Alf Amble
Encyclopedia
Alf Maria Amble was a Norwegian anti-Semitic activist and writer.
He was born in Trondhjem
, but grew up in a foster home in Stjørdal
. He took a short technical education in Oslo
in 1925–1926, but committed several petty crimes in his young days. He was given a new chance to migrate to Canada, but was sentenced for crimes here too, and was extradited. After spending some time at sea he returned to Norway in 1928–1929. He worked briefly within the Communist Party of Norway
, but later shifted to the far right and joined Fatherland League. Before the Second World War he was also affiliated with the Nazi party Norges Nasjonal-Socialistiske Arbeiderparti, and was a member of the Deutscher Fichte-Bund from 1937. He was briefly involved in the Oxford Movement
, but made a break with this organization.
He committed more crimes around 1930, was convicted of breaking and entering
and three years in prison. He was released from Opstad tvangsarbeidshus in 1933, and despite taking the examen artium
in 1934 he spent most of his future career as an activist. Historian Terje Emberland has analyzed his views as loosely based on Norse mythology
, with millennialistic
and messianistic
aspects. Amble was also a fervent anti-Semite; Emberland has used Saul Friedländer
's term "redemptive anti-Semitism" to describe Amble's views.
He became known for gluing activistic posters in the streets of Oslo, particularly in December 1938, when his actions was probably inspired by the Kristallnacht
. Amble was arrested and tried for these anti-Semitic posters. He fled Norway for Germany after being released from detention, then returned in the autumn of 1939, and was acquitted. As a part of the trial Amble was assessed by forensic psychiatrist Gabriel Langfeldt
, who among other things diagnosed Amble with "enduringly weakened mental faculties". Langfeldt (and Ørnulv Ødegård
) would later, famously, apply the same diagnosis to the worldwide known author Knut Hamsun
. Amble's defender was Albert Wiesener
.
In addition to producing posters, Amble held public speeches, ran the small publishing house Nor-press, published a periodical called Vår kamp ("Our Struggle", cf. "My Struggle
") and led his own association named Norrøna. In 1940 he released the book Mak benak. Boken om menneskeofringer, where he tried to corroborate his ideas of blood libel
. He also released the crime novel Ti kjennes for rett in 1942, where the protagonist was a Germanic supremacist. In a review, Aftenposten
called it a "product of little interest". He managed to write with a fair amount of suspense, but the book lacked in fantasy and logic. Amble is also known for translating Hávamál
.
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
, which lasted from 1940 to 1945, Amble was recruited as an agent for Abwehr
. His day job was as a German language
teacher. He joined the party Nasjonal Samling in 1941, but left in 1942. He instead founded the "peace association" Runa, which was forbidden in 1943. After the occupation's end, he was arrested in late May 1945, then released while awaiting trial. In 1947 he re-published Fredsboka, this time on his own publishing house Ama Forlag. In 1947 he was convicted of treason and sentenced to four years of forced labour. He was released in 1950, but died in the same year.
He was born in Trondhjem
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, but grew up in a foster home in Stjørdal
Stjørdal
is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Stjørdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Stjørdal, also called Stjørdalshalsen...
. He took a short technical education in Oslo
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...
in 1925–1926, but committed several petty crimes in his young days. He was given a new chance to migrate to Canada, but was sentenced for crimes here too, and was extradited. After spending some time at sea he returned to Norway in 1928–1929. He worked briefly within the Communist Party of Norway
Communist Party of Norway
The Communist Party of Norway is a political party in Norway without parliamentary representation. It was formed in 1923, following a split in the Norwegian Labour Party. The party played an important role in the resistance to German occupation during the Second World War, and experienced a brief...
, but later shifted to the far right and joined Fatherland League. Before the Second World War he was also affiliated with the Nazi party Norges Nasjonal-Socialistiske Arbeiderparti, and was a member of the Deutscher Fichte-Bund from 1937. He was briefly involved in the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
, but made a break with this organization.
He committed more crimes around 1930, was convicted of breaking and entering
Breaking and Entering
Breaking and Entering may refer to:* Burglary* Breaking and Entering * Breaking and Entering * Breaking and Entering * Breaking and Entering: Music from the Film* Breaking & Entering , episode...
and three years in prison. He was released from Opstad tvangsarbeidshus in 1933, and despite taking the examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1934 he spent most of his future career as an activist. Historian Terje Emberland has analyzed his views as loosely based on Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
, with millennialistic
Millennialism
Millennialism , or chiliasm in Greek, is a belief held by some Christian denominations that there will be a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth in which "Christ will reign" for 1000 years prior to the final judgment and future eternal state...
and messianistic
Messianism
Messianism is the belief in a messiah, a savior or redeemer. Many religions have a messiah concept, including the Jewish Messiah, the Christian Christ, the Muslim Mahdi and Isa , the Buddhist Maitreya, the Hindu Kalki and the Zoroastrian Saoshyant...
aspects. Amble was also a fervent anti-Semite; Emberland has used Saul Friedländer
Saul Friedländer
Saul Friedländer is an award-winning Israeli historian and currently a professor of history at UCLA.-Biography:...
