Men of Norway

Series

Series Name

The March of Time 7th Year

Issue

Issue No.

6

Date Released

Dec 1941

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1Men of Norway

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 1

Summary

The March of Time synopsis: Two new voices are introduced: the voice of the Norwegian Patriot telling of the exploits of youths escaping in stolen boats across the formidable North Sea, of acts of sabotage and defiance among the three million virtual prisoners under the Nazi Gauleiter; the other voice, that of the British Navy, supplementing the narrative of escape with accounts of raids and rescues. These two voices present action and the thrill of high adventure against the enemy of freedom, while the March of Time commentator supplies a broad survey of the struggle. In England, to carry on its fight against the Nazi conqueror, the Government of Free Norway is rebuilding its army, preparing it to act as a spearhead when the time comes for an Allied invasion of the lost homeland. Now in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy are thousands of seafaring Norsemen who know every inch of the Norwegian coastline and every channel into its countless fjords. Many of these men have served long years in the merchant marine as able-bodied seamen, boatswains and mates, and today, flying the naval ensign of Norway and regularly in action in the Battle of the Atlantic are fifty Norwegian men-of-war, among them a half-dozen one time U.S. destroyers. Helping to earn the millions of crowns needed to maintain Norway’s fast-growing armed forces and playing a major role in the Allied war effort is the great Norwegian merchant marine. Despite the loss of nearly a million tons of shipping in two years of war, it still has in service today more than three million gross tons - made up of seven hundred Norwegian takers and freighters. Sailing under British and American charters for the duration, they are carrying more than half of all the gasoline and oil pouring into England - one of the vital aids upon which Britain depends for her survival.

The Nazis are not finding their task of ruling Norway easy. Their domination is only maintained by a strict vigilance in every town, for they know that hundreds of Norwegians have arms hidden in secret places and are only waiting for the day when they will be able to turn them upon the Germans. But although the Norwegians are not yet strong enough to fight their oppressors openly they have found a thousand ways of making trouble for them. Everyone in Norway, with the exception of a few hundred Quisling traitors, belongs to some undercover organisation of patriots, which meets secretly in cellars and barns. Every organisation prints its own paper to let the people know the truth about what is really going on, and to tell them also when to listen to broadcasts from London. But what is more infuriating to the Nazis is the Freedom Radio station, which broadcasts to the Norwegian people only what the Nazis do not want them to hear - like speeches of Churchill or Roosevelt. The ambition of many of the young men who manage to escape from Norway is to join the Royal Norwegian Air Force Training Centre in Canada, founded in 1940 by famed airman Reiser Larsen. In command is a veteran Norse airman - Major Ole Reistad - who, as squadron leader, fought the Luftwaffe throughout Norway’s valiant sixty-two day battle against the Nazi invaders. In "Little Norway" Ole Reistad is today doing what he long ago insisted must be done to the building of a powerful air force. And in achieving their ambition these young Norwegians who feel that their country was lost through years of unpreparedness and national indifference - are today determined that with liberty-loving peoples everywhere united - the men of [illegible] Norway will be in the vanguard of the attack which will one day strike down that evil force which has destroyed the peace of the world.

Researcher Comments

This story was included in Vol.8 No.2 of the US edition.

Keywords

Foreign relations; War and conflict

Written sources

Documentary News Letter   Vol.2 No.12 December 1941, p229.
The March of Time Promotional Material   Lobby Card, Used for synopsis

Credits:

Production Co.

Time Inc.