A strong proponent of pan-German national socialism, he was a member of the National Socialist Workers' Party of Norway (NNSAP) during the 1930s, until reluctantly joining Nasjonal Samling (NS) in 1940, some months after the NNSAP was dissolved. He was editor of "Norsk Folkeblad" in 1939–40, and a staff member of "Hirden" until he was hired as editor of "Germaneren", the paper of "Germanske SS Norge" (GSSN) in 1942. Along with the leader of GSSN, Leif Schøren, Torkildsen was set aside by NS in January 1945 and sent to Germany after attempts of a pro-German coup against Vidkun Quisling and NS. He was enrolled in the "Waffen-SS" during the final stage of the war. Arriving in Berlin on 2 April, he fled on 16 April, and reached Denmark fourteen days later.