The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1943-07-15
German Loot in
llo'rw,ay Is Huge
Country Is Plundered of
An Average of Three
Billions Annually. Z

SlOShf1OLM. - Inc NAILS nave
looted Norway of at least 9.000. 000..
600 crowns Approximately $2,137..
50o.o0o) in three years Of occupation,
Norwegian experts estimate.
TIE average Of three billion an
ually equals three-fourths Of Nor
ways annual national income in the
prosperous pre-occupation days. A
crown equals approximately 23A
cents. ...
because the Norwegians are I'M
able to cover Nazi demands today
on the basis of current income, the
Germans have dipped deeply into
the national fortune.
Authoritative sources estimated
that the national resources have
been reduced three to fur billion
crowns in emptied stores, slaugh-
tered livestock and general wear and
tear.
The economic bleeding of the Nor
wegians by the Nazis, in turn, main
ly led to a so per cent decrease in
the standard of living in relation to
prewar conditions, although the
blockade also was partly RESPONSE
BILE
The following picture of Nazi meth
DDS Of plundering was given by Nor
wegian sources:
Support German Troops.
TIE heaviest burden is the levy on
No-wegians for direct support Of
German troops. In three years the
Nazis have requisitioned sc billion
crowns in the National Norges bank.
Reouisitions lately have been at the,
rate Of two billions monthly.
although the German soldiers get
part of their foodstuffs and other
supplies from Germany, they are
drawn principally from the very re-
stricted Norwegian production -
measure which naturally, eases the
ecoGomic strain in the fatherland but
agsravates the tough food situation
in Norway. -" p
Another important item is the
mountain Of goods which German
soleiers are permitted to send their
families as "gift packages" or take
with them on periodic leaves.
An estimated $50 million crowns
are said to have gone into the pock-
cts of German business men through
artitfcially high rigging Of German
prices while Norwegian export
prizes held constant.
Filtration into the Norwegian
economic life became evident after
Joedf Terboven's civil adninistra-
ton had established itself. It first
began in the light metal industries
on which the Germans have spent
between 600 and 700 million crowns
IN rev construction. The Nazis also
took control Of the fish refining in
dtistry which ranked with shipping
as Worway's most important source
of income.
National Debt Scars.
Mt to be outdone by the Nazis,
vi un Quisling and his aids mean
tire ran the official national debt to
twice the prewar figure. Quisling in
creased the debt by 200 million
crowns through long and short term
loans. - - y {.
Tire destruction of estates, chat
tells and stores on Land was esti-
mated to have cost Norway 500 mill
Z lion crowns.
Cther items for which it is inpos-
sible to give concrete figures are
rent of official municipal buildings, I
estates and schools requisitioned as
booty at the start of the occupation.
TIE bill for some of the plundering
has been presented to the Norwe-
gians through the official budget as,
for example, the German use of the
national railways without payment. q
Norwegians even pay for German
propaganda in the country, for the
Quis ling labor service which works
for the Germans and for the Nor .
wegian legion fighting on the east
ern front. 1t was estimated that
these items cost the Norwegians be-
tween 200 million and 300 mill
lion crowns. H..
Finally the Quisling and Terboven
administrations have confscated the
fortunes and property of NorWegians
who have fled Nazi terror in Nor
way: j.. ~