertsen, an author known for his critical examination of Norway's post-war settlement with traitors, delves into the complexities of collaboration versus resistance during WWII. He argues that the landssvikoppgjøret was a dramatic and vengeful process, akin to historical witch hunts. The discussion also uncovers the morally fraught history of prominent figures like Jonas Garstøre and the interplay between capitalism and political allegiance, revealing how intertwined Norway's national identity was with the actions of individuals during the Nazi occupation.
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INSIGHT

Trials Were Exceptionally Vindictive

  • Aage Sivertsen argues the postwar landssvik trials were exceptionally vindictive and dramatic compared to earlier persecutions.
  • He frames the landssvikoppgjøret as a national overreaction with long-lasting injustices.
ANECDOTE

Fornebu Repair Work Started Almost Immediately

  • Sivertsen recounts how Norwegian firms and authorities quickly debated whether to help Germans rebuild Fornebu airport days after the invasion.
  • He describes local firms starting work within weeks, often with administrative approval.
INSIGHT

Law Provided A Convenient Cover

  • Sivertsen highlights authorities cited the Hague Convention to argue businesses were obliged to provide labor to occupiers.
  • He warns this legal framing allowed morally fraught cooperation under the guise of obligation.
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