The employment of the Soviet prisoners of war in Norway During the Second World War

This year the world celebrates the 70th anniversary the Auschwitz camp’s liberation by the Soviet Army. Keeping the memory of those events, millions of prisoners of the concentration camps scattered throughout Europe during the Second World War and the victims of the Nazi regime plays a significant role in prevent the recurrence of the tragic events which happened in the 1940s. Moreover, the issues, discussed in the article, have not been studied be the national scholars and they are of research interest, especially when it comes to comparing the employment of the Soviet prisoners of war in various countries of the occupied Europe.

Writing this article, aimed at studying the use of the Soviet prisoners of war in Nazi camps in Norway during World War II, a fairly extensive database of foreign and domestic unpublished archival sources was used. Mainly, these were the documents of the State Archive of Norway and the archives of the Museum of the Resistance (Oslo), as well as materials from the State Archive of the Russian Federation (SARF). The author relied on historical--‐typological, historical--‐comparative and mathematical methods of historical research.

In the 1930s a powerful totalitarian state — Nazi Germany — emerged on the political map of Europe. That time on the territory of the Third Reich the first concentration camps were created. Since the beginning of the Second World War the camp’s system began to grow rapidly throughout occupied Europe. They created new types of camps designed to use the slave labor. The large--‐scale offensive of Wehrmacht and comprehensive terror made it possible to involve not only the population of Germany, but also millions of prisoners of war and the Eastern European workers in the German working army. Their hands did industrial, military and agricultural work.

Using the slave labor enabled the Nazis to get maximum profits at minimum cost and ensure the growth of the Nazi war machine.

Prisoners of the war as a source of free labor

The first years of the war on the Eastern front, the Nazis regarded the Soviet prisoners of war as ideological opponents waged against them a war of extermination and then by the beginning of 1942 captured the Soviet soldiers became an inexhaustible source of free labor. The idea of mass employment of prisoners of war and captured civilians emerged from the German command in connection with the failure of the “blitzkrieg”. The protracted war required enormous resources: raw materials, technology and human. February 18, 1942 at a meeting in the Reichstag of the “Group on work in accordance with the four--‐year plan” Mansfield made an official statement: “Current difficulties in the labor would not have arisen if decision on the widespread use of Russian prisoners of war was timely made” [1, p.37]. In this regard, in October 1942, the führer put forward a new emergency armaments program, which included “additional introduction to business of two million foreign workers” [2, p.35].

Among the Soviet prisoners of war there were a large number of professionals in various specialties. Thus, on the 14 October 1941 in the report for the High Command of the Wehrmacht in Berlin, the Ministry of Labour (Reichsarbeitsminister) admitted that among the Russian prisoners of war there “were very valuable to the war effort skilled workers"1. The report proposed the establishment of special camps for Russian prisoners of war, who were miners, metallurgists, transport workers and workers for forestry, would be brought to further use at the workplaces.

On detection of highly skilled workers among Soviet prisoners became important earlier — in the beginning of the war. On the 14 August 1941 in a letter of the Armed Forces High Command of the Wehrmacht (OKW) to the President of the Labour Exchange a clear guidance on the employment of Soviet prisoners of war was given. According to it, they created a catalog index of professions and formed groups of professionals to work. The letter also noted that the work had to be carried out only under conditions of complete isolation from foreign civilian workers and the local population 2.

Until the end of 1941, the Soviet prisoners of war were recruited mainly in agriculture and construction, later they began to be used in basic and military industry. On the 10 January 1942 general W. Keitel signed an order about the use of the Soviet prisoners of war in the military industry of Germany3. The order required to report on the number of the Soviet prisoners of war, sent by the Exchange of labor to work for the war economy, by the tenth of each month, starting from February 10, 1942.

Table №1 shows that in early February 1942 about 15% of prisoners were working in the military industry and by the end of the war — more than 80%. At the beginning of the war, relying on the “blitzkrieg”, the Nazi leadership did not want to burden them with the alimentation of the Eastern “subhuman”, and military industry assumed relatively higher qualifications of workers. Disruption of “blitzkrieg” on the East and the prolongation of the war led to the mass mobilization and, therefore, the need for slave workers, even for German war industry.

Table 1

The amount of the Soviet prisoners of the war at the OKW camps and their use for German military industry in 1942—1945

Date:	OKW camps	Military industry	Total
1 февраля 1942 г.	1 020 531	147 736	1 168 267
1 сентября 1942г.	1 675 626	375 451	2 051 077
1 февраля 1943г.	1 038 512	493 761	1 532 273
1 августа 1943г.	807 603	496 106	1 303 709
1 марта 1944г.	861 052	594 279	1 455 331
1 сентября 1944г.	905 864	765 444	1 671 308
1 января 1945 г.	930 287	750 000	1 680 287

Camps for the Soviet prisoners of the war in Norway

First camps for the Soviet prisoners of war were established in summer 1941 due to the general guidance on use of prisoners as a source of free labor.

