By NRK - Tore Christiansen - Human Synthesis - 07 May 2024

(Original published by NRK - Per Kristian Johansen - 19 May 2005)

Liberation in 1945 triggered relief and immense joy among people. Finally, the population escaped the Germans' reign of terror, and jubilation broke out. The 60th anniversary of the liberation is being marked all over the country, and we at Norgesglasset have taken a closer look at what happened on those May days in 1945.

7 May 2005 marks 60 years since Nazi propaganda material and blackout curtains were burned at the stake. Across the country, jubilant Norwegians poured into the streets to celebrate the end of the Second World War.

Capitulation

On the morning of 7 May 1945, the Germans in Europe capitulated. After Hitler's death on 30 April, German Grand Admiral Dønitz was Germany's supreme formal leader. He deposed Terboven and gave all military and civil power to the German military commander in Norway, General Bøhme.

After Hitler's death on 30 April, German Grand Admiral Dønitz was Germany's supreme formal leader. Here is the front page in Aftenposten. Photo: NTB Archive / Scanpix

But not everyone was able to let go of the joy on 7 May. 300,000 German soldiers were stationed in Norway, and rumors were that they would fight on from "Festung Norwegen".

- The news announced that it was going down and home with the Germans, and then I understood that there was going to be peace, says 90-year-old Thordis Bratseth from Tydalen. She remembers the liberation days well.

"Norway is free again"

General Bøhme was ordered on the evening of 7 May to surrender with his forces in Norway, and he complied with this order.

On the evening of 7 May, the Home Front's leadership sent out their declaration: "Our struggle has been crowned with victory, Norway is free again". Photo: NTB / Scanpix

The Home Front's leadership was thus able to send out its declaration which had the now well-known introduction: "Our struggle has been crowned with victory, Norway is free again".

On Kveldsnytt at At 22.00 on 7 May, the people received the final news that there was peace in the country.

- It was a strange feeling. If you have been a prisoner for 5 years and someone says that you are suddenly free, then you will be happy, says Thordis Bratseth.

The rush of liberation

The liberation triggered relief and immense joy among people. Finally, the population escaped the Germans' reign of terror. The jubilation in May would never end, and people enjoyed the freedom and the joy of seeing each other again. An exhausted people could celebrate freedom in a worn-out and impoverished fatherland.

Across the country, jubilant Norwegians poured into the streets to celebrate the end of the Second World War. Those who had been away because of the war began to come home - from abroad, from concentration camps and captivity, from hiding places in their homeland.

The jubilation in May would never end, and people enjoyed the freedom and the joy of seeing each other again. An exhausted people celebrated freedom in a worn-out and impoverished fatherland. Photo: Kihle / NTB / Scanpix

- A spring flood of joy

This note hung in a bookshop window in Oslo on 8 May 1945.

Posters from Hjemmefronten's leadership hung everywhere, and Norwegian flags waved from houses, balconies and from thousands of small children's hands.

Ebba Haslund experienced the liberation rush in Oslo at close range in the May days of 1945.

- It was like a spring flood of joy went over the whole country and it felt like a pressure had been relieved. Finally we could breathe freely, she says.

On the door of the bookstore in Oslo there was a white note with the message: Closed due to joy!

A little revenge

Ebba Haslund was surprised at how little desire for revenge there was against German and Norwegian Nazis.

Ebba Haslund experienced the liberation rush in Oslo at close range in May 1945. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / SCANPIX

- We saw Germans and Nazis in the streets, but we just overlooked them. We rather felt sorry for these people, and it was as if these thoughts of revenge simply evaporated, she says.

Gradually, those who had been away because of the war began to come home - from abroad, from concentration camps and captivity, from hiding places in their homeland.

On the morning of 8 May, the Milorg boys emerged from their bases and hiding places ("gutta på Skauen") and marched into towns and settlements. In the following days, American, English and Russian officers also arrived.

- They brought wine and goodies, and parties were held all over the city. But I don't remember people getting drunk, it was just euphoria, says Haslund.

Now people had the feeling that the War was finally over.

The jubilation in May would never end, and people enjoyed the freedom and the joy of seeing each other again. Now people had the feeling that the War was finally over. Photo: NTB / Scanpix