Nasjonal Samlings Ungdomsfylking

Nasjonal Samlings Ungdomsfylking. It was the official youth wing of the Norwegian fascist party Nasjonal Samling, active from the party's founding in 1933 until the collapse of the Quisling regime in 1945. Modeled after similar organizations in Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, its primary purpose was to indoctrinate young Norwegians with the party's ideology and prepare them for service. The organization played a significant role during the German occupation of Norway in World War II, becoming a key instrument for the collaborationist government.

History and formation

The organization was established concurrently with its parent party, Nasjonal Samling, in 1933 under the leadership of Vidkun Quisling. Its early development was directly influenced by the success of the Hitler Youth in Nazi Germany and the Balilla in Fascist Italy. Initial growth was slow, mirroring the marginal political fortunes of Nasjonal Samling during the 1930s in the face of Norway's stable parliamentary democracy. Following the German invasion of Norway in April 1940 and the establishment of the Quisling regime, the youth wing was rapidly expanded and given a state-sanctioned monopoly over youth activities. Key figures in its wartime leadership included Jonas Lie, who also served as Minister of Police, and later Sverre Henschien.

Organization and structure

The structure was hierarchical and strictly regimented, mirroring the Führerprinzip of its German counterparts. It was divided into sections by age and gender: the Guttefylking for boys and the Jentefylking for girls. Younger boys were organized in the Småfylking, while older members could progress to the elite Hirden, the paramilitary wing of Nasjonal Samling. The national leader held the title of Fylkesfører, with subordinate leaders at regional and local levels. The organization's headquarters were in Oslo, and it maintained training camps, most notably at Kongsvinger Fortress, for ideological and paramilitary instruction.

Ideology and activities

Its core ideology was a blend of radical Norwegian nationalism, anti-communism, and admiration for the Third Reich. Activities were designed to foster physical fitness, discipline, and unwavering loyalty to Vidkun Quisling and the principles of the New Order. Members engaged in marching drills, sports competitions, and ideological lectures that promoted anti-Semitism and denounced parliamentarism. During the occupation, it actively participated in propaganda efforts, organized collections for the Norwegian Legion, and served as a recruitment pool for the Hirden and other collaborationist entities. Publications like the magazine Ragnarok were used to disseminate its message.

Relationship with Nasjonal Samling

The youth wing was an integral and subordinate part of Nasjonal Samling, functioning as its primary vehicle for long-term ideological consolidation and member recruitment. Its leadership was appointed by and answered directly to the party leadership, ultimately to Vidkun Quisling himself. The organization's activities were closely coordinated with other party organs, especially the Hirden and the party's propaganda apparatus under Gulbrand Lunde. It was envisioned as the nursery for the future elite of a fascist Norway, ensuring the perpetuation of Nasjonal Samling's rule by shaping the beliefs of the younger generation.

Dissolution and legacy

The organization was forcibly dissolved in May 1945 following the Liberation of Finnmark, the German capitulation, and the arrest of Vidkun Quisling. In the subsequent post-war legal purge, many of its leaders and senior members were prosecuted for treason and collaboration. The group was utterly discredited and has left a deeply negative legacy in Norwegian history, remembered as a tool of indoctrination for a criminal regime. Its existence and activities are extensively documented in the archives of the Norwegian National Archives and have been the subject of historical studies by scholars like Hans Fredrik Dahl and Øystein Sørensen.

Category:Defunct youth wings of political parties in Norway Category:Nasjonal Samling Category:Organizations established in 1933 Category:Organizations disestablished in 1945