Gustav Smedal

Gustav Smedal (1888–1951) was a Norwegian jurist and irredentist activist.

He was known for his activism in the so-called "Greenland case", where Norway claimed a part of Greenland. In 1931 a Norwegian expedition occupied a portion of East Greenland, naming it Erik the Red's Land. Following a Permanent Court of International Justice ruling in 1933, in the disfavor of Norway, the official claims were abandoned, but Smedal continued his activism.

A nationalist, Smedal would find himself collaborating with the national socialist regime during the German occupation of Norway. He enrolled in Nasjonal Samling, at that time the only legal party, in 1942, but never worked directly for the party.^[1] Wishing to create ties between Smedal and the party, the regime offered him positions as law professor, Supreme Court Justice and even Chief of the Supreme Court. Smedal, being economically independent, only accepted a position as honorary professor in 1943. Instead, he was active in the organization Norges Ishavskomité together with another prominent Nazi Adolf Hoel.^[1] Smedal published several articles and pamphlettes to strengthen a Norwegian claim to Greenland, which in the meantime (1941) had been occupied by the United States. He tried to persuade Reichskommissar Josef Terboven and others, but nothing happened.^[2]

As part of the legal purge in Norway after World War II, Smedal was punished economically for his collaboration.^[1]

References

1. Dahl, Hans Fredrik, ed. (1995). "Smedal, Gustav". Norsk krigsleksikon 1940-45. Oslo: Cappelen. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
2. Dahl, Hans Fredrik, ed. (1995). "Grønland". Norsk krigsleksikon 1940-45. Oslo: Cappelen. Retrieved 2008-07-16.