Eyvind Mehle
Encyclopedia
Eyvind Mehle was a Norwegian radio personality, media professor and Nazi collaborator.
He was born as Eyvind Mæhle, but changed his last name in 1930. He was hired in 1925 in Kringkastingsselskapet, the first broadcaster of Norwegian radio. One of his specialities were half-hour lectures in the form of travel descriptions
. He later joined the Norwegian Fascist party Nasjonal Samling in its first year of existence, 1933, and served as its press spokesperson for some years.
On 9 April 1940 Norway was invaded by Nazi Germany
, and a German occupation
followed. On 25 September 1940, Mehle was named as director of verbal programs in Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation radio. As one of two program directors, the other being Edvard Sylou-Creutz
, Mehle was considered as the successor of pre-war broadcasting director Olav Midttun
, despite being a subordinate of commissary president Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie
.
This command chain did not work well. Although there was some rivalry between Mehle and Sylou-Crantz, the most severe rivalry was between Mehle and Christie. To start with, Mehle had to hand Christie his inaugural speech on 29 September, because Christie had limited knowledge of the Broadcasting Corporation. In a broader context, as Nazis, Mehle was a Germanophile
Hitler
supporter whereas Christie was a more Norwegian-nationalistic Quisling
supporter. In addition, Christie's freemasonry
caused resentment. Mehle intrigued by pitting Christie against the broadcasting department of the Reichskommissariat Norwegen
. He also treated his own subordinates badly; he threatened employees with a gun on numerous occasions, and showed signs of paranoia
and general mental instability.
In the spring of 1941, Mehle became leader (Führer
) of the Nasjonal Samling party chapter at the Broadcasting Corporation. After a while, however, the personal antagonisms led to him seeking another job. He was appointed as professor of media studies
at the Nazi-occupied University of Oslo
. Since late 1943 no tuition or teaching had taken place at the University, only research.
Around the end of World War II in Norway in May 1945, Mehle fled to Sweden
. He drowned here later in 1945.
He was born as Eyvind Mæhle, but changed his last name in 1930. He was hired in 1925 in Kringkastingsselskapet, the first broadcaster of Norwegian radio. One of his specialities were half-hour lectures in the form of travel descriptions
Travel writing
Travel writing is a genre that has, as its focus, accounts of real or imaginary places. The genre encompasses a number of styles that may range from the documentary to the evocative, from literary to journalistic, and from the humorous to the serious....
. He later joined the Norwegian Fascist party Nasjonal Samling in its first year of existence, 1933, and served as its press spokesperson for some years.
On 9 April 1940 Norway was invaded by Nazi Germany
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
, and a German occupation
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...
followed. On 25 September 1940, Mehle was named as director of verbal programs in Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation radio. As one of two program directors, the other being Edvard Sylou-Creutz
Edvard Sylou-Creutz
Edvard Sylou-Creutz was a Norwegian classical pianist, composer and radio personality, who was especially active in Nazi-controlled radio in Germany and occupied Norway between March 1940 and the autumn of 1942....
, Mehle was considered as the successor of pre-war broadcasting director Olav Midttun
Olav Midttun
Olav Midttun was a Norwegian philologist, biographer, magazine editor, and the first national program director of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation ....
, despite being a subordinate of commissary president Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie
Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie (Nazi)
Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie was a Norwegian jurist and Nazi collaborator. He is best known as director of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation for some time during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany....
.
This command chain did not work well. Although there was some rivalry between Mehle and Sylou-Crantz, the most severe rivalry was between Mehle and Christie. To start with, Mehle had to hand Christie his inaugural speech on 29 September, because Christie had limited knowledge of the Broadcasting Corporation. In a broader context, as Nazis, Mehle was a Germanophile
Germanophile
A Germanophile is a person who is fond of German culture, German people, and Germany in general, exhibiting as it were German nationalism in spite of not being an ethnic German or a German citizen. Its opposite is Germanophobia...
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...
supporter whereas Christie was a more Norwegian-nationalistic Quisling
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
supporter. In addition, Christie's freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
caused resentment. Mehle intrigued by pitting Christie against the broadcasting department of the Reichskommissariat Norwegen
Reichskommissariat Norwegen
The Reichskommissariat Norwegen, literally "Reich Commissariat of Norway", was the civilian occupation regime set up by Nazi Germany in German-occupied Norway during World War II. Its full title in German was the Reichskommissariat für die besetzten norwegischen Gebiete...
. He also treated his own subordinates badly; he threatened employees with a gun on numerous occasions, and showed signs of paranoia
Paranoia
Paranoia [] is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a perceived threat towards oneself...
and general mental instability.
In the spring of 1941, Mehle became leader (Führer
Führer
Führer , alternatively spelled Fuehrer in both English and German when the umlaut is not available, is a German title meaning leader or guide now most associated with Adolf Hitler, who modelled it on Benito Mussolini's title il Duce, as well as with Georg von Schönerer, whose followers also...
) of the Nasjonal Samling party chapter at the Broadcasting Corporation. After a while, however, the personal antagonisms led to him seeking another job. He was appointed as professor of media studies
Media studies
Media studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass...
at the Nazi-occupied University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. Since late 1943 no tuition or teaching had taken place at the University, only research.
Around the end of World War II in Norway in May 1945, Mehle fled to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He drowned here later in 1945.