Mikal Sylten

Mikal Peder Olaus Sylten (27 July 1873 – 27 November 1964)  was a Norwegian writer. 

Originally a typographer, from 1916 he published a periodical, Nationalt Tidsskrift.  It was staunchly anti-semitic, and Sylten took up the swastika as a symbol in 1917, three years before Adolf Hitler chose to do so.  He also published a pamphlet called Hvem er hvem i jødeverdenen, "Who's Who in the Jewish World", in 1925.  In it, Sylten catalogued Jews or presumed Jews in Norway.  New editions followed in 1932, 1938 and 1941. 

Because of his interest in Jewish affairs, Sylten was used as a consultant for the national socialist authorities during the German occupation of Norway.  He also enrolled in Nasjonal Samling, at that time the only legal party, on 1 March 1942.  However, he was described as an "outsider" and was never directly active in the party.  He had some contact with other anti-Semitic publishers, such as Alf Amble who ran the periodical Vår kamp. 

As part of the legal purge in Norway after World War II, Sylten was sentenced to fifteen months of forced labour.  In addition, his periodical was stopped.  He emigrated to Malmö, Sweden, in 1964, and died the same year. 

References

Category:1873 births
Category:1964 deaths
Category:Norwegian journalists
Category:Norwegian writers
Category:Members of Nasjonal Samling
Category:People convicted of treason for Nazi Germany against Norway
Category:Norwegian prisoners and detainees
Category:Norwegian emigrants to Sweden
Category:Antisemitic publications
Category:Antisemitism in Norway