Comments on: May 8: Norway’s Liberation Day Explained

By: Nils Jespersen

Nils Jespersen — Sun, 10 May 2026 21:15:33 +0000

In reply to Mike. In Horten (about 50 miles south of Oslo on the west side of Oslofjorden), there is a German gun emplacement at a location known as Brårudåsen. It can be seen on Google Maps as «Brårudåsen batteri». It’s on Festningsveien on a hilltop in Horten. There’s an observation tower there, and can be visited anytime and there’s no cost to do so. If you’re adventuresome, there is a path (hard to find) that leads down from the gun pavement ruins, and it ends at the sealed opening of a cave that w the Germans used to store munitions. Also, down at the marina ( referred to as «Fyllinga»), there is a canal that runs over to Karl Johans Vern (there is a walking path along it). If you follow that path towards the ship building factory (called «Verven»), you can still see craters from when the Allies bombed the factory. There are also several WW-II bunkers squirreled away in the woods next to Fyllinga that you can explore. I used to bop around all these places when living there, as a kid, in the mid 1960’s.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 08 May 2026 19:35:33 +0000

A few years ago, visiting Norway, I met a young man putting flowers on his grandfather’s grave, He told me that his grandpa pretended to be a collaborator with the Nazis and was shunned by friends and relatives, but in reality was sneaking out at night to bring food and messages to members of the resistance hiding in the mountains. I will never forget that conversation.

By: Rolf Sabye

Rolf Sabye — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:54:17 +0000

My parents, brother and grandfather lived in Bergen during the war. (I was a post war baby). My brother told me that my dad became involved with the Norwegian resistance movement or Hjemmefronten shortly after the occupation took place. He was often away from home for long periods off time.
My grandfather had a cabin out on Askoy, a short ferry ride from Bergen. Becauese it was a safe place from daily encounters with German soldiers, my grandfather, mom and brother spent as much time out there as possible. It was also a relatively safe place for my dad to take refuge from his activitites.
I have a small publication from just after liberation day. It has photos from both Bergen and Oslo showing all the celebrations including the arrival of King Haakon VII and the Royal Family. The cover photo shows a children’s parade in Bergen as part of the celebrations. In the front of all those young Norwegians is my then 11 year old brother waving the Norwegian flag and clearly yelling and smilling. He was six when the war broke out. A rough childhood I’m sure.

By: Alan Bridges

Alan Bridges — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 17:26:16 +0000

My father the late Sergeant Cecil Bridges was also given this citation, he died in 1991 in Mansfield Nottinghamshire. It is framed and now proudly hangs in the lounge of my bungalow in Mansfield. He was in the Royal Engineers and served in Gibralter before taking part in the D Day landings, he faught through France and served in Belgium where he was befriended by a Belgium family and he kept in touch with them after the war. He moved onto Norway to help with the liberation and finally arrived back in England towards the end of August 1945.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Mon, 09 May 2022 13:03:45 +0000

In reply to Anthony. Vito, The 474th Infantry Regiment was formed after the disbandment of the First Special Service Force. This occurred on December 5th 1944. On 26-January 1945 the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) also known as "The Viking Battalion", joined the 474th Infantry Regiment. Gerhard Strom was a member of the 99th. Anthony

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sun, 08 May 2022 14:31:03 +0000

In reply to Vito Labella.

Vito,
I have just today seen your message.
Today, May 8th 2022 is the anniversary of the Liberation of Norway.
Thank you for preserving the historic document presented to your neighbor, Gerhard Strom. My uncle Fred was presented with the same award.
My uncle was in the First Special Service Force, a joint American/Canadian special forces super commando unit which was the predecessor of today’s Special Forces.
They were created and trained specifically to jump into Norway to destroy the Heavy Water producing Hydro-Norsk facility in Rjukan which the Germans had commandeered after invading and occupying Norway.
The Hydro-Norsk facility was destroyed by a Norwegian resistance team known as “The Heroes of Telemark”.
The First Special Service Force was reassigned the task of breaking the
“Winter Line” in the Battle for Monte La Difensa, by scaling the cliffside of the mountain and overcoming the German artillery unit and spearheading the allied forces advance to Rome.
In December of 1944 the Force was disbanded and reformed into the 474th Infantry Regiment who finally took part in the Liberation of Norway.
There are several groups of the descendants of those veterans. Please feel free to contact me for further information.

Sincerely,
Anthony

By: Githa Warrington

Githa Warrington — Sun, 09 May 2021 01:14:21 +0000

Akershus Fortress was great until I reached the Resistance museum, l couldn’t finish the tour. Such brave citizens. A descendant of Norwegian heritage now in NEW Zealand.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 08 May 2021 12:56:31 +0000

Would love to hear of any remaining nazi fortifications in norway that can be visited

By: Beverly

Beverly — Sat, 08 May 2021 01:43:06 +0000

In reply to Vito Labella. Have you contacted the Sons of Norway? https://www.sofn.com/ If you are in the USA, you could also contact the National Nordic Museum in Seattle, WA. https://www.nordicmuseum.org/

By: Vito Labella

Vito Labella — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 20:03:08 +0000

One of my neighbors passed away. In his house was a framed citation from “the people of Norway wish to thank you.” The citation was for his father, Gerhard Strom, for taking part in the Liberation on May 8, 1945. I saved the citation and would like to send it to some group that would preserve it and its memory. Please let me know if you can help.