Alf Whist
Photo: Gunnar Sjøwall, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons11

Alf Whist

Norwegian politician and businessman

Alf Larsen Whist (6 August 1880 – 16 July 1962) was a Norwegian businessman and Nasjonal Samling politician who collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Alf Whist (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Aug 6, 1880, died Jul 16, 1962.1

Companies

Career

Occupation: politician, businessperson.5

  • 1941 to 1945Chair, Vinmonopolet4
  • Date not recordedMinister of Trade and Industry3

Pre-war life and career

He was born in Fredrikshald as a son of Svend Larsen (1833–1893) and Sofie Mathilde Laumann (1842–1897). He finished middle school in 1896, and after a period at sea he started working with insurance in Kristiania. He was married to editor's daughter Augusta Kathinka Hals from 1904.

He started his own insurance company Norske Lloyd in 1905, and also founded insurance companies like Norske Alliance, Norske Forenende Livsforsikringsselskap, Globus and Andvake. Norske Lloyd went bankrupt in 1920–1921. He then moved from Ullern to France. He was a board member of insurance companies in Finland, France, Algeria and the United States.

He was decorated as an Officier of the Legion of Honour, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Commander of the Order of Leopold and Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland. However, in France he was sentenced for economic crimes in 1935 (the sentence was overturned in 1942 under Nazi control). Some time after the sentence he returned to Norway, now running the company Alf L. Whist & Co. This company made a profit which he invested in real estate. One of his sons was given control over the company Heggedal Bruk, which constructed readymade cabins.

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Post-war career

The German occupation ended on 8 May 1945, and Whist promptly lost his jobs. As a part of the legal purge in Norway after World War II, in 1946 he was sentenced to forced labour for life as well as 3 million kr in repairs. A minority of two judges voted to impose the death penalty. He was pardoned in 1952, and died in 1962.

From Wikipedia’s article on Alf Whist (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • BornAug 6, 1880, Halden6
  • DiedJul 16, 1962, Oslo7
  • CitizenshipNorway8

Awards

  • Date not recordedOfficer of the Order of the British Empire9

Sources

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