Johannes Kringlebotn
Encyclopedia
Johannes Kringlebotn was a Norwegian
newspaper editor. He edited Folketanken
and, during the Nazi era in Norway, Stavanger Aftenblad
. After serving a treason sentence he returned in the 1950s to edit the historical revisionist newspaper Folk og Land
. He was involved in politics and organizational life in the interwar period, and was also among Norway's top-ten middle distance runners
.
, but grew up in Østfold
and Aust-Agder
. His father was the manager of Holt Agricultural School. He was a brother of politician Berge Helle Kringlebotn
. He was a member of Noregs Ungdomslag
and Noregs Mållag
during his younger days, and also competed for the sports club IL i BUL
. In 1923 he was registered as among the top ten in two middle distance events; he was the ninth fastest Norwegian in the 800 metres
(2:05.6 minutes at Dælenenga in August; the fastest Norwegian was later Nazi Charles Hoff
) and the seventh fastest Norwegian in the 1500 metres
(4:18.5 minutes at Dælenenga in June). He started his journalistic career in local newspapers as well as Den 17de Mai
and Morgenbladet
. He edited the Risør
newspaper Folketanken
from 1923, succeeding Andreas Hansson.
started, he turned Folketanken into a Nazi newspaper, and in 1941 he was hired as editor of Stavanger Aftenblad
as it was usurped by Nazis and Sven Oftedal was fired. He was editor from 18 April 1941 to 27 June 1942.
He lost his position at the war's end. During the legal purge in Norway after World War II
he was tried in court for being a Nasjonal Samling member from September 1940, being the local party leader in Risør
from October 1940, being acting mayor in Risør from January to April 1941, being a Hird member and holding several pro-Nazi speeches all over Norway between 1940 and 1942. He was also tried for several actions as editor of Stavanger Aftenblad, among others the denouncing
of salesman Josef Kvavik and illustrator Henry Imsland
.Imsland was supposedly imprisoned as a result of this, but he is not included in The prosecutor wanted eight years of forced labour and confiscation of money, but in the Gulating Court of Appeal
in August 1946 he was sentenced for treason to four years of forced labour. None of his money was confiscated. He was acquitted for several of the trial points.
In 1952 he became editor-in-chief of the historical revisionist newspaper Folk og Land
. He remained editor up to and including 1957, and was succeeded by former Fritt Folk
editor and Nazi Odd Erling Melsom
. Kringlebotn died in 1959.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
newspaper editor. He edited Folketanken
Folketanken
Folketanken was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Risør in Aust-Agder county.Folketanken was started in 1888. It went defunct in 1945....
and, during the Nazi era in Norway, Stavanger Aftenblad
Stavanger Aftenblad
Stavanger Aftenblad or simply Aftenbladet is a daily newspaper in Stavanger, Norway. It was founded in 1893 by the priest Lars Oftedal, and was for a long period a publication for the Liberal Party. It had a circulation of 68,186 copies in 2005...
. After serving a treason sentence he returned in the 1950s to edit the historical revisionist newspaper Folk og Land
Folk og Land
Folk og Land was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Oslo. It was an organ of Historical revisionism for Norwegians who were found to be Nazi collaborators during the Second World War.-History:...
. He was involved in politics and organizational life in the interwar period, and was also among Norway's top-ten middle distance runners
Middle distance track event
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
.
Early life and career
He was born in BergenBergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, but grew up in Østfold
Østfold
is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden , while Buskerud and Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The seat of the county administration is Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad is the largest city.Many manufacturing facilities are situated here. Moss and...
and Aust-Agder
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
. His father was the manager of Holt Agricultural School. He was a brother of politician Berge Helle Kringlebotn
Berge Helle Kringlebotn
Berge Helle Kringlebotn was a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party.He was born in Tune.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Aust-Agder in 1961, but was not re-elected in 1965....
. He was a member of Noregs Ungdomslag
Noregs Ungdomslag
Noregs Ungdomslag is a Norwegian cultural society formed in 1896. It has around 17,000 members and 450 local chapters.-Activities:...
and Noregs Mållag
Noregs Mållag
Noregs Mållag is the main organisation for Norwegian Nynorsk , one of the two official written standards of the Norwegian language. In the Norwegian language struggle, it advocates the use of Nynorsk...
during his younger days, and also competed for the sports club IL i BUL
IL i BUL
Idrottslaget i Bondeungdomslaget i Oslo is a sports club in Oslo, Norway, founded on 8 January 1913. It is one of several branches of Bondeungdomslaget i Oslo, a local chapter of Noregs Mållag and Noregs Ungdomslag....
