Abstract

Linking Sweden to the war - Insurgents of the Norwegian resistance movement 1942-1945

The main aim of this paper is to illuminate the activity of the Norwegian resistance movement during 1942-1945 in the area of Finnskogen in northern Värmland (Sweden) to the eastern parts of Hedmark in Norway. The theoretical perspective being that of a movement orientated view on the Norwegian resistance. In order to achieve this I will focus on two main questions:

1. How did they administrate the activity of couriers and refugees?
2. How did people get involved and what kind of people did the resistance movement involve?

The method used to illuminate the activity of the Norwegian resistance movement will focus on sampling and processing data linked with the specific area. A field study based on interviews with former members of the resistance movement will be conducted.

My conclusion is that people in this area crossed the border during the war and the main reason for doing so was to get away from the everyday boredom and instead find a life of excitement and purpose.

The common traits of the members were that they were passionate youngsters, unmarried and willing to take risks.

The drive of the resistance movement was a perceived sense of powerlessness and anger towards the occupying force that practiced a total control of symbols, radio, newspapers, schools and the implementation of the German language in the Norwegian society.