Society Guard
Encyclopedia
The Society Guard sometimes Norwegian Society Guard (Norsk Samfundsvern), was a volunteer paramilitary
organisation in Norway
. It was founded in 1923 as a successor to the short-lived Society Aid (Samfundshjelpen). Organised by the right-wing parties, these "emergency groups" were prepared to mobilise in case of war or revolution. The organisation was directed specifically against the labour movement
, and recruited officers and volunteers for an armed guard against revolutionary activists. Led by officers, it was organised in small secret armed groups. In accordance with the "police law" of 1928, it could be used as a reserve police force. Around 1930, it reportedly had between 10,000 and 15,000 members.
From 1925, the organisation was led by Ragnvald Hvoslef
. Other leading figures included Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen
. The organisation Leidangen
which emerged in 1931 had its background in the Society Guard. To counter such organisations, the Labour Party started organising "Labour Protection Groups" in the 1930s. The Society Guard was dissolved in 1935 following the establishment of the Labour Party Nygaardsvold's Cabinet, after it was revealed that it operated military training with material from the Norwegian Army
. According to Hans Fredrik Dahl, the Society Guard was the closest Norway came to a White Guard
.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organisation in Norway
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...
. It was founded in 1923 as a successor to the short-lived Society Aid (Samfundshjelpen). Organised by the right-wing parties, these "emergency groups" were prepared to mobilise in case of war or revolution. The organisation was directed specifically against the labour movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
, and recruited officers and volunteers for an armed guard against revolutionary activists. Led by officers, it was organised in small secret armed groups. In accordance with the "police law" of 1928, it could be used as a reserve police force. Around 1930, it reportedly had between 10,000 and 15,000 members.
From 1925, the organisation was led by Ragnvald Hvoslef
Ragnvald Hvoslef
Ragnvald Hvoslef was a Norwegian councillor of state in the Nasjonal Samling government of Vidkun Quisling, 1940.-References:...
. Other leading figures included Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen
Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen
Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen was a Norwegian aviation pioneer, polar explorer and businessman. Among his achievements, he is generally regarded as the founder of the Royal Norwegian Air Force....
. The organisation Leidangen
Leidangen
Leidangen was an organisation for volunteer military education in Norway. The organisation was started in 1931, and had its background in various 1920s volunteer organisations such as the Society Guard. Leidangen differed from the former, in that Leidangen was integrated fully into Norway's...
which emerged in 1931 had its background in the Society Guard. To counter such organisations, the Labour Party started organising "Labour Protection Groups" in the 1930s. The Society Guard was dissolved in 1935 following the establishment of the Labour Party Nygaardsvold's Cabinet, after it was revealed that it operated military training with material from the Norwegian Army
Norwegian Army
Norway achieved full independence in 1905, and in the first century of its short life has contributed to two major conflicts, the Cold War and the War on Terror. The Norwegian Army currently operates in the north of Norway and in Afghanistan as well as in Eastern Europe. The Army is the oldest of...
. According to Hans Fredrik Dahl, the Society Guard was the closest Norway came to a White Guard
White Guard (Finland)
The White Guard was a voluntary militia that emerged victorious over the socialist Red Guard as part of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War of 1918...
.