Paal Berg

Paal Olav Berg (18 January 1873 – 24 May 1968), born in Hammerfest,^[1] was a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party. He was Minister of Social Affairs 1919–1920, and Minister of Justice 1924–1926. He was the 12th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1929 to 1946.^[2][3]

Paal Berg
Paal Berg (by Thorleif Wardenær / Oslo Museum)
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
In office 1929–1946
Preceded by	Herman Scheel
Succeeded by	Emil Stang jr.
Minister of Justice
In office 25 July 1924 – 5 March 1926
Prime Minister	J. L. Mowinckel
Preceded by	Christian L. Rolfsen
Succeeded by	Ingolf E. Christensen
Minister of Social Affairs
In office 20 February 1919 – 21 June 1920
Prime Minister	Gunnar Knudsen
Preceded by	Lars Abrahamsen
Succeeded by	Odd Klingenberg
Personal details
Born	Paal Olav Berg (1873-01-18)18 January 1873 Hammerfest, Finnmark, United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
Died	24 May 1968(1968-05-24) (aged 95) Bærum, Akershus, Norway
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Caroline Juliane Debes ​ ​ (m. 1898)​
Children	Sigrun Berg
Occupation	Judge Politician Resistance leader

Paal Berg was instrumental in the German Dismissal of pro-Nazi puppet regime of Vidkun Quisling to be replaced by a council of Norwegian citizens, including himself on April 15, 1940. This was overseen after April 24 by Hitler's appointee Josef Terboven. Despite holding this position in the occupied government, Berg was far from a collaborator. Indeed, William L. Shirer names him the secret leader of the Norwegian Resistance.^[4] He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1947.^[5] He was a member of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights.^[6]