The participation of Norway in the war with the USSR. The myth of the "joint" fight
One of the pages of the Great Patriotic War of little-known in modern Russia is the participation of Norwegian volunteers in the war with the Soviet Union. Since the invasion of 9 on April 1940, the Norwegian territory has been under military occupation by the forces of the Third Reich and the German civil administration in cooperation with the pro-German government.
Having occupied Norway (the Danish-Norwegian operation or Operation Weserubung - April 9 - June 8, 1940), Berlin decided for itself a number of strategically important tasks. Firstly, received a strategically important foothold in Northern Europe, improved the ability to base the German underwater and surface fleetAir Force. Non-freezing northern ports have improved capabilities for operations in the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. Secondly, access to Swedish iron ore was exported through the Norwegian port of Narvik. Thirdly, the Germans prevented the Anglo-French invasion and occupation of Norway by enemy troops, which would worsen the military-strategic and economic situation of the Reich. Fourth, the territory that was subject to Germanization was occupied. A part of the Norwegians supported this process, entered into a collaborationist administration, police units, people volunteered for the SS, Navy, and German air forces.
Norwegians on the side of the Third Reich
It should be noted that the Norwegians were considered by the German military-political leadership as the "Nordic Aryan people", as natural allies in building a "new order" in Europe. In the autumn of 1940, representatives of the Norwegian Nazi movement took the initiative to form Norwegian units in the Armed Forces of the Third Reich. This idea was supported by the Norwegian pro-German government. The acting prime minister of the Norwegian pro-German government was Vidkun Quisling. He stated the following: "Germany did not ask us, but we consider ourselves obliged." According to Quisling and his associates, the participation of the Norwegians in the fighting on the side of the Third Reich should have provided them with a privileged position in the "new post-war Europe."
Already on December 5, 1940, the head of the pro-German government Quisling in the capital of the Reich agreed with the head of the Reich Chancellery, Reich Minister Hans Heinrich Lammers and the head of the main administrative department Gottlieb Berger about the beginning of the formation of the Norwegian volunteer formation in the SS troops. On January 12, 1941, the Norwegian pro-German government of Norway sent an official request to Germany to provide Norwegians with the opportunity to serve in SS units. Berlin gave a positive answer. On January 13, Quisling called on the population on the radio to sign up as a volunteer in the SS Nordland regiment in order to "take part in the war for peace and independence against the world despotism of England." This regiment became part of the 5th SS Viking Motorized Division (later became tank), and since 1943 it became the basis of the 11th volunteer tank and grenadier division of the SS "Nordland".
28 January 1941, two hundred Norwegian volunteers, mostly members of the militant Nazi organization Druzhina (Hird), in the presence of SS leader Heinrich Himmler, Norway's Reich commissioner Joseph Terboven and Vidkun Quisling, took the oath of allegiance to the “Germans”, they had to put a “GERM” in a row that would have no reason to apply “to the“ Germans ”, there is no way, there is, there is no way, it’s not a real way that the Germans have, there is no way, it’s not a real world that the Germans have, it is, there is, there is no way that’s at the disposal of the people who are in control of the“ Germans ”, there are, there is no way, you will have to apply the control to the“ Germans ”, there is no way, there is no way, you will have in the form of a“ Germans ”who have no reason to apply“ to the Germans who haven't at the control of the “Germans who have no reason to be in control” . When the war with the USSR began, the Norwegian volunteers as part of the Viking division were operating in the southern direction - Ukraine, the Don, the North Caucasus. During the retreat - in Poland, Hungary, Austria. The soldiers and officers of the division were involved in war crimes - mass executions of the Jewish population. Thus, in Berdichev, in just two days, 850 people were captured and killed, in Ternopol, 15 thousand (the entire Jewish population). In addition, they shot Soviet prisoners of war, participated in punitive operations against the partisans. Norwegian volunteers also fought as part of the 6 SS Mountain Division "Nord", it was formed in 1942 year (initially as an operational group of SS "Nord" troops, with a pre-brigade strength). This division participated in battles with the Soviet troops in the Murmansk sector.
Himmler's visit to Norway. In the photo, he, along with Quisling and Norway's Gauleiter, Josef Terboven.
Since 22 June 1941, a widespread propaganda campaign has been launched in Norway to attract volunteers to the Reich forces. In the Norwegian cities, recruiting centers were opened, where more than 2 thousand people came. By the end of July, the first three hundred volunteers were sent to Kiel, there were training camps. 1 August was officially announced the creation of the Legion "Norway", after two weeks, it included 700 Norwegian volunteers and several dozen Norwegian students who studied in Germany. By October 20 in the volunteer legion there were more than 2 thousand people. The former commander of the Norwegian army Jurgen Bakke, former colonel of the Norwegian army, became the first commander of the Norwegian legion, then he was replaced by the former colonel of the Norwegian army, the traveler, SS Finn Kjeelstrup. At the end of 1941, SS Sturmbanführer Arthur Quist became commander of the legion. In February 1942, the legion was transferred to the Leningrad Region. After heavy fighting, the heavily thinned legion in May 1942 of the year was sent to rest. In June, the “Norway” legion was again transferred to the front, a month before the 400 people died.
