Norwegian resistance movement

During World War II the Norwegian resistance movement (both civilian resistance and some units of armed resistance, notably the Milorg became very active after German attempts to install a puppet government under Vidkun Quisling.

Norwegian resistance, coupled with two British raids in Lofoten, convinced Hitler that the Allies would invade Europe through Norway, and he insisted to keep many German divisions tied down in occupation duty. At the most, 380 000 Wehrmacht soldiers were posted in Norway, a number equal to 11% of the entire Norwegian population. Half that should have been more than sufficient to occupy Norway, but veterans from the Eastern front were often sent there as a break from the heavy fighting.

Norwegian spotters aided in the destruction of numerous German warships, such as the Bismarck and the Tirpitz. The Norwegian resistance also smuggled people in and out of Norway during the war, through Sweden or by fishing boats to Shetland (referred to as the "Shetland express"). A number of saboteurs (most notably Max Manus and Gunnar Sønsteby) destroyed ships and supplies. Perhaps its most famous achievements were a series of operations to destroy Norsk Hydro's heavy water plant and stockpile of heavy water at Vemork, crippling the German nuclear program (see: Norwegian heavy water sabotage). The Germans attempted to stifle Resistance activities and executed several innocent Norwegian men, women and children in retaliation after any Resistance act.

Towards the end of the war, the resistance become more open, with rudimentary military organizations set up in the forests around the larger cities. A number of Nazi collaborators and officials were killed - and those collaborating with the German or Quisling authorities were ostracized, both during and after the war.

A symbol of the Norwegian resistance was wearing a paper clip on a lapel; an innocuous item, the paperclip was (falsely) assumed to be a Norwegian invention, and represented "binding things together."

Norwegian resistance movement

See also