ELTOR PROJECTOR: TOY FOR MOVIE PRESENTATIONS

I had forgotten the old projector. Eltor projector was bought by me about 60 years ago in Oslo. I had saved money for projector. Photos from movies where also a part of the deal.I had no knowledge of the films at the time I viewed the photos.I did the work to-day viewing the photos. Three important films were found. "Northwest Passage " - a historical drama where you found the famous American actors Spencer Tracy and Robert Young . The film was released in 1940. The film was popular.
The second film was the movie about Peter Pan. The cartoon movie was made in 1953. The third movie was about the famous Baron Munchhausen: The Adventure of Baron Munchausen. It was nice to play with the old toy again making me remember interesting films. The research work about the photos of old films was a nice experience. The moral: Do not throw away your toys! You might like to play once more and get new experiences. You are never too old to play it once more,Sam, for good old times.

WHO IS CAPA, ROBERT CAPA? FORGOTTON ALREADY ?

During  the summer of 2016 I stayed in the city of Nice, France. Hunting for rare books and movies are a thrilling sport appreciated by me-an oldfashioned librarian. The target for my private research is bookshops of all kinds. In Nice I found one good bookshop.
To my surprise the bookshop had made an exhibition about the late war photographer Robert Capa. Who is Robert Capa?

He was born Endre Friedmann in year 1913. He died in 1954. Robert Capa was a Hungarian war photographer  and  photo  journalist. The bookshop sold books about him. Even if my French is not good alt all, I had to buy a book about Robert Capa: Bernard Lebrun & Michel Lefebye: ROBERT CAPA. TRACES D’UNE LEGENDE . The French text is  easy to read. Besides you find also translations from French to English. The photos published are all famous taken by Robert Capa. The story about the Hungarian refugee, Endre Friedmann, is very interesting. When he was a teenager he had to move to to Berlin, Germany,  because of the political repression in Hungary. Due to the rise of Adolf Hitler, he had to move to Paris, France. In France he invented ” Robert Capa ”. He changed his name to Robert Capa to work as a photo  journalist. The working fields for him were: The Spanish Civil War, The Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II, the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and finally: The First Indochina War.

He lived a dangerous life. He never married but his great love was Gerda Taro ( b. Pohorylle).

Gerda Taro and Robert Capa worked together as both war photographer and photo journalist. Gerda Taro was killed in an accident in Spain close to Brunete during a battle.

Robert Capa loved parties and girls. He was a restless man who was not made for marriage. The famous Swedish actress, Ingrid Bergman, was one of his mistresses.

Robert Capa is famous for his war memoirs: Slightly Out of Focus.

He  was killed by a landmine in Vietnam in 1954. He wanted always to be as close to the objects as possible. In 1954 he was too close to the object.

Forgotton, Robert Capa? No. The memory of his work and life is still a matter of interest for people in the city of Nice,  and maybe for the rest of the world too?

FRIENDS OF THE NORWEGIAN ARMED FORCES MUSEUM

The Norwegian armed forces museum is situated in Oslo at Akershus Castle. I paid the museum a visit some days ago together with two close friends. We enjoyed the stay because the collections of Norwegian military history are important for understanding of the history of Norway. Nils Birger Olsen is the head of the friends of the Norwegian armed forces museum

. The bookshop of the museum is run by the friends of the museum. Dvds of movies and documentaries dealing with the Second World War were a part of the sale of the bookshop. I bought an interesting book: Lars Borgersrud: Nødvendig innsats .(Eng: Necessary Effort).Sabotørene som skapte den aktive motstanden.

The content of the book is based on the doctor's degree of Lars Borgersrud published in 1995.
352 pages of thrilling studies made by the writer during his work that lasted for about thirteen years. 352 pages have been studied by me after the visit to the museum. Not a boring moment!For those of you who do not know much about the military and political situation of Norway from 1940 to 1945 the reports published might confuse you. I recommend you to read the official reports of the situation to compare the statements made by Lars Borgersrud in his book. Do we need to evaluate the official history of the war with reference to statements and documents presented in book mentioned? I think we need a new version of what went on in Norway from 1940 to 1945.

Dvds are for sale too. You can get a copy of the documentary about the Norwegian saboteur, Asbjørn Sunde, also called " Osvald ". The title of the film is: " Offer eller Spion" ( Eng: Sacrifice or Espionage?".

" Necessary Effort "deals with the secret war of Soviet Union against Germany before the German invasion of Soviet Union in 1941. The main target for the actions were ships bound for Germany. The saboteurs were recruited by Fritz Karl " Ernst " Wollweber.The story of the work done by the group is thrilling. It was a dangerous work. It was a question of life and death for those who participated in the work. Many were killed The story of Asbjørn Sunde and his supporters working later in Norway is Norwegian military history.
Asbjørn Sunde.