During the following months, the legion “Norway” was constantly replenished, its number was tried to be brought to the regular - in 1,1 - 1,2 thousand people, but the division suffered heavy losses, therefore its number was usually 600 - 700 legionnaires. In September, the 1942 of the SS police company, which was formed from the Norwegian police officers under the command of the SS navigator Jünas Lee, was transferred to the Leningrad Region in the Leningrad Region. She took part in the battles near Red Bor (Leningrad region).
In November, 1942, the Norwegian legionaries suffered heavy losses in the battles of the Red Village (Leningrad region). Since the end of February, 1943 has included the Norwegian Police Ski Company (6 man) into the 120 SS Mountain Division “Nord”, its commander was Gust Jenassen. The ski company participated in the fighting on the territory of the Murmansk region. In February 1943, the remaining legionnaires (about 800 people) were merged with police and reserve companies, and in the spring the legion was withdrawn from the front and sent to Norway. 6 April 1943, in the Norwegian capital, was the parade of the volunteer legion "Norway". Then the legion was returned to Germany and disbanded in May.
In the early summer of 1943, the ski company was withdrawn from the front to Finland, where it was deployed to a battalion, which was named the 6 th ski (jäger) battalion of the SS “Norway” of 700 fighters.
Since July 1943, most of the Norwegian volunteers from the disbanded Legion “Norway” continued their service in the SS forces. They joined the Grenadier Regiment of the SS "Norway" as part of the 11-th motorized division of the SS "Nordland". At the end of the summer, this division arrived in Croatia, where it took part in battles with Yugoslav partisans and punitive measures against the civilian population. In November 1943 of the year, the 23 th regiment of the SS "Norway" as part of the 11 th motorized SS division was transferred from Yugoslavia to the Eastern Front and fought near Leningrad, then in the Baltic States. During the final lifting of the blockade of Leningrad, the regiment suffered great losses, so the 1 th battalion was completely destroyed. In the summer of 1944, the regiment led fierce defensive battles in the Narva direction. Then he became part of the Courland grouping, and in January 1945 of the SS division 11 was evacuated from Kurland, she fought in Pomerania, defended Berlin, where she was completely defeated.
In October 1943, the Germans formed the 2 SS police company (numbering 160 people), led by the Norwegian police major, SS navigator Für Egil Hoel. At the end of 1943, the 2 th SS police company was redeployed near Murmansk and included in the SS “Nord” 6 th mountain division.
In December, the 1943 th SS guard corps "Norway", numbering 6 men, were formed in Oslo in Oslo to perform guard duty at government facilities and participate in ceremonial events. In January, the 360 ski brigade (Jäger) of the SS Norway “Norway” in 1944, a man who was formed in Finland, under the command of the Haupschturmführer SS Frode Galle, was transferred to the front in the Murmansk region. 700 - 25 July 26, in a battle with the 1944 rifle regiment of the Red Army near the village of Loukhi (Karelia), a detachment consisting of 731 fighters from the Norway (Jaeger) SS battalion “Norway” lost 300 people killed and prisoners.
In August, an 1944-SS police company consisting of 3 people was formed from volunteers in August 150. The Norwegian SS company arrived on the Eastern Front near Murmansk, but the defeat and the withdrawal of Finland from the war, which led to the retreat of the German troops from its territory, led to the fact that the police company did not have time to take part in the battles. She was sent back to Norway, and at the end of the year the company was disbanded. At this time, the ski (Jäger) battalion of the SS “Norway” fought with the Finnish troops at Kuusamo, Rovaniemi and Muonio, covering the withdrawal of German troops from Finland to Norway. In November, the SS ski battalion was transformed into the 3 police SS battalion, and he took part in the fight against the Norwegian resistance units. It should be noted that the "Norwegian Resistance" did not notice anything special, the crone of several sabotage.
In 1941 - 1945, about 80,000 Norwegian volunteers served in the SS troops as members of the 6. And just on the Germans side with weapons in the hands of fought to 15 thou. Norwegians, even before 30 thou. served in auxiliary organizations and various services. During the battles with the Red Army on the Eastern Front, more than 1 thousands of Norwegian volunteers were killed, 212 people were taken prisoner.
Flag of the Norwegian SS Legion.
Norwegians in the German Navy, Air Force and Auxiliary Services of the Reich Armed Forces
During the Second World War as part of the German Kriegsmarine, approximately 500 Norwegian volunteers served. For example, Norwegians, including officers, served in the crews of the battleship Schlesien and the heavy cruiser Lutzov (Deutschland).
