STILL UNBROKEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21959, 10 May 1941, Page 7

STILL UNBROKEN

Spirit Of Norwegians Opposition To Nazi Influence British Official Wireless RUGBY, May 8. Secret German military documents captured during the British and Norwegian raid on the Lofoten Islands on March 4 provide the clearest evidence—which its source makes incontrovertible—of the unyielding opposition of the Norwegians to Nazi influence and the failure of Nazi and Qulslingtat , efforts to subvert their national loyalties. The documents are published as a White Paper, the foreword to which states: "Everywhere there is evidence of the frank recognition of the extent of active Norwegian opposition.” The final document, signed by General von Falkenhorst, the German Commander-in-Chief in Norway himself 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 the 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 dated September 28, which reveals that "neither the Executive Council nor other political groups is in a position or even desire to assume in a responsible way the Government of Norway,” that all organisations remain “pro-Brltish and consequently antiGerman,” and that the Norwegian people or the leaders ate “in no position to fulfil the demands of the new era.” Severe Press Control After announcing that the country would be placed under military control the commander orders increasing severIty of press control. The second document outlines the methods of such control and forms it telling indictment of similar control within the Reich by stating: "The foremost task of the press is to be an instrument of political leadership.” Fear of foreign criticism is evident In a 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 foreign news broadcasts. While editors must give full support to the measures taken In Norwegian domestic politics, an order which cannot be read without an Ironical smile is that stating that everything written 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 to 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.” The next document containing Instructions for the collaboration of the military authorities with the Gestapo, reveals the military anxiety that the whole odium of Nazi oppression should fall on the Gestapo, and it states that Norwegian police must, whenever possible, be summoned to carry out whatever measures are decided.

Ruthless Gestapo Measures Anxiety is underlined in the fourth document signed by General 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 routtoe of Gestapo oppression and suppression is seen to orders forbidding listening to foreign radio news, the possession of wireless sets by Jews, the playing of the Norwegian anthem, and the display of flags on the birthday of the former King. A list of offences includes "subverslve preaching by ministers of religion either in the pulpit or at the graveside.” in all such cases, however, the only action ordered is to report to the Gestapo. Religion a Stumbling Block Clearly the Nazis find the strong religious instincts among their fellow Nordics a serious stumbling block end they desire to respect them so long as it suits them. The series of these documents not onto brings out the cold cynical calculation of the Gestapo methods, but also the uneasiness in the mind of the guilty oppressors, which must inevitably grow as the incontrovertible &»h« c ?K es!0 ‘ ls made known free USh ° Ut ihese countries tul they are