On the 26 February 1940 the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht published “Considerations of political and administrative activities during the occupation of Norway, Denmark and Sweden”4. The paper noted that, first they should set up German military base in Oslo, Arendal, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim, Narvik and Andalsnes. Then it was said about the importance of the work of railway lines Oslo — Lillehammer — Trondheim and Narvik — Riksgrenzen — Lulea [4, p.90]. Establishment of transport system was associated with Nazi plans to use the country's resources for the benefit of the German economy and to create a powerful military base in Scandinavia. Already on the 5 July 1941, the command of the OKW was ordered to send twenty thousand of the Soviet prisoners of war to Norway 5.

Strait after the Soviet prisoners of war appeared in Norway, they were sent to the three camps — the “Stalags” — distribution points for sending prisoners to labor camps 6. After “stalag” prisoners were sent to working or building battalions (Kreigsfangenen--‐Bau und Arbeitsbataillone) and supply battalions. All these units were controlled by the commandant on prisoners of war in Norway — major general Klemm.

In addition to “stalag”, in Mo i Rana there was a special headquarters responsible for working or building battalions of prisoners (Bau--‐Pionier bataillone)7. Its leader was colonel Buschweiser. Prisoners of these battalions were occupied by building a railroad “Norlandsbanen”, constructing of fortifications, roads and logging8.

Picture 1. The Soviet prisoners of war in Norway

The report of the Ministry of Labour to the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht highlights that the major professions, necessary to support the economy of the Reich: miners, metal workers, construction workers, carpenters, transport workers, and even cobblers9. Prisoners who had these professions were in demand in Norway. The construction of coastal fortifications, roads, railways, mining, and work at the ports were the main areas of employment of the Soviet prisoners of war in Norway (see Table 2). Also, prisoners were engaged in road construction, construction of industrial enterprises and work for them. In addition, they have been involved in the work for the needs of the German military forces, which included the construction of barracks, surface and underground warehouses, loading and unloading and transport works 10.

• Table 2

  Use of the Soviet prisoners of war on the territory of the occupied Norway in 1942

  
  

  Type of work	Amount of prisoners on the 01.02.1942	01.04.1942	01.05.1942	01.06.1942	Total
  Construction of roads: а) widening of roads	2 100 (8 camps)	4 500 (18 camps)		13 000 (52 camps)	19 600 (78 camps)
  b)preparing for winter				14 500 (58 camps)	14 500 (58 camps)
  Aluminum industry		2 000 (8 camps)			2 000 (8 camps)
  Railroad’s construction			20 000 (80 camps)		20 000 (80 camps)
  Total (by month)	2 100 (8 camps)	6 500 (26 camps)	20 000 (80 camps)	27 500 (110 camps)	56 100 (225 camps)

  According to the table, only during the first half of 1942 the German command in Norway made 56 100 Soviet prisoners of war work for them. According to the calculations of the author, in Norway during the Second World War, there were about 100 800 Soviet prisoners of war and civilian workers; about 14 thousand of them died in Nazi captivity.

A list of occupations in demand in various sectors of industry and transport was enclosed to the report mentioned above. For example, for the construction of roads: 10% carpenters, 5% cement workers, 5% locksmiths, 20% quarry stone masons, 20% bricklayers and 40% diggers 12. The aluminum industry required: 60% mole rats, 10% carpenters, 20% of bricklayers and 10% laborers; the construction of railways: 25% of bricklayers, 10% carpenters, 5% locksmiths and 20% quarry stone masons 13.

State Commissioner of Norway headed by general I. Terboven was the responsible body for the employment of prisoners of war in the country. The Department of Machinery and Transport of the State Commissariat (Abteilung Technikund Verkerh) led by Dr. Klein developed plans to process information about the scope, extent and results of the work of prisoners at various construction sites. Partly similar functions were the responsibility of the German “Todt Organization”. Initially, in 1940, the department planned to use the labor of prisoners of war only in the construction of the

railway “Nordlandsbanen” and the highway between Oslo and Stavanger. However, the number of prisoners has increased, as well as the opportunity to expand the scope of employment of prisoners in Norway.

During the war the Third Reich in Norway had a special interest for two objects: Northern Railway — “Nordlandsbanen” that supposed to be used for transportation of metals (primarily nickel) for the German economy and the naval base in Trondheim — the most important deterring point for Allies naval forces.

Road construction in Norway became a priority for the employment of the Soviet prisoners of war. Construction of new roads, their repairment, improvement and widening the old ones, cleaning them, construction of railways and roads to the bases and warehouses was done by the working prisoners and construction battalions. Thus, only in 1942, there were eleven major road construction sites where the prisoners worked (see Table 3).

