POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD), ALCOHOL AND SOVIET ASYLUM

My first encounter with the author of the book: "AVOID the VOID . A Struggle for Decency. A Journey from a Soviet Asylum to Paradise Forgotten " , took place at a local political meeting in Oslo some years ago. Gunnar Gjengset was a man with few words. He was calm, goodlooking and polite. His statements later that evening was a contrast to my first impression of him. "... I brought with me my wife for safety reasons he told  me...". I did not understand what he was talking about. I had no idea that he had problems with alcohol.. No. But I was fascinated by the story of his actions in Soviet Union in 1970. He had written a book about his experience being arrested and sentenced to one year in a labour camp in the former Soviet Union. He had entered the former Soviet Union in year 1970 to take action against violations of human rights. Due to an international action, he was released from the prison to return to Norway. So far, so good. The book mentioned is about his mental problems later on. " ... I walked into Soviet criminal asylum in the winter of 1970. I left the asylum with a package: A Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that exploded some thirty-five years later, on re-entring the former East Germany. Until then, I had tried to drown what was buried deep inside me, with occeans of alcohol. Slowly I got rid of it all. It took some will...", quotation from the book.

Gunnar Gjengset, Ph. D. who is a retired Norwegian professor, is a writer too. The content of the book is an honest and tough report and confession about his alcohol problems lasting for years. He had it all: An academic eductation, work, family, friends, and above all: A popular teacher and friend with whom all wanted to work . But he was not that good at all. This is his story about his private journey  and fight  with his close friend: Alcohol. About how to solve his problems and his opinions of how to get out of the hell being addict to alcohol, I recommend you to read the book and make up our own opinions. His answer is all all of you who are addict to alcohol, is a brutal, realistic and hard answer. "... Do you really want to get sober? Do you really want him to get sober?...".
Two main questions asked by the auther in his book. If you the answer is:Yes. Next question: What's keeping you? Gunnar Gjengset decided to take control of his escalating abuse of alcohol. Study his list for surviving, a day-to-day schedule for how to challenge the boozing. If you admit that you have a problem - that is the main issue - then you have to invest in at least one year of your lifetime making you life better. Good Luck.

WWI: D.S " BRINK " AND THE GERMAN U-BOAT U 48 - A DRAMATIC MEETING

The Norwegian newspaper " Finnmarken " located in Vardø in the Northern part of Norway reported in 1916 about the sinking of Norwegian ships by German u-boats. Norway was not at war with Germany during the First World War (1914 - 1918). Norway did not sided officially with any of the fighting nations. The Imperial German Navy had introduced an unrestricted u-boat warfare. A neutral flag was no guarantee for safety. Due to  the blocade imposed by the British Navy ,food shortages in German cities became a problem.The German reaction to the British blocade of supplies to Germany was an unrestricted warfare against merchant wessels including Norwegian cargo ships. The sinking of the ships close to Vardø was a result of the official German warfare. " Finnmarken" reported a surprise story in 1916 : " ... early this morning a big u-boat approached the entry of the habour to put ashore the crew from d.s " Brink " from the city of Tønsberg ... the ship had been torpedoed by the German u-boat about 50 nn North East of Vardø ...the attack took place in the Arctic Ocean ...the crew from d.s " Brink " about 20 men were brought to the ship " Varanger " which put the crew ashore..." The Norwegian captain on d.s :" Brink ", Laurits Andersen, was interviewed by the newspaper. He told about the dramatic event.

The ship had left Onega, Russia, bound for Hull in England. The cargo was lumber. He had been warned about a German u-boat which had been seen by a British cruiser.The German u-boat - U 48 - approached the Norwegian cargo ship.  Warning shots were fired from the u-boat. Captain Andersen made a contact with the German commander of the u- boat , Lieutenant- Commander Berndt Buss, who gave an order to sink d.s: " Bink ". The work was not an easy task. The Germans made an attempt to set the ship on fire. It did not work. The timber did not burn. The  Germans fired about 18 shots again the ship. Negative result. The ship did not want sink that fast. A torpedo from the u-boat made it in the end. The ship began to burn. The timber was set on fire. The weather was not good.The lifeboats contenting all the clothes of the sailors, were attached to the u-boat . To save the crew, the German commander Berndt Buss had to take the crew from d.s: " Brink " on board the u-boat and then bring the crew to Vardø. The lifeboats were taken by the heavy sea.The sailors lost all their clothes.  It was a sensation for the people of Vardø to see a foreign u-boat so close to the city. The act made by the German Lieutenant-Commander Berndt Buss was not a common act or policy of the u-boat commanders of the Imperial German Navy. The act of saving the crew was not a common policy. The official navy report of the career of Berndt Buss shows that the saving of the crew of d.s: " Brink " was an  exception. Berndt Buss was responsible for the sinking of six Norwegian ships during the First World War. He saved only the crew from d.s: Brink " which sank in October 4, 1916.

