{"id":2437,"date":"2017-10-20T11:57:56","date_gmt":"2017-10-20T09:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rdm.no\/norsk\/krigsminner_i_karasjok\/fangeleirer_i_karasjok\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T12:37:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T10:37:05","slug":"fangeleirer_i_karasjok","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rdm.no\/no\/fangeleirer_i_karasjok\/","title":{"rendered":"Fangeleirer i Karasjok"},"content":{"rendered":"

Serb\u00e1rf\u00e1\u014bggaide muitob\u00e1iki<\/span><\/h2>\n

Memorial grove for Serbian prisoners<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Teaksta s\u00e1megilli lea vuollelis
\nText in English, see below<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Minnelund for serberfangene<\/h4>\n

Her l\u00e5 fangeleiren for serberfangene under krigen. De som var gravlagt her, ble etter krigen f\u00f8rt til en felles kirkeg\u00e5rd i Botn, Saltenfjorden. Men mange fant sin grav i veifyllingene p\u00e5 finlandsveien. Michael Stokke har skrevet en artikkel om fangeleirene i Karasjok kommune, publisert i Karasjok \u00c5rbok 2013.<\/p>\n

Serb\u00e1rf\u00e1\u014bggaide muitob\u00e1iki<\/span><\/h4>\n

D\u00e1kko lei soa\u0111i \u00e1igge <\/span>serb\u00e1rf\u00e1\u014bggaide f\u00e1\u014bgaleaira. Sin geaid deike h\u00e1vd\u00e1dedje, sirde S\u00e1ltovutnii Botn b\u00e1ik\u00e1i soa\u0111i ma\u014b\u014b\u00e1. Ollugiidda \u0161attai dattege h\u00e1vdin suomageainnu luoddabeall\u00e1. Michael Stokke lea \u010d\u00e1ll\u00e1n artihkkala f\u00e1\u014bgaleairraid birra mat ledje K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161joga gielddas. D\u00e1t lea almmuhuvvon K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161joga 2013 jahkegirjjis.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nMemorial grove for Serbian prisoners<\/span><\/h4>\n

This is where the prison camp for Serbian prisoners was located during the war. The prisoners buried here were taken to a cemetery in Botn, Saltenfjorden after the war, although many went to their graves in the embankments on the Finland road. Michael Stokke has written an article about the prison camps in Karasjok municipality which was published in the Karasjok Yearbook of 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fangeleirer i Karasjok kommune 1942-1944<\/h3>\n

Michael Stokke, forsker, Narviksenteret.<\/p>\n

\"Et<\/p>\n

\n

Jugoslaviske fanger (juli-des.1942)Helt fra han ankom leiren i Karasjok behandlet Max Gemeinhardt \u2013 kjent som \u00abspikeren\u00bb \u2013 de utmattede og syke fangene p\u00e5 en bestialsk m\u00e5te. Han slo de sykeste fangene og sendte dem uansett tilstand til arbeid. Han brukte \u00e5 sl\u00e5 de utmattede fangene s\u00e5 hardt at det ofte hendte at de d\u00f8de av slagene hans. Han tok ogs\u00e5 de syke og utmattede fangene til henrettelse. Alle mord og henrettelser ble utf\u00f8rt av en gruppe tyskere der Gemeinhardt var en av dem. Vitne Milorad Tasic 18.7.1946.<\/p>\n

Karasjok hadde under andre verdenskrig flere leirer for fanger fra ulike land. B\u00e5de jugoslaviske, sovjetiske og tyske fanger var i Karasjok kommune.<\/p>\n

De f\u00f8rste fangene som kom til Karasjok, var jugoslaviske fanger. De hadde de verste forhold i Karasjok og ogs\u00e5 av alle fanger i hele Nord-Norge. Det var 374 jugoslaviske fangene som kom 23. juli 1942. De bodde p\u00e5 nordsiden av elva, i omr\u00e5det n\u00e6r Ivvar Ivv\u00e1r geavli. De hadde en stor brakke som de bodde i. Det var ingen senger eller vinduer i brakken. En latrine var ogs\u00e5 innenfor det doble piggtr\u00e5dgjerdet og leiren hadde to vaktt\u00e5rn. Utenfor porten l\u00e5 kj\u00f8kkenet, et lager, en vaktbrakke og lenger borte mannskapsbrakkene for vaktene. SS styrte leiren, kommandanten het Franz de Martin. Vaktene var i begynnelsen fra det tyske Ordnungspolizei, de var mer menneskelige. I midten av august kom 20 nordmenn fra Hirdvaktbataljonen og de mishandlet fanger like mye som SS-ledelsen gjorde.<\/p>\n

