Maria Quisling

Maria Quisling, born Maria Vasilyevna Pasek or Pasetchnikova, was known as the wife of the Norwegian fascist politician Vidkun Quisling, but some historians have doubts on whether the couple were legally married. The couple met in Kharkiv in 1923, and they were formally and informally married in September that year. For a few years, she lived in Norway and France and was often separated from Vidkun because of his work and travels. They settled permanently in Norway in 1929 where Vidkun was one of the founders of the fascist party Nasjonal Samling. During the German occupation of Norway, Vidkun led a pro-German puppet regime. Maria lived with him in the Villa Grande from 1941 to 1945 and served as hostess for social gatherings there and at the Royal Palace.