Lecture: The Phenomenon of the Rød Case

The Narvik Centre Foundation and Narvik Library invite you to an exciting lecture with historian and author Gaute Lund Rønnebu. In the book “Crime Without Punishment: Knut Rød and the Responsibility for the Holocaust in Norway”, Rønnebu examines the prolonged debate surrounding the process that later became known as “the most peculiar case of the post-war legal purge.” In the autumn of 1942, Police Inspector Knut Rød led the arrests of Jews in the Oslo area.

After the war, he did not deny his role as leader of the operations, yet he was acquitted twice in the Court of Appeal for aiding the enemy. How could a vague connection to the resistance movement outweigh his central role in the persecution of innocent people? Was anyone instrumental in securing his acquittal, and why did it take so long before responsibility for the Holocaust in Norway received wider recognition? The Rød case has become increasingly controversial over the years. In this lecture, Gaute Lund Rønnebu shares insights from his work on the book and sheds light on the events, the legal proceedings, and how perceptions of the case have changed over time, asking: Can we today understand the Knut Rød case in a new way? This is an opportunity to gain insight into one of the most debated legal cases in Norwegian history, and to hear directly from the author of Crime Without Punishment. The event is open to everyone.

You are most welcome! November 26, 18:00 Narvik Library, Kongensgate 39, 8514 Narvik