1942: Norway

The year 1942 continued the German invaders' attempts of 1941 to subdue the conquered country. More newspapers were suppressed, bringing the total in January 1942 to seventy. The people's resistance mounted as successive persecutions increased. Though the enemy boasted of Aryan-Nordic affinity and claimed to be 'fellow inheritors of the Eddas and Sagas,' they made no impression. They increased their mass arrests, with cases of torture. Over 4,000 Norwegians had by January been taken into custody, 3,000 put into concentration camps, with the 'most dangerous' in camps in Germany. As of that date, 1,000 had been sentenced to long prison terms (one to eight years, or life); about 100 had been executed.

The purposes of the conquerors seemed to be the taking of hostages; the avoidance of collaboration between Norwegians inside and out of the country; and the elimination of further raids on the Lofoten Islands and along the coast. From Berlin came instructions to Reichskommissar Josef Terboven to jail all relatives of Norwegian military officers in England engaged with Norwegian forces against Germany.

Clerical and educational leaders stiffened their resistance. At the end of February, Norway's seven bishops resigned, with most of the parish clergy and nearly all the school teachers (the Supreme Court had resigned in a body in the fall of 1941). This was caused by the promulgation of two laws, following the elevation of Quisling to 'Minister President': First, that all public school teachers should join a Quisling-Nazi teachers' organization; second, that all boys and girls from ten to eighteen years of age must join a Quisling party youth organization, and further that minors of a certain age should be obliged to work.

The bishops of Feb. 14 wrote the 'Minister of Church and Education,' Schanke, that parents, due to the obligations of baptism, were responsible for the moral upbringing and education of the children: Schanke replied that the State is the highest authority. In separate letters, the bishops resigned on Feb. 24, protesting also a Nazi disturbance of a service in Trondheim Cathedral on Feb. 1.

Upon this, Schanke removed Bishop Eivind Berggrav of Oslo from his position as Primate of the Church of Norway and forbade him to perform his episcopal duties; he commanded him to report twice daily at Oslo's central police station. When the Bishop did so report, walking a long distance and attired in full robes with gold cross and chain, he was greeted by such crowds that the order was rescinded. But all refusing bishops, clergy and teachers were put in concentration camps. In the fall of 1942, a secret meeting was held by six leading churchmen at which the Church was separated from the State. They announced they were willing to negotiate with the State, but only if the legitimate bishops, with Bishop Berggrav as leader, could negotiate.

The teaching profession was similarly obdurate. Reports in September showed no more than 400 of the 14,000 of its members had joined the Nazi Laerersamband. One of their number, Inguald Garbo, had won undying fame through his execution in November 1941 on charges of possessing a radio set, of having listened to English broadcasts and of disseminating them. His activities had undoubtedly given great stimulus to the development of an illegal news service, which now includes wide dissemination of leaflets and chain letters, and the publication of at least a score of different illegal papers, appearing at regular intervals with circulations often exceeding those of the officially tolerated newspapers. They are mimeographed, and give news of the rest of the world and of Norway, advice on conduct, and warnings against 'Quislings.'

The people as a whole are hardening their resistance, 99 per cent being counted as loyal to Norway and antagonistic to Germany. This is despite repressions (curfew laws, travel restrictions, press suppressions), threats, imprisonments, forced labor in the Arctic, torture and executions.

The food picture is black. There is a shortage of hay. In late September reports were received that four-fifths of the wheat crop was uncut; the German-controlled Oslo radio admitted that some people were unable to obtain their weekly allowance of one pound (per person) of vegetables. Fish, it is claimed, is being used for cheese; fish meal as meat in sausages, and fish flour is another substitute (it is reported that wool is being made from fish). Stockholm announced forty Oslo dock workers arrested for refusing to load foodstuffs for Germany. In October, Norwegian papers were ordered to make no mention of the year's potato harvest.

Peat is used to supply ingredients for bread, and it is claimed that it can furnish wine and tobacco, as well as yarn, curtains, insulating materials and leather (shoes now are of paper uppers and wooden soles). It has already supplied gas, a special kind of wood, and building materials.

