What did Quisling promise Hitler?

Short answer

It was not Quisling who made promises: what he brought to Hitler was a plan for a coup in Norway. It was Hitler who promised something, offering financial support and assigning a special staff to examine the military issues involved.

Published: November 1, 2026 · Updated: November 1, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Image pending

A coup plan

Quisling presented a plan for a coup in Norway. Hitler promised him financial support and assigned a special staff to study the military issues the undertaking raised. Hitler made the decision to invade Norway on 14 December 1939, after his talks with Admiral Erich Raeder and with Vidkun Quisling.

The German Navy and iron ore

The German naval staff considered Norwegian neutrality the best protection for the ore trade, while Raeder, the Navy's commander-in-chief, leaned toward a more aggressive stance.

From the Altmark to the invasion

The Altmark had served as a supply ship for the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee and was trying to return to Germany with prisoners of war captured by the Graf Spee, illegally using Norwegian waters to evade the British blockade. The naval incident between British destroyers and the German ship took place on 16 and 17 February 1940, in neutral Norwegian waters. On 19 February 1940 Hitler ordered the planning of attacks on Norway and Denmark to be intensified, which materialised on 9 April 1940 under the code name Operation Weserübung. On 1 March he had issued a directive on the Weser Exercise, that is, the operation against Norway and Denmark.