Ragnvald Hvoslef: Police President in Kirkenes

Early career

Captain Ragnvald Hvoslef was mayor of Mo Herred 1908–1910 and company commander in Ranen's circuit company for a few years in the Herred. He was commander of His Majesty's King's Guard 1915–1917 and military attache in Washington D.C. 1918–1919. He retired from the defense in 1928 with a major's degree.

Politician

Hvoslef was central to Norway's Social Security for a number of years, and was leader from 1925. He also helped found the Nasjonal Samling in 1933. HE was NS' general secretary for a short period, but fell out with Vidkun Quisling. From 1938, Hvoslef returned to a military position and he signed up for the Winter War 1939–40 as a volunteer on the Finnish side, but did not arrive at the front before the war was over. 

When Quisling attempted to form his first government on 9 April 1940, Hvoslef, who was still in Finland, was appointed Minister of Defence. Hvoslef, however, telegraphed on 11 April that he could not accept the position and instead reported for service to the Norwegian authorities. He participated in the military resistance against the German invasion forces and, among other things, led the defense of Drevsjø in Engerdal, and was only dismissed on 13 June.

In 1941, however, he was reconciled with Quisling, and until his death in 1944 held several high positions in the NS system. He was police president in Kirkenes 1941–1942, led the work to counter unrest and sabotage at the workplaces and from 1943 until his death the following year led the Nasjonal Samling Inspection Department, a personal intelligence organization for Quisling. He avoided national betrayal when he died before the war ended, and was buried with great honors from the NS regime and the occupation authorities.

Ragnvald Hvoslef was a knight of the Dannebrogorden and the Sword Order.

Family

Ragnvald Hvoslef belonged to the Hvoslef family, brother of Olympic rower Einar Hvoslef. Ragnvald was married in 1896 to Ingeborg Dagny Gulbranson (1875–1963), daughter of Carl August Gulbranson (1831–1910) and Minda Ramm Juell (1844–1913). He was the brother-in-law of Alfred P. Wright and the uncle of Carl P. Wright.

In 1917, his wife took over the property Nøisomhed together with her brother, but after a while the brother took over the property. In the 1930s, Nøisomhed was sold to Ragnvald Hvoslef and Ingeborg Dagny's daughter, Ingeborg Helene Hvoslef and her husband, shipowner Alf Mohn.