THE OLD FRENCH TOWN, FRENCH LIQUEUR AND THE DAMAGE OF HISTORICAL SITES

During the battle of France in 1940 the young  German officer, Hans von Luck, was ordered to attack the old French town, Fecamp. The old town is situated within Upper Normandy region. Fecamp is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department  in the Haute-Normandie region in the northern France.

Hans von Luck had to make a decision about the future of the old town which is famous for historical buildings: The Casino, Town Hall and the Benedikter Monastry. If he attacked the town, he had to destroy the historical sites. He decided not to attack the town due to his personal interest in old historical buildings and above all: French liqueur!

When he was told that ” Liqueur DOM Benedictine ” was produced in Palais Benedictive in Fecamp, he made this statement: ” … Monsieur  le Maire, I gave an order to save the Town Hall, the Monastery and the Casino because I have a great respect for the historical buildings. Pour vous, la guerre est finie …”. His love for the French liqueur was not mentioned in his public statement about the future of the town. The winner of the battle was the liqueur! He drank the French liqueur with great pleasure, bought some bottles for his private collections, and he gave a party for the inhabitants of the town paid by himself.

D.O.M means: DEO-OPTIMO- MAXIMO or  ” To God, the Greatest and the Best ”

SOURCE: Hans von Luck: Panzer Commander. The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck. Vega Forlag AS. 2007. Page 53- 57.

T

NORWAY 1940-TORÅS FORTRESS READY FOR ACTION?

NORWAY 1940 –TORÅS FORTRESS READY FOR ACTION?

The German attack on Norway in 1940 could have been avoided if the news about the planning and military preparations of the attack on Norway had been understood and evaluated by the members of the Norwegian government. If the fortresses had been established to protect the capital of Norway, Oslo, the war might have been avoided?  A week ago, July 2016, I paid a private visit to one of the fortresses: TORÅS FORTRESS. Torås fortress was not ready for the German invasion in 1940.The fortress was not finished in 1940. No fighting took place at Torås fortress. The Germans finished  the building of the fortress in 1941. The fortress was equipped with four 15cm Bofors L/50 pieces. After the war , the Norwegian army reused Torås fortress.The fortress is situated at Tjøme, Vestfold.In 1999 the military activities on the fortress were closed. Information about the living conditions for people in the district during the war is presented in the book published by the local history association:Hvasser og Brøtsø Historieforening.The title of the book is: Øyboere i krig. The book is written by Einar Chr. Erlingsen and Kari Sundsåen. The story about Torås fortess and other military buildings ,are to be found on pages 146-155.

SPAIN/ALBIR:WALKING WITH YOUR HEAD DOWN ALONG THE BEACH

Walking along the beach of Albir is a nice experience. But do not look up all the time. If you take a look on the pavement  you will see some decorations where names are written. I did not know any of the names written but what a surprise to find out who the persons are! Spanish actors and actresses who are all famous for the work they have done. One of the persons is from Panama, Miguel Bose: I did not have time to make a list of all the names but here you have a few of them: Charo Lopez, Andres Pajares, Fernando Guillen, Miguel Bose, Maribel Verdu, Fernando Colomo, Marisa Paredes, Eusebio Poncela and Carlos Saura.

Some information about the persons written in the pavement in Albir.
Miguel Bose is a singer and actor from Panama. Born 1936, Carlos Saura is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and photographer. Born 1932.Charo Lopez is a Spanish actress.Born 1943., Maribel Verdu is a Spanish actress. Born 1970.( Known to English-speaking audiences for playing in the film: Y to mama tambien), Marisa Paredes is a Spanish actress. Born 1946., Fernando Colomo is a Spanish film producer, screenwriter and film director.Born 1946., Andres Pajars is a Spanish actor, director, writer and comedian who has worked for both theater, film and television. Born 1940., Fernando Guillen was a Spanish actor. Born 1932 and died 2013(Age 80).

