The history of the Ukrainian war effort on Norwegian soil

Per-Kaare Holdal 09 March 2021

ua ww2 2

We have today send this positive answer to The National Heritage Board in Norway:

We thank you for a thorough and positive answer.

It is a good news that the Norwegian authorities are making this effort to also draw attention to the fact that Ukrainian soldiers and forced laborers made an effort for Norway. We especially note your answer:

"This is how the history of the Ukrainian war effort on Norwegian soil is preserved for posterity. When the protections are put out for public inspection, the Ukrainian embassy will be informed of this."

Of course, we are disappointed not to take the opportunity to raise a support that honors memory more centrally, but we do not give up this work. We will keep you informed of our efforts in this way.

We wish good luck with the work that is being done and hope to be informed when there is a public inspection.

This was an answer on two letters that we send to The National Heritage Board. This is a victory for us in S2PU and we say thank you for the coopration with the Ukrainian embassy in this important issue.

Here is the whole answer:

I will try to answer:
1. The National Heritage Board is in the process of protecting two prisoners of war camps where Ukrainian prisoners of war sat; Trondenes in Troms and Finnmark and Bjørnelva in Nordland. In information material related to the protected areas, information will be provided about the nationality of deceased prisoners in the cases we know of. This is how the story of the Ukrainian war effort on Norwegian soil is preserved for posterity. When the protections are put out for public inspection, the Ukrainian embassy will be informed of this.

2. The National Heritage Board is not responsible for rebuilding memorial supports in Norway. We have the opportunity to do so, but as of today have no concrete plans to rebuild any monuments from the war, Ukrainian or others.

The National Heritage Board is a directorate under the Ministry of Climate and the Environment, and we are the ministry's adviser in all matters concerning cultural monuments and the cultural environment. The National Heritage Board is the overriding cultural heritage authority and responsible for implementing the national cultural heritage policy.

We from the S2PU are very happy with this answer from the National Heritage Board. This is the first signal we have received from the Norwegian authorities that Ukraine participated and made an effort for our freedom in Norway. We have gradually received documentation that Ukrainian soldiers made a decisive effort to drive out the Nazis from Finnmark and North Troms. In addition, they participated in the battles around Narvik where the Nazis suffered their first loss in World War II.