Mowinckel's Third Cabinet. Hundseid went back to his prior role as parliamentarian leader in the Parliament in addition to being the party's leader. Nasjonal Samling membership and conviction after WWII After the German occupation of Norway in April 1940, Hundseid was approached during the summer by a representative from Reichskommissariat Norwegen who wanted Hundseid to lead a new organization for farmers which was meant to replace the Norwegian Agrarian Association. Hudseid declined the offer. In the autumn, he was called to a meeting with Nasjonal Samling councillor of state Sverre Riisnæs. In a follow-up meeting, Riisnæs gave Hundseid a declaration written by Quisling which he wanted Hundseid to sign. Hundseid signed a somewhat moderated statement where he declared he would become a member of Nasjonal Samling and be writing newspaper contributions in favour of NS. While Hudseid distanced himself from Nasjonal Samling and fascism after the war, he also had a track record of stark, anti-semitic statements, including claims that jews were "not real Norwegians" After the liberation of Norway on 8 May 1945, Hundseid was arrested the following day. During the legal purge he was charged with five crimes: Treason, for having joined Nasjonal Samling after the occupation. Tried to pressure members of the administration in Buskerud to become members of Nasjonal Samling. Written two articles in Buskerud Blad and Fritt Folk which was published in 1940 where he encouraged people generally to become members of Nasjonal Samling In a circular to mayors in Buskerud encouraged them to collaborate with Nasjonal Samling. Granted 5,000 Norwegian kroner to the surviving family members of Norwegians who had fought for Germany on the Eastern Front. Despite his record of anti-semtism, some historians regard him as a mostly passive member of Nasjonal Samling. In the lagmannsrett, he was found guilty and sentenced to twelve years of penal labour, confiscation of ca. 54,000 Nkr and to pay a compensation of 25,000 Nkr to the government. The Supreme court reduced the sentence to ten years of penal labour and also reduced the confiscation amount. He was released in 1949, having been imprisoned for four years. Later years Hundseid died in Oslo on 2 April 1965. He was buried at Komnes churchyard in Sandsvær, now part of Kongsberg. References Bibliography 1883 births 1965 deaths People from Vindafjord Centre Party (Norway) politicians Members of Nasjonal Samling Members of the Storting Prime Ministers of Norway Ministers of Agriculture