Figure 1.--These Norwegian children during 1943 are studying in a school set up for them in Britain. We are not sure where in Britain the school was located.

A number of Norwegians managed to make their way to Britain during the War. Some made their way through the Soviet Union, but this became virtually impossible after Hitler launched the invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941). (Finland was a co-beligerant with the Germans and the Baltic became a virtual German lake.) Thus the only practical route was the North Sea. This was much more difficult than crossing to Sweden. A substantial vessel was needed because of the rough conditions of the North Sea. And it was much easier for the Germans to control the ports and ships than seal the long Swedish border. Many Norwegian refugees in Britain were centered in the Shetland Islands. This was where the refugees from Norway headed. The Shetlands off northeaster Scotland were the cloest point in Britain to Norway. The British and Norwegian forces launched commando attacks on German-occupied Norway from the Shetlands. It was in Britain that the Norwegian government-in exile under King Haakon was formed. King Haakon led the armed resistance to the NAZIs for 2 months and then escaping by land and boat to England to continue resistance operations there. And those Norwegisns of military age formed units that fought with the British. Some Norwegians were brought to Britain as a result of several British raids. Among the Norwegians in Britain were a few children. We notice a school was set up for them. We are unsure where it was located, but it may have been the Shetlands.

Reaching Britain

A number of Norwegians managed to make their way to Britain during the War. Some made their way through the Soviet Union, but this became virtually impossible after Hitler launched the invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941). (Finland was a co-beligerant with the Germans and the Baltic became a virtual German lake.) Thus the only practical route was crossing the North Atlantic to the Shetlands. This was much more difficult than crossing to Sweden. A substantial vessel was needed because of the rough conditions of the North Sea. There were also German naval and air patrols. And it was much easier for the Germans to control the ports and ships than seal the long Swedish border. Many Norwegian refugees in Britain were thus centered in the Shetlands. This was where the refugees from Norway headed.

Shetland Islands

The Shetland Islands off northeastern Scotland were the closest point in Britain to Norway. They were essentially the northern-most point of the North Sea located between Norway and Scotland. As the British were evacuating Norway, spme 30 boats brought 200 refugees, including women and children, to the Shetlands. The Shetlands are a group of small islands with a limited population. Thus accomodating Norwegian refugees was a major undertaking. James Garriock who was involved with Hay and Company was also the Norwegian vice-consul in Lerwick, one of the Shetland Islands. (Small countries like Norway often use their nationals working abroad as diplomats.) He and his son Francis took on the task of assiting the refugees. The authorities set up a camp for the refugees at James Sutherland's herring station. The herring girls' hut ptovided needed emergency accommodations. Not all the refugees could be accomodated on the Shetlands and many were moved on to mainland Britain. The Shetlanders pitched in to assist the refugees. The Norwegian government-in-exile attested in this, "The excellent reception which has been given the refugees at Shetland has been indicated by every newcomer who has passed through Shetlands. They have met with kindness and understanding by everyone they have been in contact with and for this we are very grateful." (May 30, 1944).

Shetland Bus: Supporting the Resistance

The Shetland Bus is the name given to the fleet of small fishing cutters on the Shetlands that played a role in the Norwegian resistance to the Germans. They landed agents, instructors, and weapons for the Norwegian resistance which conducted sabotage operations and raids targetting the Germans and Norwegian collaborators. The operation were hazardous because of the German coastal and air patrols. As a result, they were only possible durin the winter when the darkness restrictted Luftwaffe patrols. The first operation was conducted with the Aksel which landed an agent at Bergen (August 30, 1941). The Norwegians attempted to hide the fact that the agent came from the Shetlands. The Askel was painted with a registration number making it look like a Bergen-based ship. They succeeded and many more operations landing agents and picking up resistance fighters. The ships also delivered supplies and picked up refugees. Operating in the North Sea during the Winter is dangerous in itself. The Blia with 35 refugees perished in a storm (November 14, 1941). The first operation interupted by the Germans was the Olaf. The Olaf sailed for Telavag, a fishing village 24 miles southwest of Bergen (April 17 1942). They successfully landed two agents safely. Collaborators informed the Gestapo that the agents were hiding in Telavag. German security forces began a sweep of the village (April 26). A gun battle ensued. One of the Norwegian agents was shot and killed. Two Gestapo officers were also killed in the fighting. The Germans determined that the villagers collaborated with the agents, which was partially true. The Germans proceeded to arrest all men in the village. Some were executed there abnd the remaining 72 were deported the dreaded Sachsenhausen concentration camp near Berlin in the Reich where 31 died. (Sachsenhausen was not a labor camp, but a camp where conditions were particularly hard. Many political prisoners were sent there to be worked to death.) The Germans also interned the women and children after which they burned and destroyed the village. Luftwaffe patrols and coastal motor torpedo boats intercepted a number of the Shetland boats. There are 44 Norwegians known to be killed by the German patrols, but others were captured, most of who were eventually executed. The Germans also layed mines. The Bodo hit a mone off Scotland (January 1943). Despite these losses, the little fishing cutters that mafr up the Shetland Bus managed delivered 192 agents and some 390 tons of supplies to the Norwegian resistance. They also brought back 373 refugees. [Howarth]

Government-in-Exile

It was in Britain that the Norwegian government-in exile under King Haakon was formed. King Haakon led the armed resistance to the NAZIs for 2 months and then escaping by land and boat to England to continue resistance operations there.

Norwegian Forces

And those Norwegians of military age formed units that fought with the British.

Commando Raids

The British and Norwegian forces launched commando attacks on German-occupied Norway from the Shetlands. Some Norwegians were brought to Britain as a result of these larger raids. .

Norwegian Children

Among the Norwegians in Britain were a few children. We notice a school was set up for them. We are unsure where it was located, but it may have been the Shetlands.

Sources

Howarth, David. The Shetland Bus: A WWII Epic of Escape, Survival, and Adventure (Guilford, Connecticut, The Lyons Press, 2008).

Created: 9:30 PM 9/10/2010
Last updated: 11:56 AM 1/10/2022