[5] Henry W. Kristiansen still sat as editor on 9 April 1940, when World War II reached Norway with the German invasion.
First, because it strongly criticized the existing Norwegian Fascist party Nasjonal Samling as well as Fascism in general.
Second, because it criticized the actions of the legal government, Nygaardsvold's Cabinet, and its alliance with Great Britain.
As the invading Germans tightened their rule of Norway, Arbeideren was forbidden and stopped on 16 August 1940.
Arbeideren was probed into during the legal purge in Norway after World War II for its criticism towards the legal government in 1940, but the case was closed since Kristiansen, and former board member of the newspaper Ottar Lie, were dead.