Tuesday, July 6, 2010

ESTONIA:VAIVARA-FORGOTTEN NORWEGIAN FRONTFIGHTERS





The Norwegian frontfighters, Roald Kongsbak(1923-1944),Christian Severin Andresen(1919-1944),Andreas K. Skulstad(1919-1944),Leif Elmer Anda(1918-1944)and Ferdinand Bøe-Simonsen(1919-1944)left Norway during the Second World War never to return to Norway. They were all killed in military actions in 1944. The battlefield was Narva.
The young Norwegian boys had decided to join the German army and wanted to fight for a new Europe dominated by Adolf Hitler and Germany. The reasons for doing so differed from person to person. A common goal was the fight against the communist regime of Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin. No return to Norway for the boys. By viewing a television programme made by Estonia Television, I found the names mentioned on the gravestones set up at the Vaivara memorial park close to the city of Narva. Vaivara Parish is a municipality of Ida-Viru County in Northern Estonia.The city of Narva is situated close to the border between Estonia and Russia.About 150 names of lost and killed soldiers are to be found on the gravestones at Vaivara. 75 young Norwegian soldiers were killed in actions during the battle of Narva and Vaivara in year 1944.Volonteer soldiers from Sweden, Denmark,Germany,Holland, Austria,France and Belgium were also stationed at Vaivara.The number of Norwegian soldiers were about 700.The aim was to fight the soldiers of Russia.My interest for the Norwegian soldiers and the names on the gravestones of Vaivara Cemetery Memorial Park is a result of a book review I made
of the Norwegian book titled: " De som falt. Nordmenn som døde i tysk krigstjeneste "
written by Eirik Veum. After having viewed the television programme about the buried
Norwegian soldiers, I began searching among the names mentioned in the book. Archive digging is thrilling.What happened to Christian Severin Andresen who was killed in year 1944? I saw his name on one of the gravestones but the official information about him is that he was killed close to Ladzyn in Polen? Why is he buried at Vaivara in Estonia? The question is asked by me but I do not know the answer.I could not find any photo of Christian Severin Andresen from Oslo, Norway.
Only 19 years of age. SS-Rottenfuhrer i 5. SS-Division Wiking,Regiment Germania,1.kompani.Born: October 27,1924 and died, August 1,1944. It might be that we are dealing with two different persons?To those of you who do not know much about the battle of Narva: About 200.000 soldiers were killed during the fighting.75 dedicated
young Norwegian boys are among the lost soldiers.A memorial park has been set up by
Estonians. None of the forgotten soldiers were welcomed in Norway due to the fact that they all fought against the Norwegian Government situated in London during the war.Anyway this is also Norwegian history whether you like it or not.Why are the gravestones not been moved to Norway?In year 2010 we need correct information about the Second World War and also the facts that might be less positive but true.We should have had better contact with those few who decided to fight a war not popular
among the majority of the population of Norway because it is a part of the history.
We should have asked them all if they knew about The Waivara Concentration and labor camp established in 1943? What happened to the Jews passing through the gates of the camp?If you want information about the battles of Waivara and Narva- Estonian war history and Norway - I recommend reading this book: Egil Ulateig:Veien mot undergangen. Historien om norske frontkjempere, page 275 -" De norske dødsmarkene ".

2 comments:

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Hi! Please contact me on oysabm@hotmail.com
I hav some information on Ferdinand Bøe Simonsen. He was my grandfathers cousin.
Thx