Manager This is a leader. The editor expresses the newspaper’s position.
TODAY it is 79 years since the war in Norway ended. 8 May 1945 will forever stand as a memorable day in Norwegian and European history. In Norway, 8 May 1945 marks the end of five years of wartime nightmares, where the German occupying power had to capitulate and Norway was once again a free country. This liberation day has gradually become the Norwegian Veterans Day, where, in addition to the end of the war in 1945, all those who have participated and died in foreign operations are also marked.
IN CONNECTION with this year’s commemoration, a commemorative plaque will be unveiled in Flekkefjord outside Elvegaten 20 to Einar Korsvig Rasmussen, who was an active resistance fighter during the war. Behind the plaque and the event in Flekkefjord tomorrow are the Flekkefjord Museum and the interest group “Flekkefjord 1940-45”. It is a Flekkefjord-based voluntary group that shines a spotlight on the occupation years 1940–1945 in Flekkefjord. The group organizes lectures in collaboration with the museum, as well as making commemorative coins and commemorative plaques to honor civilian and military resistance fighters during occupation.
– IT IS important to use Liberation Day itself to honor those who fought and died in the fight for Norway’s freedom, says Stig Eie, contact person for Flekkefjord 1940–1945. He is right about that. Many people experienced the five years as dramatic and traumatic, not least for those who took part in illegal work for Norway’s freedom.
ONE of the reasons why it is important to remember history is the situation Europe and the Middle East find themselves in at the moment. With the war of aggression unfolding in Ukraine is proof that history repeats itself. The Russian aggression shows that you cannot take things for granted and that crazy dictators still find a place in some countries. We must know our history to avoid repeating history – and we must avoid using history as a pretext for war and aggression.
8 MAY IS an important day in Norway’s history. To give it a further enhanced content, Veteran’s Day was added on 8 May. There are many of us who must express gratitude and respect for the work the resistance movement did during the war and for the work our veterans have done under foreign skies. 8 May is the day of respect and gratitude.
