Fedrelandslaget
Encyclopedia
The Fatherland League was a political organisation in Norway, which was founded on 25 January 1925. By the initiative of young industrialist Joakim Lehmkuhl
, the organisation was co-founded with polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen
and former Prime Minister Christian Michelsen
. The goal of the organisation was to lay the groundwork for a national coalition policy, in opposition to the emerging marxist
and socialist
Labour movement
. In 1930, the organisation had about 100,000 members and more than 400 local chapters. The organisation was forcibly dissolved by Reichskommissar Josef Terboven
on 25 September 1940, during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
.
From 1932, the main organ of the organisation was the weekly magazine ABC. The party gained particular support from the Liberal Left Party (later Liberal People's Party) and the Farmers' Party
, while it was met with scepticism by the Conservative Party and rejection by the Liberal Party. The Labour movement in turn claimed that the organisation functioned as a seeding ground for a fascist
movement. The organisation was highly active during the 1930 and 1933 parliamentary elections. For the 1936 parliamentary election
the organisation ran lists in a few districts, both independently and together with the Liberal People's Party, but failed to get a candidate elected. The organisation declined in the late 1930s, partly due to a moderation in the ideology of the Labour Party
.
Joakim Lehmkuhl
Joakim Lehmkuhl was a Norwegian engineer, industrialist and politician. He was a co-founder of the organization Fedrelandslaget, and chaired the organization from 1925 to 1939. He was chairman of the board of the newspaper Tidens Tegn from 1936 to 1940. He fled to the United States in 1940...
, the organisation was co-founded with polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In his youth a champion skier and ice skater, he led the team that made the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888, and won international fame after reaching a...
and former Prime Minister Christian Michelsen
Christian Michelsen
Peter Christian Hersleb Kjerschow Michelsen was a Norwegian shipping magnate and statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of an independent Norway from 1905 to 1907...
. The goal of the organisation was to lay the groundwork for a national coalition policy, in opposition to the emerging marxist
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
Labour movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
. In 1930, the organisation had about 100,000 members and more than 400 local chapters. The organisation was forcibly dissolved by Reichskommissar Josef Terboven
Josef Terboven
Josef Antonius Heinrich Terboven was a Nazi leader, best known as the Reichskommissar during the German occupation of Norway.-Early life:...
on 25 September 1940, 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...
.
From 1932, the main organ of the organisation was the weekly magazine ABC. The party gained particular support from the Liberal Left Party (later Liberal People's Party) and the Farmers' Party
Centre Party (Norway)
The Centre Party is a centrist and agrarian political party in Norway, founded in 1920. The Centre Party's policy is not based on any of the major ideologies of the 19th and 20th century, but has a focus on maintaining decentralised economic development and political decision-making.From its...
, while it was met with scepticism by the Conservative Party and rejection by the Liberal Party. The Labour movement in turn claimed that the organisation functioned as a seeding ground for a fascist
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
movement. The organisation was highly active during the 1930 and 1933 parliamentary elections. For the 1936 parliamentary election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1936
The parliamentary election of 1936 was the last one held in Norway before World War II and the German invasion of Norway.-Results:*...
the organisation ran lists in a few districts, both independently and together with the Liberal People's Party, but failed to get a candidate elected. The organisation declined in the late 1930s, partly due to a moderation in the ideology of the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
.