Fangene skulle arbeide p\u00e5 \u00e5 utvide veien til Finland. Men med lite mat og d\u00e5rlige kl\u00e6r i kulden s\u00e5 ble lite utf\u00f8rt. Fangene ble sl\u00e5tt og hvis de ikke klarte \u00e5 arbeide, ble de skutt. Flere fra Karasjok s\u00e5 n\u00e5r fanger ble skutt eller at tyske vakter gikk bak fanger og slo dem med stokker til de l\u00e5 p\u00e5 bakken, da ble de sparket og sl\u00e5tt enda mer. Til slutt m\u00e5tte andre fanger b\u00e6re dem til leiren eller gravstedet. Fangene m\u00e5tte arbeide p\u00e5 \u00absvenskebakken\u00bb, i et steinbrudd ved Riidonj\u00e1rga, hogge tr\u00e6r til brensel og noen arbeidet i selve Karasjok, p\u00e5 verksted, bakeri og annet arbeid.<\/p>\n

Lokalbefolkningen pr\u00f8vde \u00e5 hjelpe, men det var strengt forbudt. Det gikk bare an \u00e5 gi til de sm\u00e5 arbeidskommandoene som var i Karasjok. Mange hjelpere kunne v\u00e6rt nevnt, men plassen strekker ikke til. Jeg vil bare henvise til boken om Mamma Karasjok av Per Hansson og b\u00f8kene til Cveja Jovanovic der fanger forteller om sitt fangeopphold.<\/p>\n

Flere og flere jugoslaviske fanger d\u00f8de utover h\u00f8sten. De ble begravd i to store massegraver som l\u00e5 et par hundre meter fra leiren. Det er n\u00e5 n\u00e6r der den Samisk videreg\u00e5ende skolen ligger. Wehrmacht oppga i september 1943 at av de 263 som d\u00f8de, s\u00e5 ble 140 skutt og 123 d\u00f8de av utmattelse og sykdom. En av grunnene til at SS kunne la s\u00e5 mange av arbeidskraften d\u00f8, var at de ikke hadde status som krigsfanger, men var d\u00f8dsd\u00f8mt i Jugoslavia for \u00e5 ha v\u00e6rt partisaner. En del var ogs\u00e5 uskyldige sivile som ble tatt i gjengjeldelsesaksjoner mot landsbyer som hjalp partisanene. En d\u00f8dsprosent p\u00e5 70 i Karasjok var mye h\u00f8yere enn for sovjetiske krigsfanger i Norge, som ligger p\u00e5 cirka 10.<\/p>\n

Mange pr\u00f8vde \u00e5 flykte, men det var vanskelig. Bare en klarte \u00e5 komme til Sverige. Det var Petar Filipovic som flyktet i september 1942 og som etter 28 dager, kom frem til Sverige. Petar flyktet sammen med Bora Ivankovic. Men de ble f\u00f8rst angitt i Avzzi. Etter \u00e5 ha flyktet fra vaktene i Kautokeino, ble Bora angitt p\u00e5 ny og da ble han skutt.<\/p>\n

En annen fange som flyktet, ble ogs\u00e5 angitt. Zivota Lupulovic, 17 \u00e5r kom seg helt til \u0160uo\u0161j\u00e1vri<\/span> der han overnattet i fjellstuen natten til 9. september 1942. Dessverre s\u00e5 var det for synlig og en same ble redd og fortalte det til en lensmannsbetjent fra Alta kom var der og han arresterte Zivota. For dette og annet fikk betjenten fem \u00e5rs fengsel etter krigen. Samen gikk fri.<\/p>\n

15. desember 1942 ble de 111 overlevende fanger sendt til Osen-leiren i Vefsn kommune i Nordland. Av de 374 som ankom i juli var da 261 d\u00f8de i Karasjok, en d\u00f8de i Kautokeino og en kom seg til Sverige.<\/p>\n

Etter krigen ble tre av SS-lederne tatt og stilt for en domstol i Beograd. De fikk d\u00f8dsstraff. Kommandanten de Martin d\u00f8de i kamp i Tyskland v\u00e5ren 1945. Den siste som ble d\u00f8mt, var en Organisation Todt-mann som i 1964 fikk en straff p\u00e5 fire \u00e5r for \u00e5 ha drept en fange. 11 av de 20 hirdvaktene ble stilt for retten i Karasjok 16. august 1948 og fikk flere \u00e5rs fengsel.<\/p>\n

