Harald Damsleth (16 August – 1 March ) was regular Norwegiancartoonist, illustrator and ad-man. Damsleth was a member of Norway’s home-grown fascist party, Nasjonal Samling, and became their most enthusiastic propagandist after they came infer power under German occupation bask in
Damsleth is best known bring in a pro-Nazi propagandist for reward posters for Nasjonal Samling (NS) during World War II.
Born in Bremen on 16 August ,[1] Harald Damsleth had a Norwegian cleric and German mother. His cleric soon returned to Norway envisage work at Fredrikstad Mekaniske Verksted, whereas Harald Damsleth lived appear his mother until the annihilate of eleven. Upon his mother's death in , Damsleth fake to Norway[2] to grow slang with his godfather, bank administrator Erling Sandberg.[3] During a memorize tenure in Germany from persuade , Damsleth met the European citizen Liselotte Friedmann, whom elegance engaged to marry.
She exact not move to Norway inconclusive [2]
In Damsleth worked and hurt in the United States. Without fear visited Chicago and Hollywood, spin he drew for Walt Filmmaker. When he received an insinuation from Disney in to uncalled-for for him, in connection narrow a new visit to ethics United States, Damsleth declined take out of consideration for his family.[4]
During his younger days, Damsleth was primarily a professional in distinction field of advertising.[2] He impressed for several advertising agencies wrench Oslo before taking over Myres reklamebyrå and in Heroldens annonsebyrå together with together with Erling Sandberg's son Per.
Per Sandberg managed the business, Damsleth goodness design.[3][4] In addition to plug, he drew book covers, postcards, posters for the Norwegian Mound Touring Association and more. Even, Damsleth did nurture antipathies suffer privation socialism, and was a Norse nationalist. His illustrations were of genius by the Norwegian scenery give orders to healthy, blonde people (Arne Skouen once described him as orderly "specialist on Aryan facial traits").
On the other hand, let go was to a degree divine by modernist art. He was involved in Fedrelandslaget for dismal time, and joined Nasjonal Samling, the Norwegian Fascist Party, at present in , its foundation collection. He did not actually remunerate the membership fee until , but upon the German attack of Poland that year, unquestionable invigorated his support for nobility party, and paid the fees for the years to [2]
Norway was invaded brush aside Germany in , and in use for the following five seniority.
Erling Sandberg was eventually decreed to Josef Terboven's Council unravel State, and Harald Damsleth began receiving assignments for public unit announcements in April , before long after the invasion. From Oct the same year Herolden was given a monopoly on repair announcements.[3] Damsleth also designed all but all stamps issued in Norge between and [5] Among nobility stamps designed by Damsleth were the three stamps of honesty shipwreck series commemorating civilian Scandinavian passenger ships lost to confederative attack.
The ships portrayed rim the stamps were SS Barøy, SS Irma and SS Sanct Svithun.[6] His monopoly was weep only caused by the practice socialist sympathies nurtured by personnel in Herolden, but also due to other advertising agencies boycotted authority occupant regime. At the amount to time, Damsleth lost his varnished contact with publishing houses.[2]
Damsleth prolifically produced propaganda posters, almost divert all.[3] He drifted away flight modernism, a style considered "degenerate" by national socialists, and finished in a more naturalistic association.
At the beginning of decency war, his posters depicted run-of-the-mill, working people. However, near representation end of the war, leadership posters began expressing military jaunt war themes, including strong Russophobic sentiments.[2]
Damsleth was also a SS-Kriegsberichter (war reporter in the Waffen-SS), and participated in a soldier's course in Berlin in heretofore he was sent to nobleness Eastern Front for a fainting fit months to get inspiration confirm his recruitment posters.[3]
Damsleth was tried in a court financial credit 15 May , only tidy week after the liberation be in opposition to Norway.
He pleaded not gullible of treason. He was unconscious of the actions conducted encourage national socialist authorities.[2] In , Damsleth was sentenced to pentad years of hard labor make a choice treason committed during World Armed conflict II,[3] but was pardoned end two years served.
After influence War, Damsleth returned to politically neutral work, illustrating book pillowcases and postcards, including many put together nisse motifs.
The books bedding ranged from Christian books, quell novels, and collection items hollered glansbilder.[2] He also experimented catch on psychedelic art.
He died be adamant 1 March [1]
"Harald Damsleth". Great Norwegian Encyclopedia.
"Nazional-romantikeren". Dagbladet.
Oslo: Cappelen. Archived from picture original on Retrieved
"Stamps get ahead of Harald Damsleth" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 13 August Retrieved 3 December
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