Paal Berg

Paal Berg
Paal Berg (by Thorleif Wardenær / Oslo Museum)
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
In office
1929–1946
Preceded byHerman Scheel
Succeeded byEmil Stang jr.
Minister of Justice
In office
25 July 1924 – 5 March 1926
Prime MinisterJ. L. Mowinckel
Preceded byChristian L. Rolfsen
Succeeded byIngolf E. Christensen
Minister of Social Affairs
In office
20 February 1919 – 21 June 1920
Prime MinisterGunnar Knudsen
Preceded byLars Abrahamsen
Succeeded byOdd Klingenberg
Personal details
Born
Paal Olav Berg

(1873-01-18)18 January 1873
Hammerfest, Finnmark, United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
Died24 May 1968(1968-05-24) (aged 95)
Bærum, Akershus, Norway
Political partyLiberal
Spouse
Caroline Juliane Debes
​
​
(m. 1898)​
ChildrenSigrun Berg
OccupationJudge
Politician
Resistance leader

Paal Olav Berg (18 January 1873 – 24 May 1968), born in Hammerfest,[1] was a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party. He was Minister of Social Affairs 1919–1920, and Minister of Justice 1924–1926. He was the 12th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1929 to 1946.[2][3]

Paal Berg was instrumental in the German Dismissal of pro-Nazi puppet regime of Vidkun Quisling to be replaced by a council of Norwegian citizens, including himself on April 15, 1940. This was overseen after April 24 by Hitler's appointee Josef Terboven. Despite holding this position in the occupied government, Berg was far from a collaborator. Indeed, William L. Shirer names him the secret leader of the Norwegian Resistance.[4] He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1947.[5] He was a member of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights.[6]

Notes

  1. ^ Paal Berg Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, Norgeslexi Encyclopedia (in Norwegian)
  2. ^ Henriksen, Petter, ed. (2007). "Paal Olav Berg". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  3. ^ Lødrup, Peter. "Paal Berg". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  4. ^ Shirer 1990: pg. 935
  5. ^ "Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter B" (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  6. ^ "Upprop". Norsk Tidend. 1936-05-05.

Literature

Political offices
Preceded by Norwegian Minister of Social Affairs
1919–1920 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Norwegian Minister of Justice and the Police
1924–1926 		Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
1929–1946 		Succeeded by