NORWEGIAN WWII SAILORS
By FB - Human Synthesis-01 September 2026
April 9, 1940, Norway occupied, but 1,000 Norwegian merchant ships, 30,000 sailors, were at sea all over the world, not in Norway.
They became most important fleet for Britain survival. King Haakon VII and government escaped to London June 7, 1940, created Nortraship, Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission, London, biggest shipping company in world 1940.
Why important? Norway had fourth biggest merchant fleet in world 1930s, 1,000 ships, mostly modern tankers, 1,300 ships including whalers. When Britain stood alone 1940-1941 against Hitler, Britain needed oil, food, weapons from America. Norwegian tankers carried 40 percent of Britain's oil, 25 percent of all Allied shipping.
Atlantic convoys: Norwegian ships sailed Atlantic convoys HX and SC from America to Britain, most dangerous route, U-boats wolf packs attacked. Norwegian tanker MT Borgestad, MT Sandefjord, many sunk.
Casualties: 500 Norwegian ships sunk, 3,700 sailors died, 1,300 wounded, many in Atlantic, many burned alive when tanker torpedoed, oil burned sea.
One story: Tanker MT Sandefjord torpedoed 1942, captain stayed aboard burning ship to beach it, saved crew.
Nortraship based London, director Øivind Lorentzen, managed fleet, paid sailors, supported families, financed Norwegian government exile, Kompani Linge, Shetland Bus, Milorg.
King Haakon said: "Norwegian sailors are Norway's gold, more important than gold transport." Indeed gold transport 50 tons saved, but merchant fleet worth billions.
After war Norwegian merchant fleet became basis for Norway becoming rich, shipping nation.
Today Norwegian Maritime Museum Oslo tells story, monument to 3,700 sailors died, Nortraship memorial London.
Would you sail tanker with 10,000 tons oil across Atlantic winter 1942 knowing U-boats hunt you, if torpedoed oil burns sea, you will burn alive, but Britain needs oil to fight Hitler? This is Norwegian merchant fleet, 1,000 ships, 30,000 sailors, 3,700 died, 40 percent Britain oil, saved Britain, real history not movie.