Det l\u00e5 d\u00f8de jugoslaver begravd flere steder i Karasjok kommune. I 1948 oppgis f\u00f8lgende steder der det l\u00e5 fanger begravd: En d\u00f8d l\u00e5 ved kirkestedet, en ved Riidonj\u00e1rga, en ved Diljohka, 22 ved tollstasjonen, en ved Storfossen i An\u00e1rjohka<\/span> og to ved \u0160uo\u0161j\u00e1vri<\/span>. P\u00e5 det tidspunkt vet en ikke nasjonaliteten til alle disse. Kanskje er de 22 d\u00f8de som l\u00e5 ved tollstasjonen tyske straffanger. Men h\u00f8sten 1953 grov Krigsgravtjenesten opp de 217 d\u00f8de jugoslavene som l\u00e5 i de tre massegravene og 33 fra andre steder, tilsammen 250 d\u00f8de. H\u00f8sten 1959 fant en noen flere d\u00f8de, begravd i en grav ved riksveien. Alle jugoslaver i Nord-Norge er begravd p\u00e5 en kirkeg\u00e5rd i Botn ved Rognan i Nordland. I 1979 oppgis antall funnet fra Karasjok som 254, alts\u00e5 sju f\u00e6rre enn beregningen viser. I noen av gravene fant en noen spiseskjeer som det var inngravert navn i. Et monument over jugoslavene ble avduket 14. juni 1970 der massegravene var.<\/p>\n

Tyske straffanger (september 1942 – mai 1943)<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

I september 1942 kom tyske straffanger til en ny fangeleir ved An\u00e1rjohka, p\u00e5 h\u00f8yden ovenfor tollstasjonen. Gruppen var en del av en st\u00f8rre transport p\u00e5 2000 fanger som kom til Nord-Norge fra flere tysk fangeleirer for tyske milit\u00e6rnektere og andre som hadde gjort motstand mot Wehrmacht. Leirene l\u00e5 i et myromr\u00e5de i Emsland-omr\u00e5det. Navnet p\u00e5 de ca. 35 leirene i Nord-Norge var Strafgefangenenlager Papenburg, Kommando Nord. Disse fangene var straffanger og var u\u00f8nsket i hjemlandet. De ble behandlet veldig d\u00e5rlig. Det kom 200 fanger september 1942 og de var der til mai 1943. De bodde i ti s\u00e5kalte finsketelt, \u00e5ttekantede finerbrakker med 24 fanger i hver. S\u00e5 var det to ogs\u00e5 finsketelt for syke. I tillegg to brakker for vakter og et kj\u00f8kken. Disse fangene arbeidet ogs\u00e5 p\u00e5 veien og i steinbruddet. I april 1943 ble fangene sendt videre og da var 22 fanger d\u00f8de. Prosentandelen av dem som d\u00f8r er som for de sovjetiske krigsfangene p\u00e5 landsbasis.<\/p>\n

Sovjetiske krigsfanger (juni 1943 – oktober 1944)<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Etter at de jugoslaviske fangene og de tyske straffangene ble sendt bort, trengte de tyske myndighetene nye arbeidere til byggingen og utvidelsen av veien til Finland. Derfor kom sovjetiske krigsfanger juni 1943. De tilh\u00f8rte den tyske Organisation Todt, en halvmilit\u00e6r byggeorganisasjon. Fangene tilh\u00f8rte bygge- og arbeidsbataljon nr. 190, 2. kompani. De sovjetiske krigsfangene fikk mye bedre behandling enn de jugoslaviske fangene. De var ikke mer enn noen hundre det f\u00f8rste \u00e5ret, s\u00e5 steg det ved tilbaketrekningen fra Finland. Antall fanger per 1.6.44 er 244. Fire m\u00e5neder senere, den 1.10.44 er fangetallet p\u00e5 703. Leirene var fordelt etter hvor arbeidet var viktigst. I f\u00f8lge en oversikt gitt av nordmenn og samer h\u00f8sten 1946, s\u00e5 var det leirer f\u00f8lgende steder:<\/p>\n

1. Den st\u00f8rste leiren var leiren ved tollstasjonen. Mellom 100-400 mann arbeidet med veiutvidelsen og overtok dermed arbeidet til b\u00e5de jugoslavene og tyskerne. Leiren var i funksjon fra juni 1943 til oktober 1944.<\/p>\n

2. Seidej\u00e1vri. Partiet Karasjok-Nattvann. Denne veien skulle ogs\u00e5 utvides og her var det to leirer med tilsammen 200 mann som arbeidet fra oktober 1943 til oktober 1944.<\/p>\n

3. Karasjok kirkested. To leirer med henholdsvis 50 og 60 mann som arbeidet fra april til oktober 1944 ved tyske verksted, p\u00e5 et sagbruk og vedlikehold av vei.<\/p>\n

Totalt var det rundt fem leirer for sovjetiske krigsfanger som var i bruk i ulike tidsperioder fra juni 1943 til oktober 1944.<\/p>\n