In January 7, 1917 Berndt Buss decided to sink the ship: " Borgholm".
In January 8, 1917 he sank the ship: " Tholma ". " Vestfold " sank in January 12, 1917 and " Esperance" sank in January 16, 1917 and finally, " Navarra " which he put an end to in March 7, 1917. 19 sailors are reported lost. The Norwegian shipping company, Fearnley & Eger, was the operator of " Navarra".What happened to the German commander who could have killed 20
Norwegian sailors in year 1916 but for reasons unknown, he did not do it. What happened to the German u-boat U 48? Berndt Buss was born in September 12, 1882 and he died in March 8, 1917.
He was responsible for the sinking of 19 ships, 1 ship damaged and 2 ships were taken as prize. He was the commander of U 48 from April 22, 1916 to March 9, 1917. I found the report of his death written in French : "... tue dans le kiosque apres abordage par le vapeur " East Point" qu'il attaquait
u-48  bien que tres endommage a neanmoins pu regagner sa base. 19 navires coules pour un tout 46700 tonnes...." so far the report. The u- boat, U 48, was discovered by a British patrol craft scuttling  on the Goodwin Sands. U 48 had an accident on the Goodwin Sands. After a brief exchange of gunfire, scuttling charges were set and the crew abandoned the boat. 19 dead and 17 survivors.
What is the reason for publishing the story of a German commander who let the crew of d.s:" Brink "
survive, you may ask? A good question. My father was among the crew: Konrad Arthur Johansen. Born in Tønsberg, October 24, 1898. He joined the see for the first time in year 1916 as a sailor on the ship d.s: " Brink " or d.s: " Foldsjø" that was the earlier name of the ship. In year 1916 the name of the shipping company which owned the ship, was " Nilsen & Sønner ", Nøtterøy, Tønsberg. My father was a sailor all his life. He was educated as captain in year 1922 at The Tønsberg Official Seamen's School. I met him twice a year. He was a nice man but once a sailor always a sailor. He never went ashore. His life was the sea, the crew, the harbours and new countries every year. A nice man, he was, and a popular sailor with friends everywhere. I miss him.
What about the official maritime declaration concerning the sinking of d.s " Brink "?
October 14, 1916, the maritime declaration of the stratagem of the d.s " Brink " took place in the city of Tønsberg- a shipping town situated in the Vestfold county of Norway ( It takes about two hours by car from Oslo, the capital of Norway, to Tønsberg). The shipowner, Hans Nilsen Bjønnes, who was the representative of the shipping company, " Nilsen & Sønner ", participated at the meeting concerning the maritime declaration. My father took part in the meeting too. His title is: able seaman.
He is 18 years of age. But his name is spelled wrong in the official document of the maritime declaration: Conrad Johannesen is the name used. His  correct name is: Konrad Arthur Johansen.
The court was chaired by Borchgrevink (" byfogd" is the Norwegian title of his official position.)My father is the first person on the left side of the photo on the second row. Students and teachers of the Tønsberg Official Seaman's School 1921- 1922. Degree in seamanship.(Sea- captains.Merchant marine).

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LITHUANIA: MEDAL OF JANUARY 13

Four Norwegians have received  the Medal of January 13 ( Sausio 13-osios atminimo medalis).
Leon Bodd, Thorvald Stoltenberg, Ingvald Godal and Hans-Wilhelm Steinfeld.

The medal was introduced in memory of the events that took place in Vilnius, January 13, 1991,
when the Russian army attacked those who demonstrated against the Russian occupation of Lithuania. The Medal is given to those who have fought for an independent Lithuania from September to December 1991.

