Max Hermansen

Max Jarl Hermansen (born 30 May 1960) is a Norwegian anti-Muslim activist, former schoolteacher and military officer. He has written books about military history, and became known in 2015 as the founder and leader of Pegida Norway.^[1]

Max Hermansen
Born	Max Jarl Hermansen (1960-05-30) 30 May 1960 (age 65)
Nationality	Norwegian
Occupation	Activist
Known for	Founder of Pegida Norway

Background

Hermansen grew up as a military brat in Northern Norway.^[2] He later became a naval military officer in the Royal Norwegian Navy himself, retiring at the rank of orlogskaptein, equivalent to lieutenant commander, in the Norwegian High Command,^[3][4] and also received hovedfag, equivalent to master's degree, in history.^[5]

He was the publisher of the naval military publishing company Sjømilitære Samfund from 2008, until he was forced to resign in 2013 due to his vocal opposition to the Norwegian monarchy,^[1] which included calling King Harald V a "doofus"^[6] for awarding the King's Medal of Merit to controversial Muslim convert Trond Ali Linstad [no]—the award was eventually withdrawn.^[7] He was also a teacher at Sogn Upper Secondary School, and was then described as "Norway's most active republican",^[8] while being active in the organisation 'Norway as Republic!'^[1] In 2014 he became teacher in social studies at Kuben Upper Secondary School and Etterstad Upper Secondary School, but was replaced after a short time following complaints from students due to his views on Islam.^[5]

Political activism

In January 2015, Hermansen gained much media attention for leading a march of 200 people in Oslo against Muslim immigration, inspired by the German Pegida movement.^{[9][10][11][12]} Later the same month, it was announced that he was no longer wanted at his part-time job as teacher at the Oslo Training Office for Service and Transport, due to his "statements and views on Islam".^[13] He resigned his position as teacher in early 2016 after a deal with the Oslo education agency, with a final agreement of 1.2 million kr while being banned from applying to teacher positions for five years.^[14] Hermansen also ran a used bookstore in Grünerløkka, which he closed in February 2015 after it was vandalised with graffiti.^[15]

Hermansen was formerly active in the minor Democrats political party, and was its top candidate for the parliamentary election in Oslo in 2017,^[16] after previously announcing that he wanted to become leader of the party.^[17] He was however expelled from the party in 2019, after new statutes disallowed members who were also active in far-right activist organisations.^[18] After Pegida failed to take lasting hold in Norway, with rapidly decreasing numbers of participants^[19][20] despite numerous demonstrations,^[1] he has later been active in Stop Islamisation of Norway.^[21]

Bibliography

• D-dagen 1944 – og norsk innsats. Skorpionen. 2004. ISBN 9788299704908.
• Hardt styrbord – glimt fra norsk sjøkrigshistorie. Sjømilitære Samfund. 2008. ISBN 9788299770309.
• Da Marinen fikk Sanitet - sanitetsinspektøren i Sjøforsvaret 1994-2003. Sjømilitære Samfund. 2012. ISBN 9788299770330.

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  D-dagen 1944 – og norsk innsats, 2004
• 
  Hardt Styrbord – glimt fra norsk sjøkrigshistorie, 2008
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  Da Marinen fikk Sanitet - sanitetsinspektøren i Sjøforsvaret 1994-2003, 2012