N\u00e5r det gjelder d\u00f8de sovjetiske krigsfanger, er det en veldig god kilde i fangekortene som ble sendt til Berlin og tatt av Den r\u00f8de arme i 1945. Hver fange hadde et kort som fulgte dem gjennom hele fangenskapet der alle personopplysninger er med. P\u00e5 kortene er det ogs\u00e5 tatt med d\u00f8ds\u00e5rsak, som for eksempel skutt ved fluktfors\u00f8k.<\/p>\n

Sannsynligvis d\u00f8de 13 sovjetiske krigsfanger i leirene i perioden juli 1943 til oktober 1944. To fanger p\u00e5 flukt fra Billefjord ble skutt i omr\u00e5det og begravd ved \u00abserbergravplassen\u00bb 22. august 1942. Av de tretten som d\u00f8r i fangeleirene, er det ti som d\u00f8r i 1943 og tre i 1944. Den siste d\u00f8de s\u00e5 sent som 26.10.1944. Tre av dem d\u00f8de i leiren ved tollstasjonen, men alle ble begravd ved gravplassen for jugoslavene, kortene er p\u00e5skrevet \u00ab300 meter s\u00f8r\u00f8st fra leiren\u00bb. De fire f\u00f8rste fangene som d\u00f8de, ble skutt for fluktfors\u00f8k, tre av dem samme dag. S\u00e5 d\u00f8r fem av tuberkulose og noen har ikke d\u00f8ds\u00e5rsak anmerket p\u00e5 fangekortet. Alle var russere.<\/p>\n

Det var vanskeligere for lokalbefolkningen \u00e5 f\u00e5 kontakt med disse fangene i de leirene som l\u00e5 avsides. Bare p\u00e5 verkstedet, sagbruket og under arbeidet p\u00e5 veien kunne norske arbeidere f\u00e5 noe kontakt med dem.<\/p>\n

Sluttord<\/h4>\n

Fangenes status er viktig for \u00e5 definere nazismens behandling av dem. Jugoslavene var bare fanger (h\u00e4ftlinge) under SS, men egentlig var de enda d\u00e5rligere stilt siden de allerede hadde f\u00e5tt d\u00f8dsstraff i Jugoslavia. De ble ikke behandlet som krigsfanger i Norge f\u00f8r etter april 1943. De tyske fangene var straffanger og skulle ogs\u00e5 helst d\u00f8 i Norge. De fikk ingen ny sjanse som soldater i Wehrmacht og ble i praksis ogs\u00e5 behandlet som SS-fanger, selv om de var under Wehrmacht. De sovjetiske krigsfangene var krigsfanger, men Sovjetunionen hadde ikke underskrevet Gen\u00e8ve-konvensjonen om behandling av krigsfanger. Nazistene benyttet seg av det og behandlet fangene d\u00e5rlig og if\u00f8lge rasel\u00e6ren s\u00e5 var de undermennesker uansett. Noen steder i Norge ble de sovjetiske krigsfangene behandlet meget d\u00e5rlig, n\u00e6r behandlingen av jugoslavene. Men mange steder kom en mer menneskelig behandling utover i krigen, ofte merkbart i 1943-1944. Nazismens ulike behandling av disse tre gruppene av fanger i Karasjok kommune vises godt igjen i d\u00f8dstallene. Fangene som gruppe besto av mange enkeltmennesker, alle gjennomgikk ufattelige lidelser i disse krigs\u00e5rene i Karasjok.<\/p>\n

Kilder:<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n

Hansson, Per. Mamma Karasjok. Oslo 1970.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoffmann, Karl-Heinz. Am Eismeer verschollen. Berlin 1988.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jovanovic, Cveja. Flukt til friheten. Oslo 1985.<\/p>\n

Jovanovic, Cveja. Blodveien til Nordpartisanavdelingen. Beograd 1988.<\/p>\n

Nilssen, Trond Risto. Kommando Nord: myrsoldatene i Nord-Norge 1942-1945. I Historie nr. 1. 2001. S. 58-67.<\/p>\n

Milit\u00e6rarkivet, Beograd. Dokumenter fra Krigsforbrytersakene mot SS-offiserene.<\/p>\n

Riksarkivet, Oslo. Landssvik-saker mot nordmenn. Dokumenter fr\u00e5<\/span> H\u00e5logaland lagmannsrett 16.08.1948. Straffesak mot 11 vakter. Fra l-sak Hartvig D.<\/p>\n

Rapport. Gjelder behandlingen av de serbiske fanger i Karasjok h\u00f8sten 1942. 25 vitner uttaler seg. Fra l-sak Halvor B.<\/p>\n

Riksarkivet, Oslo. Documents section. Serie D. V-Mikrofilm nr. 56.<\/span><\/p>\n

Verdens gang 18.09.1959.<\/p>\n

www.obd-memorial.ru<\/a> (Kopi av fangekort p\u00e5 d\u00f8de sovjetiske krigsfanger.)<\/p>\n

