Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1945-08-01
G|impses From Free Norway
By A. BJERKESETH

BY A. BJERKESETH
Letters from Norway arriving in steady
stream relatives and friends in state They give
vivid pictures of conditions in Norway during the five
years of occupation and tell stories told before OF
of them bring dreary about relatives
who have spent months and years concentration
and of food shortages and want of all things that make
life worth while But everyone agrees that the liberation
much earlier than expected invasion, no blood
she'd and could have at any better time OF the
year They have before them the glorious northern
with long days and every chance to till the earth and
things grow They have with them real friends and
getting all possible help from the neghboring coun-
tries Sweden and Denmarl) and from the big friends
abroad Shploads of food and necessities are arriving
every day . and above a-they free again to en-
Joy every little bit of life Of will take months
and perhaps years to get back to conditions but
it matters not long they the bright light
ahead.
Nothing seems to have excited the Norwegians
temperance of free and unfettered daily
in Norway according to dispatch from NJ Lorimer Moe,
in The Christian Science Monitor July % These papers
have greeted with such avity by the newshungry
reading public that the current daily circulation of all
newspapers is double the figure despite the fact
70 of former 24O daes have not resumed publ
cation.
Judged by any standard Norway had excellent press
before the 1t obvious from the zeSt intelligence
with which the newspaper profession reapproachng its
task that the country will have better press in
the future Many problems yet to be solved but the
achievements of little than two months after
gence from German control less than amazing.
Neither strict newsprnt rationing, loss and deterora
ton of mechanical equipment lack of experienced
workers in all branches of industry has prevented the
liberated press from performing speedily its primary
function of providing the public with
Shortly after the German occupation began, the
Der of daily papers reduced from 240 to 80 First to
go those that openly criticized subtly rdiculed
the German and Quislng regimes Next to disappear
labor papers, substantial segment of the whole Norwe-
gian press.
The Nazs assumed direct control of certain papers
many cities When this had the effect of driving read
to nonNaz competitors the latter stopped It
also drove many journalists Underground to the estab
ished clandestine press
editions the Underground papers appeared
long before the liberation, great number of the
papers Norwegans had known before the appeared
In many cities, several papers joined forces to issue
single paper In OSLO for example, daies combined
to publish single edition called Oso Pressen" This sit
uaton continued in the Capital for full week at the end
of which newspapers published separately
Since then papers have been added to the Capital
flock 1t Verdens Gang which replaces old Tdens Tegn
whose decided restart and sold the physical
plant to the hackers of the paper.
Verdens Gang incidentally, is outstanding example
of the influence in Norwegian journalism. Liberal in
character, it dsavows afiaon with any political party.
It's avowed purpose to maintain the Norwegian political
unity brought about by the resistance of all i'm
portant political groups during the five years of Nazi
occupation