• Table 3

Amount of Soviet prisoners of war occupied in road construction in 1941 — 1942 ¹⁴

Constructed roads	December — March 1941	April — May 1942	June — October 1942
Fjetland — Dornstadt (widening the road Oslo--‐	400	400	200
Stavanger)
Oslo — Stavanger (100 km of new road)	500	1 500	5 000
Steinkjer —Rissa	500	1 000	2 000
Reichstrasse 50 (along Elsfjord)	300	500	1 000
Bjornfeld (road to Narvik)	200	600	2 000
Skibotn — border with Finland	200	200	400
Reichstrasse 50 (along Kvænangenfjord)	200	400	400
Karasjok — border with Finland	500	500	500
Svanvik — Grensefoss	200	400	1 000
Rognan — Langset	500	1 000	2 500
(along Saltdalsfjord)
Widening the Reichstrasse 50		500	5 000
Total	3 500	7 000	20 000

These tables show an increase in the number of the Soviet prisoners of war, engaged in road construction. Their number rose less than 6 times a year, from 3 500 to 20 000 people. The largest number of the Soviet prisoners of war was employed in the construction of the highway to Oslo — Stavanger and widening the road Reichstrasse 50. This was an indication that the German High Command in Norway clearly acted in accordance with the intended objectives during the occupation of Norway — to turn the country into an important strategic base, implying the possibility of maximum mobility while transporting troops.

One of the most important objects of the railroad construction was the "Nordlandsbanen" between the towns of Kirkenes and Mo i Rana. This road was used for transportation of metals, mined in the depths of Northern Norway, and fro all the military transportation. In addition, the road could be used in the case of transporting the German troops to the northern regions to attack the Soviet Union, as there was a host of the Nordic borders.

The “Todt Organization” was competing with the Reichskommisariat of Norway and managed to get a favorable order and the right to build “Nordlandsbanen”. Therefore, since 1942, this organization was responsible for the construction works there.

T e railroad “Nordlandsbanen” could be divided into two sections: t e nort ern and southern. Both were in the province of Nordland. The northern section from Fauske to Drag (about 130 km) had 23 workers camp with 9 361 Soviet prisoners of war. The southern section of “Nordlandsbanen” from Fauske to Mu had several dozen of camps and prisoners also worked on the construction of this object. The number of the Soviet prisoners of war, engaged in the construction of the southern section of the road, was 11 071 people in May 1945.

Therefore, 20 432 Soviet prisoners were involved in the construction of “Nordlandsbanen” by the beginning of 1945 employed. It was 67 labor camps, accounting for about 26% of all the Soviet prisoners of war in Norway. It is well known that the area also had the highest death rate among prisoners. Therefore, we can assume that the working conditions of the prisoners were extremely hard. Not coincidentally, the historian and publicist O. Storteig called it “blood road” [3].

The protocol of the “Joint Soviet--‐Norwegian commission on investigation of the living and working conditions of former Soviet prisoners of war in the German--‐fascist captivity in Norway during the period of 1941--‐1945” it was noted that “the Soviet people were involved to the most difficult operations. At the same time the work was usually done without any technical equipment” [4]. When it comes to the working day for prisoners of war, it was non--‐normalized and different everywhere. The duration of the working day varied from 10 to 14 hours, i.e. an average of 12 hours per day. At the same time, the former prisoner K. Serednitsev told: “One day we started to work at night (from 7 pm to 5 am). Usually we worked for 8 hours. We were working to fortify the island. They built concrete bunkers. 10 hours of work in wooden shoes and with such a food — it was just a murder”15.

Conclusion

The camp management of the Nazi Germany, which aimed, among other things, to control the use of the slave labor of the Third Reich, was successfully performing the assigned tasks during the occupation of Scandinavia. The Soviet prisoners of war were mostly employed in the construction of the coastal fortifications, airfields, railways, highways and naval bases. To a lesser extent, they were employed in the construction industry. The Second World War was a total war, a war of extermination. Understanding this, the participants tried to ensure the replenishment of resources and human as well. In Germany, a specialized paramilitary “Todt Organization” was established in 1938 and subordinated to the Ministry of Arming and Military equipment. Prior to the defeat of the Nazis near Moscow, the “Organization” managed with providing slave workers for the Reich war production. Disruption of “blitzkrieg", which put the Nazi leadership to the threat of a protracted war, the enormous loss of Nazis on the Eastern Front made it necessary to find new ways of early replenishment of manpower.

Comparing the main areas of employment for the Soviet prisoners of war in Norway and Germany, we can draw the following conclusions. Since the Nazi economy had some costs for transportation of prisoners from Germany to Norway, and the creation of a network of camps on the territory of the latter, each prisoner had to “work out” German money. All new coming Soviet prisoners of war and “Eastern workers” from the Soviet Union were sent to specific building projects strait after the arrival.

There were also differences in the employment areas of prisoners of war. In Germany, it was mainly the mining, metallurgy and military industry. A distinctive feature of the employment of prisoners in the Third Reich was their widespread involvement in agriculture and private enterprises. Their owners, as a rule, were interested in the results, so they often resorted to various “positive practices” of stimulation [3, p.152--‐153]. Norway has also been known for the use of the Soviet prisoners of war by private German firms.

During World War II, Norway played a significant role in the military plans of the Nazi Germany. Norway's infrastructure needed to be widened and improved in order to create a strong foothold of the Third Reich in Scandinavia. According to the plan of the Nazi command, it had to be made with the use of the Soviet prisoners. The main objective of the German command was the use the forced labor of the prisoners of war in the interests of the Wehrmacht.