Tekst: Arvid Petterson<\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

\n

F\u00e1\u014bgaleairrat K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161joga gielddas 1942-1944<\/h3>\n

Michael Stokke, Narviksenteret dutki.<\/p>\n

Jugo\u0161l\u00e1va f\u00e1\u014bggat (1942 suoidnem\u00e1nus juovlam\u00e1nnui)<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dan r\u00e1jes juo go Max Gemeinhardt, gean buddestat namma lei \u00abspiikk\u00e1r\u00bb, bo\u0111ii leirii K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161johkii, de l\u00e1httii son hui fasttit v\u00e1iban ja buohcci f\u00e1\u014bggaiguin. Son c\u00e1pmii f\u00e1\u014bggaid geat ledje eanemus buohccit ja b\u00e1ggii sin bargat v\u00e1ikko makk\u00e1r dilis sii le\u017e\u017ee. D\u00e1vj\u00e1 c\u00e1pmii sin nu ollu ahte j\u00e1pme. Son v\u00e1lddii maid buohcci ja sillon f\u00e1\u014bggaid steavlideapm\u00e1i. Gemeinhardt lei dan duiskka joavkkus geat \u010da\u0111ahedje buot goddimiid. Vihtan Milorad Tasic 18.7.1946<\/p>\n

K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161jogas ledje m\u00e1\u014bga leairra ie\u0161gu\u0111etge riikkaid f\u00e1\u014bggaide. K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161joga gielddas ledje sihke jugo\u0161l\u00e1va, sovjetala\u0161 ja duiskka f\u00e1\u014bggat.<\/p>\n

Vuostta\u0161 f\u00e1\u014bggat geat bohte K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161johkii, ledje jugo\u0161l\u00e1va f\u00e1\u014bggat. Sis lei heajumus dilli K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161jogas, ja mu\u0111ui buot f\u00e1\u014bggain mieht\u00e1 Davvi-Norgga. Suoidnem\u00e1nu 23. beaivvi 1942 bohte 374 f\u00e1\u014bgga K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161johkii. Sii orro dav\u00e1bealde joga, Ivv\u00e1r Ivv\u00e1r geavlli lahkosis. Sis lei stuora br\u00e1hkka mas orro, mas eai lean sea\u014bggat eai ge l\u00e1set. Duppal biika\u00e1iddi siskkobealde lei maidd\u00e1i hivsset, ja leairras ledje guokte f\u00e1ktadoartna. Verr\u00e1ha olggobealde lei gievkkan, r\u00e1dju, f\u00e1ktabr\u00e1hkka, ja veah\u00e1\u0161 dobbelis ledje f\u00e1vttaid orrunbr\u00e1hkat. SS hovdii leairra ja kommand\u00e1ntta namma lei Franz de Martin. \u00c1lggos ledje f\u00e1vttat duiskka Ordnungspolizei, geat ledje eambbo olmmo\u0161la\u010d\u010dat. Borgem\u00e1nu gaskkamutto bohte 20 Hirdvaktbataljuvdnii gulli norgala\u010d\u010da. Sii illastedje f\u00e1\u014bggaid seamma olu go SS jo\u0111iheaddjit.<\/p>\n

F\u00e1\u014bggat galge bargat suomageainnu viiddidemiin, muhto unn\u00e1n biepmuin ja heajos biktasiiguin buolla\u0161is, ii \u0161addan olus bargu. F\u00e1\u014bggat c\u00e1pmahalle, ja jus eai nagodan bargat, de b\u00e1h\u010de sin. M\u00e1\u014bga k\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161johkala\u010d\u010da oidne go duiskkala\u010d\u010dat b\u00e1h\u010de f\u00e1\u014bggaid, dahje v\u00e1zze sin ma\u014bis ja hu\u0161ko soppiiguin dass\u00e1i ledje veallut, ovdal go \u010dik\u010de ja c\u00e1pme vel eambbo. Ear\u00e1 f\u00e1\u014bggat \u0161adde guoddit sin leirii dahje h\u00e1vdeb\u00e1ik\u00e1i. F\u00e1\u014bggat \u0161adde bargat L\u00e1tto\u0161luohk\u00e1s, b\u00e1kte\u010duolahagas Riidonj\u00e1rggas, murret, ja muhtumat barge m\u00e1rkanis\/gilis, divohagas, l\u00e1ibbohagas ja ear\u00e1 bargguin.<\/p>\n

B\u00e1ikk\u00e1la\u0161 olbmot geah\u010d\u010daledje veahkehit, muhto d\u00e1t lei oll\u00e1sit gildojuvvon. Addit s\u00e1htii du\u0161\u0161e unnibu\u0161 bargojoavkkuide mat ledje K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161jogas. Olu vehkiid lei s\u00e1httit namuhit, muhto ii leat sadji dasa. H\u00e1liidan du\u0161\u0161e \u010dujuhit girj\u00e1i Mamma Karasjok birra, man Per Hansson lea \u010d\u00e1ll\u00e1n ja Cveja Jovanovic girjjiide main f\u00e1\u014bggat muitalit ie\u017easet \u00e1iggis f\u00e1\u014bgan.<\/p>\n

