PHOTO FORGOTTEN: A REPORT OF THE STUDY OF AN OLD PHOTO

A close friend of mine has reached the age where a selection of private photos is an object of evaluation. Is the photo of any value anymore and to whom? My friend knew my private interest in the study of the Second World War and the  Norwegian resistance movement. Therefor he gave me a photo taken some years before the Second World War. The content of the photo is a group of young Norwegians after having finished a ski tour. We do not know the exact date of the photo or the name of the site where the group is resting. But it is winter time. We do see four young persons who are all dressed for a ski tour. The sport clothes they are wearing are a good description of the sport fashion of the time. We do know the name of all of the persons except the lady. The name of the man to the left is Einar Ruud.

He lived at a site  named: Hauketo- situated outside the City of Oslo. The lady is still unknown but she is a close friend of the next man on the photo: Max Manus. The man to the right is the father of my friend who gave me the photo: Olav Kyvik. Why is this old photo of any importance at all? Why do I pay attention to the photo? The main reason for my interest for the study of the photo is my private interest in the history of the Second World War, and above all: The unwritten story of the resistance movement of Norway from 1940 to 1945. Two of the men on the photo became famous after the war due to their active participation of the fight against the German occupation of Norway.When the photo was taken Max Manus made a living by selling flowers.He had no formal education apart form the public school. He was unknown to most of the Norwegian people but he became one of the most famous persons after the war- he became a national hero!

Max Manus wrote two books about his life during the Second World War: « Det vil helst gå godt» and « Det blir alvor».

The photo presented has never been published because the photo belonged a private person.

My recommendation to all of you: Do not throw away old photos. You might find some interesting information by study the details of the the photo.