The Germans in Norway are estimated at about 600,000, one half being civilians. Numerous officials have been sent from Berlin, but the Prime Minister is Vidkun Quisling, elevated to this office on Feb. 1 in the 'historical Akershus castle.' In the fall. Quisling was reported to have ordered the compulsory mobilization of 2,700 Nasjonal Samling men, 18 to 45 years of age, for the German armies.

The Germans are evidently bent on destroying the labor movement. They closed the Norwegian National Cooperative Association and seized all stores. Beginning in May, Norwegian labor was drafted, with a demand for 20,000 for construction of fortifications along the coast and in the far North. 'General' Frölich Hansen, head of the Nazi labor service organization in Norway said in the fall that next year labor service will be compulsory for all girls from 18 years old up, and it was estimated that 40,000 youths would be in such service each year hereafter.

With its country in the throes of this bitter struggle, the Norwegian Free Government in London, headed by King Haakon VII, strained every sinew to function effectively on the many issues it confronted. The Storting had, for the duration of the war, given all its powers to the Free Government. The latter has not only operated in military affairs, but has passed legislation, conducted diplomatic negotiations and drawn up a statement of postwar policy.

Under legislation, it has adopted amendments to the criminal law with respect to treason. Some of the new provisions read that 'all those who maintain or seek membership in, or agree to become members of Quisling's National Union Party (Nasjonal Samling), or of the Nazi Storm Troop organization (Hirden) or of any other organization giving aid and comfort to the enemy or contribute dues thereto shall be deemed guilty of treason.' Penalties are loss of community confidence for a number of years or for life, with possibilities of fines up to 1,000,000 kroner; and these are in addition to penalties under Chapter Eight of the Criminal Code and Chapter Nine of the Articles of War, under which a war time penalty is death.

In diplomacy, the Free Government has especially strengthened its bonds of friendship with Great Britain and the United States. In May, both Britain and Norway elevated their respective Ministers to the rank of Ambassadors. In June, a British-built destroyer was handed over in Britain to the Norwegian Navy (giving her a total of 60 ships of war), a welcome addition. In the fall of 1942, Mr. Arne Sunde, Norwegian Minister of Shipping and Supplies, reported that in all categories, Norway's shipping losses had been 2,000,000 tons and 2,000 men.

But the dramatic in Norwegian-British relationship has been seen in the highly dangerous surprise raids, using Britain as base, which have been made upon the coast and the hinterland of Norway; raids which continue; which disturb and wreck German and Quisling functions; which destroy properties, shipping and fortifications useful to the Germans, and result in the taking of prisoners and the rescuing of Norwegians. These operations find counterparts in disasters which mysteriously occur within Norway, with no apparent aid from outside, but the orchestration is improving in its rehearsals and the British and the Norwegians cement their alliance with every passing week.

With the United States, Norway has made gains. In May, the Norwegian Minister to Washington since 1934, Wilhelm de Munthe Morganstierne was made an Ambassador, and Ambassador Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr., in London, was accredited to Norway, with a message from Secretary Hull and a greeting to King Haakon from President Roosevelt. On July 11, a total agreement on Lease-Lend between the United States and Norway was signed in Washington, the first such offer from the United States to any occupied country. Under it, the United States is to supply goods and services, and the final settlement is to be without injurious effects on both commerces; further, the elimination of every form of international trade discrimination and the reduction of customs duties will be sought. In an appendix, it is provided, (1) the United States will defray the cost of any Norwegian vessels after Dec. 7, 1941; (2) the United States will pay repairs on vessels after Dec. 7, 1941; (3) both signatories will continue to discuss new ship building, and (4) both signatories shall negotiate later regarding Norway's retaining war material after the war. On Sept. 16, President Roosevelt presented a new 173-foot sub-chaser to the Royal Norwegian Navy at the Washington Navy Yard, under the provisions of the Lend-Lease Act.

Among its many responsibilities in 1942, the Free Government during the summer gave out a statement of its peace aims. Some of its specific items are definitely noteworthy, as the abandonment of the pre-war defensive bloc of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland; a determined attachment to Norway's Atlantic allies, Great Britain and the United States; and the establishment of a revived and Greater League of Nations, with Norway acting as a bridge between the Atlantic Powers and the Soviet Union. Heading the Free Government is the King, Haakon VII, who on Aug. 3 was the recipient of world-wide honors on the occasion of his seventieth birthday.