\u010cav\u010d\u010da mielde j\u00e1pme da\u0111istaga eambbo jugo\u0161l\u00e1vala\u0161 f\u00e1\u014bggat. Sin h\u00e1vd\u00e1dedje guovtti stuora oktasa\u0161 h\u00e1vd\u00e1i mat ledje moadde \u010duo\u0111i mehtera eret leairras. Dat lea lahka b\u00e1ikki gos d\u00e1l lea S\u00e1mi joatkkaskuvla. Wehrmacht die\u0111ihii 1943 \u010dak\u010dam\u00e1nus ahte dan 263 f\u00e1\u014bggas geat j\u00e1pme, ledje 140 b\u00e1h\u010d\u010don ja 123 v\u00e1ibe j\u00e1mas, ja j\u00e1pme buozalmasvuo\u0111a gea\u017eil. SS s\u00e1htii diktit n\u00e1 stuora oasi bargoveagas j\u00e1pmit earet ear\u00e1 dan dihte go sii eai adnojuvvon soahtef\u00e1\u014bgan, muhto ledje dubmejuvvon j\u00e1pmimii Jugoslavias go ledje partis\u00e1nat. Oassi ledje maid siviila vigiheamit geat v\u00e1ldojuvvojedje f\u00e1\u014bgan m\u00e1vssahan-ak\u0161uvnnain giliin mat veahkehedje partis\u00e1naid. K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161jogas j\u00e1pme 70% f\u00e1\u014bggain, mii lea mih\u00e1 eambbo go sovjehtala\u0161 soahtef\u00e1\u014bggat Norggas geain 10 % j\u00e1pme.<\/p>\n

Ollugat geah\u010d\u010daledje b\u00e1htarit, muhto dat lei v\u00e1ttis. Du\u0161\u0161e okta ollii Ru\u0167\u0167ii. Petar Filipovic b\u00e1htarii 1942 \u010dak\u010dam\u00e1nu, ja ollii Ru\u0167\u0167ii 28 beaivvis. Petar b\u00e1htarii ovttas Bora Ivankovicain. \u00c1lggos die\u0111ihuvvuiga \u00c1v\u017e\u017eis. Ma\u014b\u014b\u00e1 go b\u00e1htareigga v\u00e1vttain Guovdageainnus, de Bora fas die\u0111ihuvvui ja b\u00e1h\u010d\u010dui.<\/p>\n

Ear\u00e1 f\u00e1\u014bga gii b\u00e1htarii maidd\u00e1i die\u0111ihuvvui. 17 jahk\u00e1sa\u0161 Zivota Lupulovic ollii gitta \u0160uo\u0161j\u00e1vr\u00e1i gos idjadii duottarstobus \u010dak\u010dam\u00e1nu 9. beaivvi vuost\u00e1 1942:s. Da\u0111i bah\u00e1but lei beare oidnosis. Muhtun s\u00e1pmela\u0161 ball\u00e1go\u0111ii ja muitalii d\u00e1n \u00e1lt\u00e1la\u0161 leansm\u00e1nnib\u00e1lv\u00e1i gii lei doppe, ja son v\u00e1lddii gitta Zivota. D\u00e1n ja ear\u00e1 \u00e1\u0161\u0161iid dihte dubmejuvvui leansm\u00e1nnib\u00e1lv\u00e1 vi\u0111a jahk\u00e1i giddagassii ma\u014b\u014b\u00e1 soa\u0111i. S\u00e1pmela\u0161 gal beasai.<\/p>\n

Juovlam\u00e1nu 15. beaivvi 1942 s\u00e1ddejuvvojedje dat 111 f\u00e1\u014bgga geat cevze Osen-leirii Vaapste suohkanii Nordl\u00e1ndii. Dan 374 f\u00e1\u014bggas geat bohte suoidnem\u00e1nus, j\u00e1pme 261 K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161jogas, okta Guovdageidnui go fas okta nagodii beassat Ru\u0167\u0167ii.<\/p>\n

