Odd Erling Melsom
Encyclopedia
Odd Erling Melsom was a Norwegian
military officer and newspaper editor.
He was born in Kristiania
as a son of traveller
s. He finished
his secondary education at Kristiania Cathedral School in 1918, and graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy
in 1922. He worked as a lieutenant
for one year before working as sub-editor in the newspaper Hedemarkens Amtstidende from 1923 to 1930. In 1925 he married Idunna Louise Marcussen. He then edited Hedemarkens Amtstidende in 1931, was a journalist in Østlendingen
from 1931 to 1935 and editor-in-chief of Hedmarks Fylkesavis, Frihetskampen and Ny Dag between 1935 and 1937. He was an early member of the Fascist party Nasjonal Samling, although he was outside the party between 1936 and the summer of 1940. From 1937 to 1940 he worked as a military officer again.
From 1940 Norway was occupied by Nazi Germany
, and in the autumn Melsom was hired as sub-editor in their official newspaper Fritt Folk
. From New Years' of 1941–42 he became press director in the Nazi-controlled Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
. On 1 July 1942 he became editor-in-chief of the Confederation of Trade Unions magazine Norsk Arbeidsliv. On 1 March 1944 he was promoted to editor-in-chief of Fritt Folk. He was a prolific agitator against Capitalism
, Marxism
and Pan-Germanism
, supporting Norwegian nationalism and (national) socialism.
He lost his position when the war ended and the Quisling regime
fell in May 1945. During the legal purge in Norway after World War II
he was convicted of treason and in 1948 sentenced to twelve years of forced labour. After serving his sentence he became heavily involved in the historical revisionism
of former Nasjonal Samling (NS) members. He edited their newspaper Folk og Land
from 1958 to 1978, and published three books on his version of World War II history: På nasjonal uriaspost (1975), Nasjonal Samling og fagorganisasjonen (1977) and Fra kirke- og kulturkampen under okkupasjonen (1980). His trilogy has been called "the closest thing we get to an official NS history on the occupation" and "the standard work on the occupation seen from 'the other side'".
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...
military officer and newspaper editor.
He was born in Kristiania
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...
as a son of traveller
Indigenous Norwegian Travellers
The indigenous Norwegian Travellers are an ethnic minority group in Norway. They are a wandering people who once travelled by foot, with horse-drawn carts and with boats along the southern and southwestern coastline of Norway.-Names for the group:...
s. He finished
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...
his secondary education at Kristiania Cathedral School in 1918, and graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy
Norwegian Military Academy
The Norwegian Army Academy was established in 1750. It is the oldest university-level educational institution in Norway, and one of the oldest active military academies in the world. Krigsskolen primarily educates officers for the Norwegian Army. There are separate academies for the Royal...
in 1922. He worked as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
for one year before working as sub-editor in the newspaper Hedemarkens Amtstidende from 1923 to 1930. In 1925 he married Idunna Louise Marcussen. He then edited Hedemarkens Amtstidende in 1931, was a journalist in Østlendingen
Østlendingen
Østlendingen is a daily, regional newspaper published in Elverum, Norway. With a circulation of 19,000, it covers the regions of Østerdalen, Solør, Glåmdalen, Trysil and Engerdal. The newspaper is controlled by Edda Media....
from 1931 to 1935 and editor-in-chief of Hedmarks Fylkesavis, Frihetskampen and Ny Dag between 1935 and 1937. He was an early member of the Fascist party Nasjonal Samling, although he was outside the party between 1936 and the summer of 1940. From 1937 to 1940 he worked as a military officer again.
From 1940 Norway was occupied 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...
, and in the autumn Melsom was hired as sub-editor in their official newspaper 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:...
. From New Years' of 1941–42 he became press director in the Nazi-controlled Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions is a national trade union center, decidedly the largest and probably the most influential umbrella organization of labour unions in Norway. The 21 national unions affiliated to the LO have more than 850,000 members of a Norwegian population of 4.8 million...
. On 1 July 1942 he became editor-in-chief of the Confederation of Trade Unions magazine Norsk Arbeidsliv. On 1 March 1944 he was promoted to editor-in-chief of Fritt Folk. He was a prolific agitator against Capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
, Marxism
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 Pan-Germanism
Pan-Germanism
Pan-Germanism is a pan-nationalist political idea. Pan-Germanists originally sought to unify the German-speaking populations of Europe in a single nation-state known as Großdeutschland , where "German-speaking" was taken to include the Low German, Frisian and Dutch-speaking populations of the Low...
, supporting Norwegian nationalism and (national) socialism.
He lost his position when the war ended and the Quisling regime
Quisling regime
The Quisling regime, or the Quisling government are common names used to refer to the collaborationist government led by Vidkun Quisling in occupied Norway during the Second World War. The official name of the regime from 1 February 1942 until its dissolution in May 1945 was Nasjonale regjering...
fell in May 1945. 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 convicted of treason and in 1948 sentenced to twelve years of forced labour. After serving his sentence he became heavily involved in the historical revisionism
Historical revisionism
In historiography, historical revisionism is the reinterpretation of orthodox views on evidence, motivations, and decision-making processes surrounding a historical event...
of former Nasjonal Samling (NS) members. He edited their 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:...
from 1958 to 1978, and published three books on his version of World War II history: På nasjonal uriaspost (1975), Nasjonal Samling og fagorganisasjonen (1977) and Fra kirke- og kulturkampen under okkupasjonen (1980). His trilogy has been called "the closest thing we get to an official NS history on the occupation" and "the standard work on the occupation seen from 'the other side'".