Vigrid (Norway)
Encyclopedia
Vigrid is a Norwegian
organization which combines racial teachings with imagery derived from Norse mythology
. Vigrid was founded by Tore W. Tvedt
on 31 December 1998, and is today led by Thorgrim O. Bredesen. In 2009 the group registered as a political party, and ran for the parliamentary election
, but received a 179 votes (0.007% of the nationwide votes). The organisation is widely regarded as neo-nazi
. With Tore Tvedt's retirement, he proclaimed the organisation to have been closed down on 17 November 2009. The name Vigrid is derived from the plain Vígríðr
from Norse mythology.
are guilty of turmoil and problems around the world. The organization has because of this much in common with Nazi groups, such as 1930s Nasjonal Samling. The organization consider Adolf Hitler
as a "savior" and "salvator of Europe", and adds considerable weight in the argument to protect the white race against extinction due to increased immigration
of what they call racial promotion.
Vigrid denies historical accounts of the Jewish Holocaust during the Second World War, and argues that both the number of dead Jews is exaggerated and that the dead Jews were not killed during the genocide, but died rather because of the Allied bombing. They believe that Jews exploit the Holocaust for political and financial support. They, therefore, denote the Holocaust as "HoloCa$h" and the United States as "Jew$A". They also profile themselves as Friends of Palestine
on their websites, and criticize the Israeli
actions in occupied Palestine. Vigrid is also strongly opposed to Judaism
, Christianity
, Islam
, blacks
and gays.
Vigrid claim to be an organization that distances itself from all use of offensive violence. Despite this, the Norwegian Police Security Service has characterized the ideology of Vigrid as violent, and several of its members have been involved in aggravated assaults. On several occasions, former Vigrid members have claimed that weapons and drugs are not uncommon. Vigrid also recommends that its members arm themselves within the statutory framework.
The organization regards the Norse god Odin
as the creator of the universe.
to be able to participate in the parliamentary election on 14 September 2009. The list was approved by the electoral committee on 27 May 2009, after it had verified that the 500 signatures were willingly given by Norwegian citizens with the right to vote in the parliamentary election in Buskerud. The first two candidates on the list were:
The list received 179 votes in Buskerud.
Member's freedom of association
One of its former members, a medical doctor in Norway, is in 2011 facing a potential profession ban
citing his former membership and affiliation with the organization.
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...
organization which combines racial teachings with imagery derived from 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...
. Vigrid was founded by Tore W. Tvedt
Tore Tvedt
Tore Wilhelm Tvedt is the founder of the Norwegian far right organization Vigrid. He founded the organization in 1994, and was its leader until 2006....
on 31 December 1998, and is today led by Thorgrim O. Bredesen. In 2009 the group registered as a political party, and ran for the parliamentary election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2009
The 2009 parliamentary election was held in Norway on 14 September 2009. Elections in Norway are held on a Monday in September, usually the second or third Monday, as determined by the king. Early voting was possible between 10 August and 11 September 2009, while some municipalities held open...
, but received a 179 votes (0.007% of the nationwide votes). The organisation is widely regarded as neo-nazi
Neo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism consists of post-World War II social or political movements seeking to revive Nazism or some variant thereof.The term neo-Nazism can also refer to the ideology of these movements....
. With Tore Tvedt's retirement, he proclaimed the organisation to have been closed down on 17 November 2009. The name Vigrid is derived from the plain Vígríðr
Vígríðr
In Norse mythology, Vígríðr or Óskópnir, is a large field foretold to host a battle between the forces of the gods and the forces of Surtr as part of the events of Ragnarök. The field is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional material, and in the Prose...
from Norse mythology.
Teachings
Vigrid claim that races or nations other than the AryanAryan race
The Aryan race is a concept historically influential in Western culture in the period of the late 19th century and early 20th century. It derives from the idea that the original speakers of the Indo-European languages and their descendants up to the present day constitute a distinctive race or...
are guilty of turmoil and problems around the world. The organization has because of this much in common with Nazi groups, such as 1930s Nasjonal Samling. The organization consider Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
as a "savior" and "salvator of Europe", and adds considerable weight in the argument to protect the white race against extinction due to increased immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
of what they call racial promotion.
Vigrid denies historical accounts of the Jewish Holocaust during the Second World War, and argues that both the number of dead Jews is exaggerated and that the dead Jews were not killed during the genocide, but died rather because of the Allied bombing. They believe that Jews exploit the Holocaust for political and financial support. They, therefore, denote the Holocaust as "HoloCa$h" and the United States as "Jew$A". They also profile themselves as Friends of Palestine
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
on their websites, and criticize the Israeli
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
actions in occupied Palestine. Vigrid is also strongly opposed to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, blacks
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
and gays.
Vigrid claim to be an organization that distances itself from all use of offensive violence. Despite this, the Norwegian Police Security Service has characterized the ideology of Vigrid as violent, and several of its members have been involved in aggravated assaults. On several occasions, former Vigrid members have claimed that weapons and drugs are not uncommon. Vigrid also recommends that its members arm themselves within the statutory framework.
The organization regards the Norse god Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
as the creator of the universe.
Parliamentary election, 2009
On 18 December 2008, Vigrid delivered the required list of 500 signatures to the county of BuskerudBuskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
to be able to participate in the parliamentary election on 14 September 2009. The list was approved by the electoral committee on 27 May 2009, after it had verified that the 500 signatures were willingly given by Norwegian citizens with the right to vote in the parliamentary election in Buskerud. The first two candidates on the list were:
- Thorgrim O. Bredesen (born 1980)
- Tore TvedtTore TvedtTore Wilhelm Tvedt is the founder of the Norwegian far right organization Vigrid. He founded the organization in 1994, and was its leader until 2006....
The list received 179 votes in Buskerud.
Member's freedom of associationFreedom of associationFreedom of association is the individual right to come together with other individuals and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests....
One of its former members, a medical doctor in Norway, is in 2011 facing a potential profession banProfession ban
Profession ban is law, laws or practice, which means that a person is hindered to perform one or more occupations. There is also another meaning of the term profession ban, namely: profession ban may prevail even if a ban does not exist...
citing his former membership and affiliation with the organization.