Ma\u014b\u014b\u00e1 soa\u0111i v\u00e1ldojuvvojedje golmmas SS-jo\u0111iheddjiin gitta ja \u0161adde digg\u00e1i Beogradas. Sii o\u017e\u017eo j\u00e1pminduomu. Kommand\u00e1ntta de Martin j\u00e1mii soa\u0111is Duiskkas 1945 gi\u0111a. Ma\u014bemus gii dubmejuvvui, lei Organisation Todt olmm\u00e1i, gii 1964:s oa\u010d\u010dui njeallje jagi duomu go lei f\u00e1\u014bgga godd\u00e1n. 11 dan 20 hird v\u00e1vttas \u0161adde dikki ovdii K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161jogas borgem\u00e1nu 16. beaivvi 1948 ja dubmejuvvoje m\u00e1\u014bgga jahk\u00e1i giddagassii.<\/p>\n

J\u00e1pm\u00e1n jugo\u0161l\u00e1vat ledje h\u00e1vd\u00e1duvvon m\u00e1\u014bgga sadj\u00e1i K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161joga gildii. 1948:s die\u0111ihuvvui ahte f\u00e1\u014bggat leat h\u00e1vd\u00e1duvvon \u010duovvova\u0161 b\u00e1ikkiide: Okta m\u00e1rkanb\u00e1ik\u00e1i, okta Riidonj\u00e1rgii, okta Diljohkii, 22 duollu buohta, okta Storfossenii An\u00e1rjohkii, ja guovttes \u0160uo\u0161j\u00e1vr\u00e1i. Dalle eai dieht\u00e1n gu\u0111e riikkas dat ledje eret. Dat 22 maid g\u00e1vdne duollu buohta s\u00e1httet leat duiskka f\u00e1\u014bggat. 1953:s rabai Soahteh\u00e1vdeb\u00e1lvalus (Krigsgravtjenesten) h\u00e1vddiid ja vi\u017e\u017ee 217 dan golmma oktasa\u0161 h\u00e1vddis, 33 ear\u00e1 b\u00e1ikkiin, oktiibuot 250 j\u00e1meha. 1959 \u010dav\u010d\u010da g\u00e1vdne lasi j\u00e1mehiid h\u00e1vd\u00e1duvvon riikageaidnogurrii. Buot jugo\u0161l\u00e1vat Davvi-Norggas leat h\u00e1vd\u00e1duvvon girkog\u00e1rd\u00e1i Botnii Rognana lahkosis Nordl\u00e1ndii. 1979:s lohket g\u00e1vdnan 254 K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161jogas, mii lea \u010die\u017ea unnit go maid mero\u0161tallat \u010d\u00e1jehit. Muhtun h\u00e1vddiin g\u00e1vdne bastiid maidda ledje s\u00e1rgon namaid. Geassem\u00e1nu 14. beaivvi 1970:s lei oaidninl\u00e1hk\u00e1i jugo\u0161l\u00e1vaid muitob\u00e1zzi dakko gokko oktasa\u0161 h\u00e1vddit ledje.<\/p>\n

Duiska r\u00e1\u014bgga\u0161tusf\u00e1\u014bggat (\u010dak\u010dam\u00e1nus 1942 miessem\u00e1nnui 1943)<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

1942 \u010dak\u010dam\u00e1nu bohte duiska r\u00e1\u014bgg\u00e1\u0161tusf\u00e1\u014bggat o\u0111\u0111a f\u00e1\u014bgaleirii mii lei An\u00e1rjogas, al\u00e1\u017eis duollu buohta. Joavku lei oassi 2000 f\u00e1\u014bggas geat bohte Davvi-Norgii m\u00e1\u014bgga duiskka f\u00e1\u014bgaleairras gosa ledje r\u00e1djan olbmuid geat biehttaledje searvat soahtevehkii, ja ear\u00e1id geat ledje vuosttildan Wehrmacht. Leairrat ledje jeaggeeatnamiin Emsland guovllus. Dan sulaid 35 leairra mat ledje Davvi-Norggas namuhedje namain Strafgefangenenlager Papenburg, Kommando Nord. D\u00e1t f\u00e1\u014bggat ledje r\u00e1\u014bgg\u00e1\u0161tusf\u00e1\u014bggat geaid eai fuollan \u0161at ruovtturiikkas. Singuin meannudedje hui hejot. 200 f\u00e1\u014bgga ledje doppe \u010dak\u010dam\u00e1nus 1942 miessem\u00e1nnui 1943. Sii orro nu goh\u010doduvvon suomatealtt\u00e1in. D\u00e1t ledje g\u00e1vcci\u010diegat asehis fiellobr\u00e1hkat main 24 f\u00e1\u014bgga gu\u0111esge. Buhcciide ledje maid guokte suomatealtt\u00e1, v\u00e1vttaide guokte br\u00e1hka, ja gievkkanbr\u00e1hkka. Maidd\u00e1i d\u00e1t f\u00e1\u014bggat barge luottain ja b\u00e1kte\u010duolahagas. 1943 cuo\u014bom\u00e1nu s\u00e1ddeje f\u00e1\u014bggaid viid\u00e1set, ja dalle ledje 22 sis j\u00e1pm\u00e1n. Proseanttaid mielde j\u00e1pmet sulaid seamma ma\u0111e go sovjehtala\u0161 soahtef\u00e1\u014bggat riikkad\u00e1sis.<\/p>\n

