Resistance Fighters in Captivity

ARKIVET served as a police station from 1942 to 1945. For many Norwegian women and men who were captured during the war, ARKIVET marked the beginning of their captivity elsewhere in Norway or abroad.

Norwegians in German Captivity During the War

Over 44,000 Norwegians were held in captivity during World War II, in camps and prisons in Norway as well as various types of camps and prisons spread across much of the world. The largest German prisoner camp in Norway during the occupation was Grini. Sachsenhausen, located north of Berlin in Germany, was the foreign camp with the most Norwegians; nearly 2,000 Norwegians had stays there.

Nationally, around 9,000 Norwegians were sent to concentration camps, labor camps, and prisons abroad. For the Agder counties, this number was 730 individuals. Most ended up under the Nacht und Nebel (Night and Fog) decree from 1942, which aimed to isolate them completely from the outside world and make them disappear without a trace in “night and fog.” Throughout the five years of occupation, a total of 162 individuals from Agder died in German captivity.

The Resistance Women

4,424 Norwegian women, mostly political prisoners arrested for resistance activities, were held in German captivity during World War II. Most of them were imprisoned in Norway. Some were also sent to concentration camps, prisons, and labor camps in Germany and Poland. In addition, several Norwegian missionary women were imprisoned and interned in Japanese prisoner camps.

Few women were part of military resistance organizations like Milorg. The majority were active in civilian resistance organizations. Their activities mainly involved hiding people, working with illegal newspapers, and distributing important information. Between 1940 and 1945, 243 women from Agder were imprisoned in Kristiansand. Of these, 14 were sent into captivity in Germany, with 5 arriving at Ravensbrück, the only camp for women in the German concentration camp system.