Syttende Mai in Wartime

Syttende Mai, this Tuesday May 17, is a special day for Norway. It marks the date of the formal signing of the Norwegian Constitution in 1814, giving rise to a new set of laws allowing Norway to govern itself as an independent nation. After centuries under the thumbs of either Danish or Swedish kings and queens, Norway was free.

But Norway’s freedom began to unravel on April 9, 1940, when Nazi Germany invaded despite Norway formally declaring its neutrality to stay out of a war breaking out in mainland Europe. Norwegians fought back, but the nation’s undermanned, ill-equipped military was forced to surrender within two months. The king and government had to flee to England in exile.  

The Nazis, who controlled Oslo, Bergen and all of southern Norway by May 17, 1940, discouraged but did not forbid outright Constitution Day celebrations. They were still settling into their occupation of the south and fighting in the north. Norwegians had little to celebrate but love of country and national pride. They were losing their freedom.

But by Constitution Day the following year, the Nazis had issued a formal decree prohibiting any celebration and threatening to imprison anyone who did. No Norwegian flags, no parades, no large gatherings, no widespread wearing of ceremonial bunad dress in public. Allied airplanes did fly over a few west coast communities, dropping leaflets with a message from exiled King Haakon VII.

“I am persuaded that there will come a new May 17th,” King Haakon VII stated, “when again we in a free Norway shall hear the happy children’s voices singing our noble song, Ja, vi elsker dette landet.”

Nazi cruelty and oppression was well underway by then. Over five years of brutal Nazi tyranny, no part of Norwegian life was left untouched. Only Nazi propaganda aired over the radio stations and NRK, the national network. They ultimately banned radio receivers after Norwegians turned to the BBC for news. Newspapers were censored.

German authorities slashed wages for union workers, and prevented them from changing jobs and fields of occupation. Work slowdowns resulted. Nazis censored the Church of Norway’s nationally broadcasted sermons and struck a passage from a common prayer praising the king and government. The Nazis sought to inject their ideology in school curriculum, leading to massive teacher resignations.

Political parties were dissolved except for one, the Nasjonal Samling Nazi party. Purges removed elected officials and public servants from national, county and municipal governments unless they pledged allegiance to the new regime. The court system was turned over to Nasjonal Samling members and a prohibition was placed on any legal challenges to Nazi-issued orders. And the list of freedom-dampening decrees went on and on.

Nazi Germany, meanwhile, depleted Norwegian reserves of oil, coal, grain and other commodities and sent them to their homeland. Food rationing was imposed, but it didn’t matter. Basic necessities were difficult or impossible to come by. For Norwegians, life under Nazi rule became a struggle for survival.

The ruthless oppression gave rise to Norwegian resistance in various forms, from defiance of rules to sabotage and assassinations. As acts of resistance intensified, Gestapo arrests, imprisonment, torture and executions mounted.

It was not until May 17, 1945, that Norwegian citizens could resume full celebration of Constitution Day. Liberation from the Nazis, which officially occurred at 10:15 p.m. May 7, gave new cause for rejoicing. Liberation Day became official May 8 and on that day every year Norwegian flags fly on most all public  buildings and private flagpoles.