At the end of 1941, the Pro-German Norwegian government established the Volunteer Air Corps under the command of the famous explorer North and South Poles, pilot Triggve Grana. In the Volunteer Corps, young Norwegian Nazis from the movement “Druzhina” (“Hird”) learned to fly gliders and parachute jumps. Then some of them (about 100 people) entered the ground services of the German Air Force of Germany. Only two Norwegians managed to become military pilots, they took part in air battles on the Eastern Front. After the defeat of Germany, the corps was disbanded, its members were detained for several months, Triggve Grana was imprisoned for a year and a half.
In addition, the Norwegians also served in the militarized construction organizations of the Armed Forces of the Third Reich, for example, in the Imperial labor service. The labor service was building various strategically important objects in the German Empire - roads, fortifications, airfields, port facilities, etc. Norwegians served in the Imperial Labor Service department of the Norwegian Labor Service, working one year on building various objects, including military ones. in Germany, France, Italy, Finland. So, in 1941 - 1942, only in Northern Finland, up to 12 thousand Norwegians took part in the construction of highways in the frontal zone.
Also, at various times from 20 thousand to 30 thousand Norwegian citizens served in the Todt Organization (military construction organization), in its division - the Viking Task Force. The Viking group was engaged in the construction of military facilities in Finland and Norway. The organization was engaged not only in construction work, but also solved military tasks. Thus, in November 1944, during the retreat of the German troops from Finland, the support divisions from Viking blew up bridges and tunnels, thus delaying the advancing troops of the Soviet Union and allied Finnish troops now in Moscow.
In addition, the Norwegian volunteers served in the Wehrmacht security and transport paramilitary units. The Norwegians were among the outer guards of the concentration camps Schutthof and Mauthausen.
During World War II, around 1, thousands of Norwegian women served in military hospitals of the German Armed Forces. At the front, 500 Norwegians served in field hospitals. One of them is nurse Anna Moxnes, she served in the field hospitals of the 5 Panzer SS Division Viking and the 11 Motorized SS Division Nordland and became the only foreign woman who was awarded the German Iron Cross II class.
After the end of World War II, the Norwegian volunteers were prosecuted. Usually they received up to 3,5, the year of imprisonment, and after being released they were limited in civil rights. Those who committed war crimes were executed - death sentences were handed down to 30 Norwegians.
Creating the myth of "joint" struggle
After the Second World War, the myth of the friendship of the two countries (Russia and Norway) was created and cultivated to this day, which was sealed by the struggle against a common enemy - Hitler's Germany. Every year October 22 in celebration of the anniversary of the liberation of the Polar region (during the Petsamo-Kirkenes operation) there come the Norwegian delegations with the prepared materials about the common struggle against Hitler's Nazism.
In reality, the Norwegians "resisted" the Wehrmacht a little over 3's weeks (from April 9 to May 2 of the year 1940). The level of "the resistance of the Norwegian armed forces is well told by their losses: 1335 people killed and missing, to 60 thousands of prisoners, that is, the overwhelming majority chose to lay down their arms. After that, the country lived a generally peaceful life, until the end of 1944, when hostilities swept the northern part of Norway. At this time, part of the population actively supported Germany and the pro-German government. Norwegian volunteers fought against the Soviet Union, helping to strengthen the power of the German Empire. The country conducted an operation to arrest and deportation of the Jewish population, half of these people were destroyed. 114 newspapers were published in the country, which participated in the information war against the Anti-Hitler coalition and glorified the great Fuhrer Adolf Hitler until the first days of May and reported on the "atrocities" of the Anglo-Bolshevik coalition.
In fact, the Norwegians took almost no part in the liberation of their homeland. Although some wrote on the walls phrases like: “Norway is for Norwegians. And let Quisling roll to hell. ” True, we can note the "war" of the Norwegians against their fellow citizens. After Germany’s capitulation, 14 of thousands of women who gave birth to German soldiers were arrested, 5 of thousands were placed in camps without a court decision. All this was accompanied by beatings, rape, and forced shaving of heads. Before 8, thousands of women were generally expelled from the country. Children who were born from Germans became “lepers” for many decades. They were deprived of their mothers, they were persecuted in every possible way, they were molested and put in psychiatric clinics. Interestingly, if before the war the idea was spread that the Norwegians, like the Germans, were part of the “Nordic race”, after the defeat of the Third Reich, the 1945 medical commission concluded that children from the descendants of the German occupiers contained defective genes and were dangerous Norwegian society.
Already in 1949, Norway, which had just secretly fought with the Soviet Union, joined another anti-Soviet bloc - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Even modern Norway has retained a negative attitude towards Russia - the media participate in the information war against the Russian state and the Russian people. Russia for Norwegians is a criminal, racist, aggressive, extremely undemocratic state. A new wave of dirt struck Russia after the December 2011 election of the year, the Norwegian press was simply overwhelmed by Russian criticism and offensive caricatures. Prior to this, similar large-scale information campaigns were conducted during the August 2008 war of the year and the Chechen campaigns. I must say that the Chechen “refugees”, in order to obtain the desired status of a political refugee, in every possible way watered Russia and its army with mud, inventing the most incredible stories about the war in Chechnya, about the "Russian atrocities", "persecution", etc.
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