. In 1923 he was registered as among the top ten in two middle distance events; he was the ninth fastest Norwegian in the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
(2:05.6 minutes at Dælenenga in August; the fastest Norwegian was later Nazi Charles Hoff
Charles Hoff
Charles Hoff was a Norwegian athlete, coach, sports journalist and sports administrator.As an active athlete he competed in pole vault, long jump, triple jump, sprints and middle distance events...
) and the seventh fastest Norwegian in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
(4:18.5 minutes at Dælenenga in June). He started his journalistic career in local newspapers as well as Den 17de Mai
Den 17de Mai
Den 17de Mai is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1894 to 1935.The founder and first editor-in-chief of Den 17de Mai was Rasmus Steinsvik, who edited the newspaper until his death in 1913. Arne Garborg was co-editor the first four years. Later editors were Anders Hamre and Einar...
and Morgenbladet
Morgenbladet
Morgenbladet is a Norwegian weekly newspaper. It was founded in 1819 by the book printer Niels Wulfsberg, and was the country's first daily newspaper. For a long time, it was also the country's biggest newspaper. It was closed down by the German Wehrmacht during World War II...
. He edited the Risør
Risør
is a city and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The city belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet. It is a popular tourist place. The surrounding area includes many small lakes and hills, and is known for its beautiful coastline as well....
newspaper Folketanken
Folketanken
Folketanken was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Risør in Aust-Agder county.Folketanken was started in 1888. It went defunct in 1945....
from 1923, succeeding Andreas Hansson.
Second World War and beyond
When the occupation of Norway by Nazi GermanyOccupation 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...
started, he turned Folketanken into a Nazi newspaper, and in 1941 he was hired as editor of Stavanger Aftenblad
Stavanger Aftenblad
Stavanger Aftenblad or simply Aftenbladet is a daily newspaper in Stavanger, Norway. It was founded in 1893 by the priest Lars Oftedal, and was for a long period a publication for the Liberal Party. It had a circulation of 68,186 copies in 2005...
as it was usurped by Nazis and Sven Oftedal was fired. He was editor from 18 April 1941 to 27 June 1942.
He lost his position at the war's end. During 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...
he was tried in court for being a Nasjonal Samling member from September 1940, being the local party leader in Risør
Risør
is a city and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The city belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet. It is a popular tourist place. The surrounding area includes many small lakes and hills, and is known for its beautiful coastline as well....
from October 1940, being acting mayor in Risør from January to April 1941, being a Hird member and holding several pro-Nazi speeches all over Norway between 1940 and 1942. He was also tried for several actions as editor of Stavanger Aftenblad, among others the denouncing
Delator
Delator is Latin for a denouncer, i.e. who indicates to a court another as having committed a punishable deed.-Secular Roman law:...
of salesman Josef Kvavik and illustrator Henry Imsland
Henry Imsland
Henry Imsland was a Norwegian illustrator.He was born in Stavanger as a son of Jacob Imsland and Henriette Knudsen . He married Dorthea Grude . He became deaf at the age of nine, but dedicated himself to drawing...
.Imsland was supposedly imprisoned as a result of this, but he is not included in The prosecutor wanted eight years of forced labour and confiscation of money, but in the Gulating Court of Appeal
Gulating Court of Appeal
Gulating Court of Appeal is a Norwegian Court of Appeal.-Jurisdiction:Gulating Court of Appeal is based in Bergen, Norway. Gulating Court of Appeal holding many hearings in Stavanger and also maintains permanent offices in the Stavanger Courthouse....
in August 1946 he was sentenced for treason to four years of forced labour. None of his money was confiscated. He was acquitted for several of the trial points.
In 1952 he became editor-in-chief of the historical revisionist newspaper Folk og Land
Folk og Land
Folk og Land was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Oslo. It was an organ of Historical revisionism for Norwegians who were found to be Nazi collaborators during the Second World War.-History:...
. He remained editor up to and including 1957, and was succeeded by former Fritt Folk
Fritt Folk
Fritt Folk was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Oslo. It was the official organ of the Fascist party Nasjonal Samling, and came to prominence during the Second World War.-History:...
editor and Nazi Odd Erling Melsom
Odd Erling Melsom
Odd Erling Melsom was a Norwegian military officer and newspaper editor.He was born in Kristiania as a son of travellers. He finished his secondary education at Kristiania Cathedral School in 1918, and graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy in 1922...
. Kringlebotn died in 1959.