Remembering the Yugoslav Victims in Norwegian Concentration Camps During World War II

In January 1942, during the dark days of World War II, Nazi Germany established 23 concentration camps in Norway. These camps became sites of unimaginable suffering for over 4,500 Yugoslavs, predominantly Serbs, who were deported from occupied Yugoslavia. Many of them were sent from the infamous camp at Staro Sajmište in Belgrade to the brutal camps in Norway. 

Among the most notorious of these camps were Beisfjord, Botn, Erlandet, Falstad, Korgen, and Osen. Between 1942 and April 1943, a total of 4,680 Yugoslavs were deported to Norway. Of those, over 3,000 were murdered through executions, forced labor, starvation, and disease. 

Despite the horrific conditions, glimmers of humanity and solidarity shone through the darkness. Norwegian anti-fascists risked their lives to aid the prisoners, leaving food and cigarettes along the paths to forced labor sites. They also helped a small number of prisoners escape to neutral Sweden, offering a fragile lifeline of hope amidst despair. 

Of the 4,680 deportees, only 1,300 survived the ordeal. After the war, these survivors, alongside their Norwegian friends and allies, formed an association to commemorate the bond forged through shared sacrifice and resistance. 

This tragic chapter of history reminds us of the immense suffering endured by so many, but also of the courage and solidarity that emerged in the face of unimaginable cruelty. It is our duty to honor the memory of the victims and the bravery of those who stood against oppression, ensuring their stories are never forgotten.

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NKPJ

Nova komunistička partija Jugoslavije

New Communist Party of Yugoslavia

Ustanička 17, 11000 Beograd

Tel +381 61 676 95 77

web: nkpj.org.rs

web: skoj.org.rs