Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling (18 July 1887 – 24 October 1945) was a Norwegian army officer and politician best known for serving as Minister-President of Norway from 1942 to 1945, when that country was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II. He was appointed to this position by the Germans and willingly provided much assistance to his country's conquerors. He was among the war's most notorious collaborators, and his name has become synonymous with "collaborator". When the Norwegian government reasserted itself after Victory in Europe Day, Quisling was arrested, tried, and convicted on charges of high treason. He was executed by firing squad in Akershus Fortress in Oslo in short order.