Local news, Porsgrunn center | Bjarne (88) stole an entire tank from the Nazis: – Boyish streaks

Olsen has lived in Porsgrunn for the past 20 years, but he was born and raised in Lier. He was five years old when the German Nazis came to Norway.

– The Germans took our school and used it as accommodation. Then we had to walk six to seven kilometers every second day to Vivelstaddalen, he says.

It’s been a long time now, but childhood at Lier is still fresh in the memory.

– We played a lot in the forest, and there the Germans had a tank that they used for exercises. It was not very heavy, so we borrowed two horses and dragged it away and hid it. It was just boyishness. We also found a hut with lots of fruit that was used by the home front.

Not all memories were so peaceful. The factory close to where he lived was blown up by the Allies’ bombs.

– It was because they worked for the Germans. It was only Nazis, says Olsen.

It is now 79 years since the liberation on 8 May 1945. Olsen remembers that he was visiting a classmate that day.

– His grandfather had been a sheriff until the war started. Then it was the father who took over, and he was a Nazi. He fled to Argentina after the war.

When the news of the liberation came, they put the radio in the window and played music at full blast, says Olsen.

Come to Porsgrunn

It was because of work that Olsen was drawn to Porsgrunn just over 20 years ago. But not all the cultural peculiarities of Porsgrund people have fully penetrated yet.

– I have never understood why Porsgrunn and Skien are not one municipality, he laughs.

PD met Olsen together with the rest of the guys in the Seamen’s Association. Eilif Smith was quick with an answer when Olsen’s question came up.

– It goes back a long way. Skien should always get what they want because they are the biggest, he says.

Olsen joined the Porsgrund and surrounding seamen’s association five years ago, after his wife passed away.

– It’s good to come here for a good laugh and a good chat.