MIGUEL DE CERVANTES

SPAIN: CARTAGENA. HISTORY ON THE WALL

Miguel de Cervantes

The city of Cartagena is worth a visit if you appreciate seaside cities, old building and historical sites. Walking close to the harbour, I was surprised to find Spanish history on the wall on one of the old buildings.The famous Spanish writer was the subject for my attention. It was not easy to find the sign on the wall, but I do wall searching for historical information when I am holiday in foreign cities. I do recall the study of his famous book, Don Quixote, during my years as a student at the Norwegian Library School in late sixties in Oslo. He is regarded as one of the greatest writer  in Spanish language. At the Norwegian Library school the book was studied by making use of a Norwegian translation. Miguel de Cervantes was assumed born in 1547 and died in 1616. His major work, Don Quixote, is considered to be the first modern  European novel. The writer did not work as a writer all his life. He was a professional soldier, a purchasting agent for the Spanish Armanda, a tax collector for the government, working for the banking industry, and  he tried to get a job as an accountant for the  port of Cartagena too. He was unable to support himself through his writings. The Count of Lemos, Pedro Fernandez de Castro y Andrade , supported him economically. Miguel de Cervantes settled in Madrid where he lived and worked until his death.
The sculpture of the writer reading books is my favorite schulpture. I have searched for the schulpture for years without any result. Call me if you find one!

M/S TARONGA

M/S  TARONGA: THE NORWEGIAN SHIP WHO DID NOT WANT TO DIE

A personal quarrel took place between a lady and sailor about the ship, M/S Taronga. The issue was the decision made in 1940 about what to do with the ship. The Norwegian government had forwarded a message to all Norwegian ships not to go to Norwegian harbours due to the political situation in Norway in April  1940. Germany had invaded Norway.

The lady who brought up the problem many years after the event in 1940, was very irritated. Both she and the sailor had been on board the ship in 1940. She is accusing him for his negative attitute not to make a mutiny to avoid a takeover  of the ship by the Germans. The sea captain had decided not to go to a foreign harbour but to seak port of refuge in the city of Larvik.

Mutiny on a Norwegian ship in 1940 would have been a sensation. The newspapers would print the story worldwide to inform that not all in Norway had lost the fighting spirit. Above all:  The mutiny might be an inspiration to the Norwegian people  telling all to reject the official statement made by the Norwegian traitor Vidkun Quisling to sail to  Norwegain harbours

The captain had made his decision to ask for port of refuge in the seaside city Larvik.No mutiny took place . The lady had no say in 1940. She was a passenger only.  But she never forgot the ship, the event, the final decision made.

FACTS ABOUT THE SHIP

M/S Taronga was launched on January 20, 1934 by Odense Staalskibsvaerft, Odense, Denmark. Service speed 16.25 knots. The owner of the ship was the Norwegian company ,Wilh. Wilhelmsen, Tønsberg, Norway. The ship was sailing along the coast of Norway after a tour in South Africa.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SHIP DURING WWII?

The ship was seized by the Germans on August 15, 1940 and transferred to the Kriegsmarine in February 1942. The new name of the ship was: ” Sperrbrecher 15 ”.

 Sperrbrecher  means  ” minefield breaker”. The task of the ship was to serve as a type of minesweeper by sailing ahead of other vessels through minefields  intending to detonate any mines in the path.

The ship was heavily damaged by air attack and towed to Hamburg, Germany. She was also used as a target ship in 1943. In May 1945 the ship was recovered but was completely burnt out from the air attack. M/S Taronga was repaired and she reenterd service in August 1948.

In October 1961 the ship was sold to the Sangyo Shinko K.K for scrapping.

The sailor who did not want to take part  in a mutiny in 1940 had entered the ship on May 13, 1939 and he left the ship on August 1, 1940 accompanied by a furious  and rebellious lady.

The sailor reentered the doomed ship on October 23, 1957 and he left the  ship on November 5, 1958.

The First Mate of the ship in 1940 was my father. The rebellious lady was my mother. The quarrel between them  dating  the event of  1940 went on for many years.

Question. Who was the captain on M/S Taronga in 1940? In 1954 a list of Sea Captains was published:

Norges Skipsførere. Annen Utgave. 1935 – 1953. Paul T. Dreyers Forlag- Stavanger. 487 pages.

I have read the story of all the captains listed. I seached for information about M/S Taronga. No name of the wanted man. Names of some of the sailors who had sailed the ship: Able seaman, Ole Martin Kjørholt( 1936 -1937), Mate Rolf Birger Hagelund, Mate Alv Mangor Jørgensen, Mate Oddmund Arnljot Berge, Mate Rolf Endresen and Mate Hans Pedersen.

But who was the Captain who let the Germans takeover the ship in 1940?

NEW INFORMATION 2023

New information about the Captain of Taronga that was found in " Halden Mønstringkontor " in March 30, 2023. The name of the Captain was Harald Mariunius Andresen. He was born in the City of Halden on March 18, 1892. Captain of Taronga from May 28, 1935 to August 16, 1940. The ship was taken by the Germans on August 15,1940. The crew including the Captain and the First Mate left the ship.