WARSAW: THE BURDEN OF OLD MEN

While walking in the streets in the old city of Warsawa I noticed some decorations on one of the buildings: The everlasting burden of some old but strong men. They need strong shoulders. No holidays for the men. My comments are:Don't give up, don't leave the house, keep calm, well done work , no pay so far ,and above all: Ageing is no crime. We need you all, old and young, to make the society working.But who will replace these old men who might ask for a chance? Take care.I recall also a painting made in 1975. The painting was made by Yvonne Claesson. The writing on the painting was a threat to all men worldwide except the old men in Warsaw: We leave now!But they decided to stay for some more years.

(Første pris i SIDAs affischtavling infør FNs Internationella kvinnoår 1975)

SWEDISH PRISONERS OF WAR

SWEDISH  PRISONERS OF WAR IN NORWAY?

During a hike in the forest north of Oslo, the capital of Norway, together with two old friends on May 5, I noticed an information sign set up close to the path. The main content of the information on the sign was that Swedish prisoners of war had built the stone walls set up in the forest. Swedish prisoners of war in Oslo?

I had forgotten the military history about the many wars between Norway and Sweden. The year is 1808. Norway was not an independent country but in union with Denmark. Any war initiated by the kings of Denmark ment that Norway was at war too.

The war of 1807 – 1808 between Denmark/Norway and Sweden led to military actions within Norway. The official reports of the fightings in Norway contents some figures of Swedish prisoners of war . After the battle of Prestbakke in the county Østfold about 361 Swedish prisoners of war were taken. Østfold is a county in the southeastern Norway.

The Swedish battalion : 1. Sødermanlands bataljon consisted of about 150 soldiers.We do not know if the stone walls were built by men from Sødermanland in Sweden – but it might be a possibility?

I do not know if the prisoners from the battle of Prestbakke were the same prisoners who built the stone walls in the forest situated north of Oslo? Anyway the year 1808 is written on the sign.

Swedish prisoners of war were imprisoned at the Akershus Castle in Oslo. Cheap labour was wanted at the Nordberg Farm. The prisoners were not satisfied with the food at the Akershus Castle. No money was given to the Swedish prisoners for the work done at the farm, but they all got food.
Many of the prisoners working at the farm escaped during the work.

The Danish Prince Christian August av Augustenborg (1768-1810) was the military leader of the Norwegian forces. About 400 Norwegian soldiers were killed during the war. After the war, Prince Christian August accepted an official request to become the King of Sweden .

The French General Jean Baptiste Bernadotte became the King of Sweden when Christian August died just after having accepted the request to become King of Sweden in 1814 -and King of Norway too.

History in the trees in  forest close to Oslo – hiking is an interesting activity!

Sources/bibliography:

-Per Erik Olsen: Blodig blågult nederlag. 1807-1808: Grensekrigen mellom Norge og Sverige.
 ( Published: Norge i krig .Norske soldater gjennom 1000 år.." Vi Menn.Norge i Krig. 2014".)
-Norges historie. Bind 9. Kampen om Norge 1784-1814 av Knut Mykland. J.W. Cappelens Forlag .A.S. 1978.
-Grace Brynn: Fra kirkegård til storgård. Published: Nordre Aker Budstikke. June 22, 2008.