's term "redemptive anti-Semitism" to describe Amble's views.
He became known for gluing activistic posters in the streets of Oslo, particularly in December 1938, when his actions was probably inspired by the Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht, also referred to as the Night of Broken Glass, and also Reichskristallnacht, Pogromnacht, and Novemberpogrome, was a pogrom or series of attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and parts of Austria on 9–10 November 1938.Jewish homes were ransacked, as were shops, towns and...
. Amble was arrested and tried for these anti-Semitic posters. He fled Norway for Germany after being released from detention, then returned in the autumn of 1939, and was acquitted. As a part of the trial Amble was assessed by forensic psychiatrist Gabriel Langfeldt
Gabriel Langfeldt
Gabriel Langfeldt was a Norwegian psychiatrist. He was a professor at the University of Oslo from 1940 to 1965. His publications centered on schizofrenia and forensic medicine. Among his research projects were studies of the psychology of Nazi sympathisers. He was involved as an expert during the...
, who among other things diagnosed Amble with "enduringly weakened mental faculties". Langfeldt (and Ørnulv Ødegård
Ørnulv Ødegård
Ørnulv Ødegård was a Norwegian psychiatrist. He was the director of Gaustad Hospital from 1938 to 1972. He was involved as an expert during the trial against Hamsun. He is known for his studies on women who fraternized with German soldiers during the occupation of Norway, where he concluded that...
) would later, famously, apply the same diagnosis to the worldwide known author Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun was a Norwegian author, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. He was praised by King Haakon VII of Norway as Norway's soul....
. Amble's defender was Albert Wiesener
Albert Wiesener
Albert Wiesener was a Norwegian lawyer.He graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1925, he studied in Berlin from 1926 and 1927. He joined the Norwegian Fascist party Nasjonal Samling , which was established in 1933, and was a central figure in the party's founding and relative success in Hamar...
.
In addition to producing posters, Amble held public speeches, ran the small publishing house Nor-press, published a periodical called Vår kamp ("Our Struggle", cf. "My Struggle
Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf is a book written by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. It combines elements of autobiography with an exposition of Hitler's political ideology. Volume 1 of Mein Kampf was published in 1925 and Volume 2 in 1926...
") and led his own association named Norrøna. In 1940 he released the book Mak benak. Boken om menneskeofringer, where he tried to corroborate his ideas of blood libel
Blood libel
Blood libel is a false accusation or claim that religious minorities, usually Jews, murder children to use their blood in certain aspects of their religious rituals and holidays...
. He also released the crime novel Ti kjennes for rett in 1942, where the protagonist was a Germanic supremacist. In a review, Aftenposten
Aftenposten
Aftenposten is Norway's largest newspaper. It retook this position in 2010, taking it from the tabloid Verdens Gang which had been the largest newspaper for several decades. It is based in Oslo. The morning edition, which is distributed across all of Norway, had a circulation of 250,179 in 2007...
called it a "product of little interest". He managed to write with a fair amount of suspense, but the book lacked in fantasy and logic. Amble is also known for translating Hávamál
Hávamál
Hávamál is presented as a single poem in the Poetic Edda, a collection of Old Norse poems from the Viking age. The poem, itself a combination of different poems, is largely gnomic, presenting advice for living, proper conduct and wisdom....
.
During 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 lasted from 1940 to 1945, Amble was recruited as an agent for Abwehr
Abwehr
The Abwehr was a German military intelligence organisation from 1921 to 1944. The term Abwehr was used as a concession to Allied demands that Germany's post-World War I intelligence activities be for "defensive" purposes only...
. His day job was as a German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
teacher. He joined the party Nasjonal Samling in 1941, but left in 1942. He instead founded the "peace association" Runa, which was forbidden in 1943. After the occupation's end, he was arrested in late May 1945, then released while awaiting trial. In 1947 he re-published Fredsboka, this time on his own publishing house Ama Forlag. In 1947 he was convicted of treason and sentenced to four years of forced labour. He was released in 1950, but died in the same year.