REGIMENT
NORGE
A WANTED
HISTORY?
The year is
1944. The months are September and October. The Second World War is not
finished. The Norwegian soldiers from “ Regiment Norge” are having a hard time fighting the Russian
soldiers from the Soviet Red Army . The battle of the capital of Latvia, Riga,
is going on. The story of the Norwegian front fighters is not a wanted report
among those who are interested in the military history of Norway. No. Few of
those Norwegians who fought in Riga supporting the German Armies and the German
occupation of Latvia in September and October 1944 thought that the Soviet Red
Armies might win the war. The military situation was not a good one for “
Regiment Norge”. The Norwegians were fighting the soldiers of the Soviet army believing
that the fight was for the best of
Europe and the best policy for Norway
because German had to win the war. Not all of the Norwegians had joined the
army for political reasons. One person joined because of personal reason. Harry
A. Ellingsen has written an interesting book: “ REGIMENT NORGE”. The fight in Latvia is dealt with in a
special chapter from page 99 to page 118. Bjørn Lindstad did not join the
regiment due to political reasons but of private, personal problems. He survived
the battle of Latvia and he managed to return to normal working conditions
after the war. When the history of Latvia is written I think it is a must to
mention those Norwegians who died to avoid a Russian occupation of the country.
Sverre Hansen, Ola Nordberg, Haakon Windingstad, Thomas Sandberg, Bjørn
Lindstad, Harry Osnes, Anton Berg, Odd Angelsen, Knut Baardseth and Willy Hund
have reported about the war in Latvia in the book mentioned. The story is
unwanted because none of them fought for the King of Norway, the Norwegian
Government in London or the majority of the Norwegian population who did not
want to be occupied by Germany in 1940. The soldiers listed up in “ Regiment
Norge” knew the consequences of joining the enemies of the legal elected
government of Norway. They lost the fight. But the history must have a
different meaning towards the people of Latvia than the people of Norway. The
Norwegian soldiers were fighting in cities like Riga, Liepaja, Baldone,
Priekule and Vainode.
38
Norwegian soldiers were killed. 4 were taken prisoners. 2 soldiers deserted,
and 69 soldiers were wounded.
The
Norwegian front fighters took part in a dramatic period of the history of
Latvia. The aim was to stop the attack from the Soviet Red Armies- but the aim
was also to support Adolf Hitler in his work to occupy Soviet Union and Latvia.
Sverre, Ola, Haakon, Thomas, Bjørn, Harry , Anton,Odd, Knut and Willy had
played a dangerous game risking their own lives to support Adolf Hitler and the
political aims of the German policy towards Joseph Stalin and his undemocratic
regime. They lost the game but their contributions must not be forgotten by
Latvia for historical reasons only.
Latvia was
occupied by Soviet Union in June 1940. The Nazi Germany occupied Latvia from
1941 to 1944. The Soviet Red Army re-entered Riga on October 13, 1944.
Harry A. Ellingsen: Regiment Norge. Historien om en frontkjemperenhet. Pax Forlag A/S, Oslo 2011.
COMMENTS ABOUT THE SELECTED SOURCES PUBLISHED.
The author of the book has published information about his personal contacts and research work. The list of libraries and archives and written documents are splendid work. I do miss an important source:
A report about access to audiovisual archives situated in Norway and in foreign countries? The author has come close to the sources by making direct contact with front fighters who took part in the fighting in latvia. But what about sound recordings, television programmes transmitted, radio programmes, photo archives and the use of private films as sources?
An up-dating of the book might also include the sources mentioned?
Tedd Urnes
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