VILNIUS: NORVEGIJOS ZURNALISTO HANSO-WILHELMO STEINFELDO-YEAR 1991

IASA-BAAC Conference 2013 took place in the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, October 6 to 10. Some of the participants paid a visit to The Lithuania National Radio and Television Archives. It was  a historical meeting too because we were informed about the political events of 1991 when people of Lithuania began to demonstate against the Russian occupation of the country. The Television building was attacked by the Russian army. Fourteen  were killed and many vounded .
The political events were not on my mind when I walked around in the Television and Radio Archives. To my surprise, I saw a photo on the wall of the famous Norwegian journalist, foreign correspondent and non-fiction writer, Hans -Wilhelm Steinfeld from The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). In Vilnius he is called: Hanso-Wilhelmo Steinfeldo. For your information only: Hans-Wilhelm Steinfeld has worked for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) from the year 1976 - ( I began in NRK the same year, too).He has written several books. In 1990 he received the Narvesen Prize, The Cappelen Prize and the Peer Gynt Prize in 1991. Steinfeldo is well-known in Norway. He was in Vilnius in year 1991. He reported to the whole world about the historical events that took place in Lithuania. Steinfeldo was here at the Television building when the dramatic events took Place doing his job as a reporter. The photo of him is still on the wall - the history on the wall.

Hans-Wilhelm Steinfeld making an interview.

Memory of those who  were killed in 1991.

 

Hans-Wilhelm Steinfeld received The Honorary Prize of the Union of Lithuanian Journalists in 1992.

BARI: HISTORY ON THE WALL - MUSTARD GAS BOMBS

Winston S. Churchill did not like information forwarded him in year 1943 about the sinking of the American Liberty ship : " John Harvey ". He ordered all British documents to be pruged -documents burned due to enemy action. The site is the city of Bari in Italy. " John Harvey " - the U.S Liberty ship had been carring a secret cargo. The cargo contended 2,000 M47A1 mustard gas bombs. A secret cargo. Mustard gas is a chemical agent that causes severe burning of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. The ship was bombed by German bombers on December 2, 1943. Nearly all crewmen on the ship were killed. I paid the city of Bari a visit. I did not know anything about the city or what went on here during the Second World War. No. But on the wall of a building situated close to the habour, I found information about the war. Later on I got information that four Norwegian cargo ships were damaged due to the German air attack: " Bollsta", "Lom", "Norlom" and "Vest " - Norwegian cargo ships which were all damaged. Four sailors were killed on the ship: "Lom" and six sailors were killed on: " Norlom". Today the city is a wanted aim for foreign tourists. Few of them care to read on the walls of the city.
WWII Liberty ship like the " John Harvey".

Norwegian ships damaged during the German attack on Bari.

 

D/S Vest.

The ship was damaged but later repaired and returned to service. The ship was scrapped in 1959. 

Bollsta

The ship was attacked by German bombers. The ship sank.Six sailors are reported killed.

The name of four sailors killed: Ole Chr. Folkvold ( County:Aust-Agder), Olaf Jacobsen(County: Vestfold), Erling Rasch Eylertsen (County: Telemark) and Gunnar Svingen(Arnesen)(County: Oppland). In year 1948 the ship was raised and returned to service. In year 1969 the ship was scrapped in Italy.

Norlom

The ship was bombed and sank at Bari. Six of the crew were killed.In year 1946 the ship was raised and later sold to be scrapped.

 

 

 

DUBROVNIK: BESIEGED, ATTACKED AND REBUILT BY UNESCO-HISTORY ON THE WALL

The city of Dubrovnik is visited by a lot of foreign tourists every year. The city is nice. Not all of the tourists do know that the city was attacked in year 1991. Shopping is more important than historical facts. For seven months the city was besieged by the The Yugoslavia's Yugoslav People's Army(JNA). The fight was a result of the disagreement about to whom the city belonged: Croatia or Serbia? The reports of the fight are to be found on the walls of the city. The history on the wall is interesting to study. The year was 1991. About 114 civilians were killed. In year 1992 the Croatian Army lifted the siege of the city. The damage of the buildings caused by the shelling of the Old Town
was repaired  with support from UNESCO. General Pavle Stugar who coordinated the attack on the city, was sentenced to an eight-year prison term by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for his role in the attack.

DUBROVNIK:WHO IS ON THE BALCONY?

Dubrovnik is a Croation city on the Adriatic Sea. The name of the country is Croatia. I paid the city a visit in September in year 2013. A nice city. A stay is recommended. If you go to the city, take a look at the balconies of the buildings.You might see a sculpture on one of the balconies? Who is the person on the balcony? You let me know if you have the right answer.

The city was founded in the 7th Century. Dubrovnik is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.