Mikal Sylten

Mikal Peder Olaus Sylten (1873 – 1964) was a Norwegian writer.

Originally a typographer,[1] from 1916 he published a periodical, Nationalt Tidsskrift. It was staunchly anti-semitic, and Sylten took up the swastika as a symbol in 1917, three years before Adolf Hitler chose to do so.[2] He also published a pamphlet called Hvem er hvem i jødeverdenen, "Who's Who in the Jewish World", in 1925. In it, Sylten catalogued Jews or presumed Jews in Norway. New editions followed in 1932, 1938 and 1941.[3]

Because of his interest in Jewish affairs, Sylten was used as a consultant for the national socialist authorities during the German occupation of Norway. He also enrolled in Nasjonal Samling, at that time the only legal party, on 1 March 1942. However, he was described as an "outsider" and was never directly active in the party.[2] He had some contact with other anti-Semitic publishers, such as Alf Amble who ran the periodical Vår kamp.[4]

As part of the legal purge in Norway after World War II, Sylten was sentenced to fifteen months of forced labour. In addition, his periodical was stopped. He emigrated to Sweden in 1964,[3] and died the same year.

References

  1. ↑ Brattelid, Kristin (2004). "Mikal Sylten. Et antisemittisk livsprosjekt". University of Oslo: Institute of Archeology, Conservation and History. (abstract available online)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sørensen, Øystein (1989). Fra Hitler til Quisling. Oslo: J.W. Cappelens Forlag. pp. 93–94. ISBN 82-02-11992-8.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dahl, Hans Fredrik, ed. (1995). "Sylten, Mikal". Norsk krigsleksikon 1940-45. Oslo: Cappelen. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  4. ↑ Emberland, Terje. "Norrønamannen Alf Maria Amble" (PDF). Fortid (2/2005): 8–14. Retrieved 20 June 2011.