World War II Norwegian Government-in-exile: Royal Family Separates (1940-45)
Figure 1.--Here we see Crown Princess Märtha and her children after arriving safely in New York. Her family was Swedish, but the Swedes were afraid that giving her refuge would compromise their neutrality. The press caption here read, "Norway's Royal Refugees: Norway's Royal refugees, Crown rinces Martha, and her three children, Princess Ragnihild, ten; Princess Astrid, eight; and Prince Harald, three, (left to right) are picyured at the Waldorg-Astoria, Aug. 28th, shortly after their arrival from Prtsamo. Finland, on the refugee-laden Armny transport American Legion. The Royal Family came here at bthe inviation o President Roosevelt." The photograph was dated August 28, 1940.
Crown Princess Märtha supported the mobilization work for Norway's self-protection. She made a public appeal encouraging Norwegian women to take part in mobilization work (January 26, 1940). [Dagbok] No one suspected at the time, however, that the Germans would invade. The Royal family separated when the Germans struck. King Haakon VII and the Crown Prince joined the Norwegian Army and then the British and French who landed at Narvik. Crown Princess Märtha and her three younger children were evacuated to safety in neutral Sweden. They crossed the border on the night of the German invasion (April 9). Princess Märtha was Swedish and they were taken in by her Swedish family (until August 12). There was a problem. Many Swedes feared that she was compromising the country's neutrality. There was a great fear that the Germans would invade Sweden next. Some wanted her to return to Norway so he Prince Harald could be proclaimed King by the Germans. Princess Märtha was not having it. She and the children traveled to the Finnish Arctic port of Petsamo near Soviet Murmansk. The Finns had repelled a Red Army effort to seize Petsamo during the Winter War (November 1939-March 1940), althought the Finns would lose their noethern port and the Soviets would eventually acquire it as a result of the Continuation War (1941-44). President Roosevelt who had met Crown Princess Märtha during a Royal Visit before the War invited her to America. The U.S. Army transport ship American Legion picked her and the children up in Petsamo. They arrived in New York (August 28). She and the children spent some time in the White House and remaind in America during the War. The President and First Lady took a specual interest in Princess Märtha. The President in particular was charmed by the Crown Princess. She worked tirelessly to aid Norwegian refugees and promote the war effort from America. In August 1941, Crown Princess Märtha traveled with President Roosevelt aboard the presidential yacht, USS Potomac, and sailed to Newfoundland where the President and Prime-Minister with Winston Churchill issued the Atlantic Charter (August 1941). Mrs. Roosevelt found Churchill rather a challenged but she and the President formed a real friendship. Peral Harbor brought America into the War. And the United State provided Lend Lease Aid to the Norwegian Government-in Exile.
German Invasion (April 1940)
Crown Princess Märtha supported the mobilization work for Norway's self-protection. She made a public appeal encouraging Norwegian women to take part in mobilization work (January 26, 1940). [Dagbok] No one suspected at the time, however, that the Germans would invade. The Royal family separated when the Germans struck. King Haakon VII and the Crown Prince joined the Norwegian Army and then the British and French who landed at Narvik.
Respite in Sweden (April-August 1940)
Crown Princess Märtha and her three younger children were evacuated to safety in neutral Sweden. They crossed the border on the night of the German invasion (April 9). Princess Märtha was Swedish and they were taken in by her Swedish family (until August 12). There was a problem. Many Swedes feared that she was compromising the country's neutrality. There was a great fear that the Germans would invade Sweden at the time. Actually it was largely unfounded. As long as SWeden delivered the iron ore German war industry needed, Hitler was not going to invade.
German Offer
Some Sweedes wanted Princess Märtha to return to Norway so he Prince Harald could be proclaimed King by the Germans. Princess Märtha was not having it. And of course the German plan was once they had won the war was to annex Norway and the rest of Scandanavia, primarily because of their belief that Nordics were valuable genetic material.
Escape to America (August1940)
Princess Märtha and the children traveled through Sweden north to the Finnish Arctic port of Petsamo near Soviet Murmansk. The Finns had repelled a Red Army effort to seize Petsamo during the Winter War (November 1939-March 1940), althought the Finns would lose their northern port and the Soviets would eventually acquire it as a result of the Continuation War (1941-44). President Roosevelt who had met Crown Princess Märtha during a Royal Visit before the War invited her to America, actually he has the U.S. Arny and Navy deliver her to America. President Roosevelt ordered the U.S. Army transport ship American Legion to Petsamo, Finland dhortly after the German invasion of Norway. The primary mision was to pick up the Princess and her children as well as American refugees stuck in Sweden. Actually they took on refugees fron many other countries, in all nearly 900. There was also a top-secret item. A truck from Sweden -- a twin-mount 40-millimeter Bofors antiaircraft gun, equipped with standard sight, and accompanied by spare parts and 3,000 rounds of ammunition. The Bofors would play a major role, especially in the Pacific War. American Legion sailed (August 16). Once out in the Atlantic she was escorted by U.S. Navy destroyers. They arrived in New York (August 28).
The Roosevelts
She and the children spent some time in the White House and remaind in America during the War. The President and First Lady took a specual interest in Princess Märtha. The President in particular was charmed by the Crown Princess. She worked tirelessly to aid Norwegian refugees and promote the war effort from America. In August 1941, Crown Princess Märtha traveled with President Roosevelt aboard the presidential yacht, USS Potomac, and sailed to Newfoundland where the President and Prime-Minister with Winston Churchill issued the Atlantic Charter (August 1941). Mrs. Roosevelt found Churchill rather a challenge when he visited the White House,but she and the President formed a real friendship.
America Enters the War (December 1941)
Pearl Harbor brought America into the War (December 1941). There was little hope tht Norway could be liberated with the stunning victories that the Germans had achieved. Suddenly the whole complexion of the War changed on almpst the same day. The Japanese varrier attck on Pearl. And at the same time the Soviet Red Army launched a massive Winter counter offensive, severly damaging the Wehrmacht. The United State provided Lend Lease Aid to the Norwegian Government-in Exile. The United States as part of Lend Lease turned over a submarine chaser to the Nprwegian Government-in-Exile. It was named the HNoMS King Haakon VII. Princess Märtha was at the transfer ceremony. She gave an emotional speech supporting the Norwegian people and the country's independence. [9]
Time in America
Princess Märtha worked tirelessly to support the War effort and the liberation of her country. She did a lot of work with the American Red Cross. She also worked on behalf of Norwegian interests with the American public and government. he impressed President Roosevelt and had an influence on his 'Look to Norway' speech (1942). The President enjoyed her comapmy and she was a frequent vistor to the White House. Prince Harald enjoyed playing with Fala. There have been nonensical suggestions by people like Gore Vudal that there was a romantic relationship with the President. He simply enjoyed the compamy of women and the Crown Princess awas a charming woman.
Trip to Britain
Princess Märtha spent much of World War II separated from her husband who was in Britain and was active in the war effort. She briefly visited London to join the birthday celebration for her father-in-law, King Haakon. She was able to spend some time with her husband before retuning to America and the children.
Home Coming
Norway remained occupied by the Germans throughout yjr War. Hitler was afraid of a Britosh invasion and kept a large garrison there where it played little role in the War. When she returned to her liberated country, after the War (1945), she received a hero's welcome. The public behan calling her 'Mother of the Nation'. She embraced her role as Crown Princess of Norway and made tremendous efforts to help the post-War recovery. Norwegians suffered during the occupation. The country was not self sufficent in food, byt rge Gernans still shipped food to the Reich.
Sources
Dagbok, Krigens. The Diary of the War (in Norwegian) (1984).
