SPIRIT UNBROKEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24603, 10 May 1941, Page 9

SPIRIT UNBROKEN

THE NORWEGIAN PEOPLE NAZI INFLUENCE OPPOSED EVIDENCE IN DOCUMENTS RUGBY, May 8. Secret German military documents captured during the British Norwegian raid on the Lofoten Islands on March 4 provide the clearest evidence—which its source makes incontrovertible—of the unyielding opposition of Norwegians to Nazj influence, and the failure of Nazi and Quisingisl efforts to subvert their national loyalties. The documents are published as a White Paper, the foreword to which says: " Everywhere there is evidence : of frank recognition of the extent of active Norwegian opposition." The final document signed by General von Falkenhorst, the German com-mander-in-chief in Norway, describes how " the temper and attitude of the Norwegian population has recently stiffened against our endeavours." . That was in last December. The Lofoten Islanders since then have given further proof of 'lie spirit of the Norwegians. Together with other subject peoples they will continue to resist the Nazis until Hitler is overthrown. The first document is a report from the military commander in Norway, 'later! September 28. which reveals: " Neither the Executive Council nor other political groups are in a position or even desire, to assume in a responsible way the government of Norway ". that all organisations remain " proEnglish and consequently anti-Ger-man "; and that Norwegian people or their leaders are "in no position to fulfil the demands of the new era." After announcing that the country would be placed under military control, the commander orders increasing severity of press control A Telling Indictment

A second document outlines the methods of such control, and forms a telling indictment of similar control exercised within the Reich itself.

"The foremost task of the press is to be the instrument of political leadership." Fear of foreign criticism is evident in the ban on copying without permission announcements from foreign press sources, "even and especially, from the Danish and Swedish press." ( Sweden is again specifically mentioned in a later document in connection with the banning .of listening to a foreign news broadcast. While editors must give full support to measures taken in Norwegian domestic politics an order which cannot be read without an ironical smile is one stating that everything wi-itten on foreign policy "must respect the treaties and agreements of the Reich with other countries."

The core of the press control orders —the clearest. possible indication of German fears and the clearest possible admission of weakness—is the insistence that the instructions of the editors should be oral only. "In no circumstances must these instructions be made public, nor must the fact that such have been given to editors become known in any way." ' " Severest Measures " The next document, containing instructions for collaboration of the military authorities with the Gestapo, reveals military anxiety that the whole odium of Nazi oppression will fall on the Gestapo and states that, the Norwegian police must, whenever possible, be summoned to carry out whatever measures are decided. The anxiety is underlined in the fourth document, signed by von Falkenhorst and cited in a foreword which makes it clear that the army, as the principal agent in setting up the "new order." is to ingratiate itself with the population. If, however, the latter shows resistance the military must strike "ruthlessly and with the severest measures." The monotonously recurring routine of Gestapo oppression and suppression is seen in orders forbidding listening to foreign radio news, possession of wireless sets by Jews, the playing of the Norwegian Anthem, and a display of flags on the birthday of the former King. "Subversive preaching" by ministers of religion is forbidden, either in the pulpit or at the graveside. In all such cases, however, the only action ordered is to report to the Gestapo. Clearly the Nazis find the strong religious instincts among their fellow Nordics a serious stumbling block and desire to respect them so long as it suits them. These documents not only bring out the cold, cynical calculation of the Gestapo methods, but also an uneasiness in the mind of the guilty oppressors, which must inevitably grow as the incontrovertible facts of the oppressions are made known throughout the countries till they are free. BOMB DESTRUCTION PEOPLE LIVING IN BOATS (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. Many citizens of Kristiansund were forced to spend the whole of the winter in fishing boats because German bombers set their houses on fire last summer. No official attempt was made to replace the 700 houses destroyed. The econstruction plan submitted by the Quisling Minister of the Interior was merely sent to Germany " for approval." The damage at Kristiansund is estimated at £5,000,000, nearly a-quarter of the total war damage in Norway