Oslo — how to govern occupied Norway

Adolf Hitler must, in late April 1940, settle the form of power in occupied Norway. The question arose on the very first day of the invasion. On 9 April, Vidkun Quisling, leader of the tiny Nasjonal Samling party — which had never exceeded 3% of the vote nor elected a single deputy — proclaimed a government on his own initiative on the radio, with Berlin's verbal blessing.

But Quisling's coup fell flat. King Haakon VII and the legitimate government refused to recognise him, and the sovereign preferred internal exile to any endorsement of Quisling. Deprived of all popular support, Quisling became useless, even cumbersome: the German Foreign Ministry had never wanted him. On 15 April, power was transferred to an Administrative Council of seven men, set up by members of the Norwegian Supreme Court and presided over by Ingolf Christensen, whom Berlin hoped to see cooperate with the king.

Hitler must now fix the lasting structure of the occupation. Three paths offer themselves: confirm Quisling despite his failure, lean on the Norwegian Administrative Council, or impose one of his own men. Norway's political fate is being decided in Oslo.