Author Topic: Norway gives one last nod at the communist resistance fighters during WW2  (Read 478 times)

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Offline ZEGH8578

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The communists, particularily the Pelle-Group were extremely efficient, sinking many ships, not just many, but quite possibly beating out other resistance groups in terms of sheer efficiency.

As soon as the war was over, their achievments were credited other non-communist war-heroes, and the Pelle-Group, with its ca 100 members, were - not only neglected and forgotten, but harassed, surveilled illegally for 30 years, and consistently refused any sort of acknowledgement whatsoever, purely for their political affiliation.

They were routinely treated harshly when checked up on by police, due to their descriptions as "dangerous, capable of killing people"

Today the last 3 survivors met in a hearing, with living relatives, lawyers, historians, ex politicians of back then, old people, and an old military dude.
The 3 old men ask for one thing: A recognition, of any kind. Many witnesses, many of them prominent people, high up in the system, lay out complete support for these men, and their regret for how they had been treated.
A military representative explains that recognition will be in the form of a medal, so, that's at least what they potentially have to look forward to, if they even live that long.

While waiting for the final veredict, one of them dies of age, leaving 2.

2 survivors of the Pelle Group, recieve a rejection from the military.
Reasoning "the sabotage actions were amateurish"
In one event, they sunk 25 000 tons of goods in one setting.

The last thank you they get, is a no thanks.

TheoK

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The Norwegian military could stand the Germans for 2 months, and that was mostly due to the topography of Norway, so who is "amateurish"?  :facepalm2:

Offline ZEGH8578

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The Norwegian military could stand the Germans for 2 months, and that was mostly due to the topography of Norway, so who is "amateurish"?  :facepalm2:

Yes, that was my exact thought. Who the hell are they do judge anybody amateurish or not? They destroyed German ships, sunk their goods, and killed their troops. That is war. They fought war.

Cowards, the only possible reason, is that they're STILL reluctant to reward "communists", and really... what communists!? We aren't in the fucking 60s anymore, they aren't "communists", they are 80+ year old men, with failing voices, and one in a rolling chair...

And those poor old guys, they really had their hopes up. They have kept quiet all this time, they've never complained or demanded anything.

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Sound like someone doesn't want to admit they were wrong about not giving them the same recognition the other resistance groups got and are just hoping the rest of them die soon so it will all go away.
"Eat it up.  Wear it out.  Make it do or do without." 

'People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.'
George Bernard Shaw

Offline ZEGH8578

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Sound like someone doesn't want to admit they were wrong about not giving them the same recognition the other resistance groups got and are just hoping the rest of them die soon so it will all go away.

Yep :/

TheoK

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From what I've understood Norway has always been pretty reluctant to give any credits at all to restistance groups. Seems like it's hard to admit that the "legitimate" authorities were the ones who failed during WWII.

Offline ZEGH8578

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From what I've understood Norway has always been pretty reluctant to give any credits at all to restistance groups. Seems like it's hard to admit that the "legitimate" authorities were the ones who failed during WWII.

That is true, there are several other groups that have been neglected.
In general, only "Kompani Linge", with the famous Max Manus have been generally comemorated, and that is probably due to his Askeladden-esque persona, young, peppy, and very humanistic - sticking to sabotage jobs. He is an easy character to like and promote, while all the "darker" figures are considered bad rolemodels (hey, many of these people put Germans on their knees, and executed them).

TheoK

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It's as sick as Sweden. There was much talk about Soviet submarines in Swedish waters in the Baltic Sea in the 1970's and 80's. One prime minister (Torbjörn Fälldin) said that it wouldn't be right to bomb them, since "innocent young men could be killed" by the bombs  :facepalm2:
« Last Edit: October 14, 2013, 05:56:22 AM by Lit »

Offline ZEGH8578

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It's as sick as Sweden. There was much talk about Soviet submarines in Swedish waters in the Baltic Sea in the 1970's and 80's. One prime minister (Torbjörn Fälldin) said that it wouldn't be right to bomb them, since "innocent young men could be killed" by the bombs  :facepalm2:

Hmmm... that sounds like a complicated issue tho, because it's not an act of aggression (despite being an invasion), and the sailors are indeed simply following orders, and it would suck for them to be sunk to the bottom of the Bothnian cus of politics :D
But in all seriousness, it's true - it goes up - and from a geopolitical point of view, if you send a military vehicle, uninvited, into another country's territory, that constitutes an invasion, and you must expect to see your vehicle and it's crew decapacitated.
Planes will be shot down, pilots picked up from their landing spot (Americans have experienced this, when illegally flying over China. Their pilots were delivered back after USA actually apologized for the intrusion. Don't remember the exact case, probably cold war), surface ships will typically be boarded, with the entire crew apprehended and legally held hostage for negotiations - one must expect stuff.
A submarine... what to do with it? Board it? It will simply go below the surface. I do think it's a terrible shame to off a bunch of submarine sailors - but then again, it wouldn't have been blood on Swedish hands, but rather on the Soviet navy.

How did that case end up? Were the Soviets confronted about it?

TheoK

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One submarine actually went on shore in Sweden. The Soviets were "innocent", of course. It was a "mistake": Soviet submarine S-3638

In Sweden the submarine was called U-137.

Offline ZEGH8578

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Re: Norway gives one last nod at the communist resistance fighters during WW2
« Reply #10 on: October 14, 2013, 09:32:28 AM »
Same old spying shit - I mean - the grounding was probably an honest mistake, I take it they damaged their vessel and stuff, but they had no business being there in the first place ;D

These are, however, normal war-games (sneaking around when a 3rd party is having a military exercise) and usually not a reason to go to hostile action against someone, especially when stakes are high (neutral Sweden vs the combined forces of the Warsaw pact :D)

However, you would have had every right to apprehend, question and keep the boat crew (returning them only after negotiations), which I hope you did :D

This reminds me of the "behavior-scale" I've detected from the Norwegian Navy, I might have mentioned:
1. Icelandic fishing vessels - who cares - Our navy fired upon them for trespassing, rendering their boats unoperable, boarding them, and arresting the crew.
2. Spanish fishing vessels - okay, it's Spain! So - hold your fire!!! Board, and arrest as usual - but do not open fire!
3. Russian fishing vessels. :( Not only do not apprehend, but allow them to kidnap inspector.