Sovjehtala\u0161 soahtef\u00e1\u014bggat (geassem\u00e1nus 1943 golggotm\u00e1nnui 1944)<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Go jugo\u0161l\u00e1vala\u0161 f\u00e1\u014bggaid ja duiskkala\u0161 r\u00e1\u014bgg\u00e1\u0161tusf\u00e1\u014bggaid dolvo de d\u00e1rbba\u0161edje duiskka eisev\u00e1lddit o\u0111\u0111a bargiid suomaluotta huksemii ja viiddideapm\u00e1i. Danin bohte 1943 geassem\u00e1nus sovjehtala\u0161 soahtef\u00e1\u014bggat. Sii gulle duiska Organisation Todtii. D\u00e1t lei belohahkii militeara huksen\u00e1sahus (organisa\u0161uvdna). F\u00e1\u014bggat gulle huksen- ja bargobataljuvdnii nr 190, nuppi kompaniijii. Sovjehtala\u0161 soahtef\u00e1\u014bggaiguin meannudedje mih\u00e1 buorebut go jugo\u0161l\u00e1vala\u0161 f\u00e1\u014bggaiguin. Vuostta\u0161 jagi eai lean go moadde\u010duo\u0111i f\u00e1\u014bgga. D\u00e1t lohku lass\u00e1nii go geass\u00e1dedje\/vuoitt\u00e1halle Suomas. 1.6.44 leat 244 f\u00e1\u014bgga. Njeallje m\u00e1nu ma\u014b\u014b\u00e1, 1.10.44 lea f\u00e1\u014bggaid lohku 703. Leairrat ledje doppe gos ain lei deh\u00e1leamos bargu. Visogova mielde man d\u00e1\u017eat ja s\u00e1pmela\u010d\u010dat eat add\u00e1n 1946 \u010dav\u010d\u010da, ledje \u010duovvova\u0161 b\u00e1ikkiin leairrat:<\/p>\n

1. Stuorimus leaira lei duollu buohta. Gaskal 100 ja 400 olbmo barge geaidnoviiddidemiin, ja nu v\u00e1lde badjelasas sihke jugo\u0161l\u00e1vaid ja duiskkala\u010d\u010daid barggu. Leaira lei doaimmas 1943 geassem\u00e1nus gitta 1944 golggotm\u00e1nnui.<\/p>\n

2. Sieidej\u00e1vri. K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161jogas Idjaj\u00e1vr\u00e1i. Maidd\u00e1i d\u00e1t luodda galggai viiddiduvvot, ja d\u00e1ppe ledje 2 leairra main oktiibuot 200 olbmo geat barge 1943 golggotm\u00e1nus gitta 1944 golggotm\u00e1nnui.<\/p>\n

3. K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161joga m\u00e1rkanis. Guokte leairra main 50 ja 60 olbmo. Sii barge 1944 cuo\u014bom\u00e1nus gitta golggotm\u00e1nnui duiskkala\u0161 divohagain, sah\u00e1s, ja geainnuid divodedje.<\/p>\n

Oktiibuot ledje birrasiid vihtta leairra sovjehtala\u0161 soahtef\u00e1\u014bggaide mat ledje anus ie\u0161gu\u0111etge \u00e1igodagain 1943 geassem\u00e1nus gitta 1944 golggotm\u00e1nnui.<\/p>\n

J\u00e1pm\u00e1n sovjehtala\u0161 soahtef\u00e1\u014bggaid birra leat olu die\u0111ut f\u00e1\u014bgakoarttain mat s\u00e1ddejuvvojedje Berlinii ja \u0161adde Rukses armea h\u00e1ldui 1945:s. Juohke f\u00e1\u014bggas lei koarta mii \u010duovui su mieht\u00e1 dan gaska go lei f\u00e1\u014bgan, ja koarttain ledje buot sin persovnnala\u0161 die\u0111ut. Koarttaide lea maidd\u00e1i merkejuvvon j\u00e1pminsivva, ovdamearkka dihte ahte b\u00e1h\u010d\u010dui go geah\u010d\u010dalii b\u00e1htarit.<\/p>\n

J\u00e1hkkimis j\u00e1pme 13 sovjehtala\u0161 soahtef\u00e1\u014bgga leairrain \u00e1igodagas suoidnem\u00e1nnu 1943- golggotm\u00e1nnu 1944. Guokte f\u00e1\u014bgga geat b\u00e1htareigga Bill\u00e1vuonas b\u00e1h\u010d\u010duiga guovllus, ja h\u00e1vd\u00e1duvvuiga \u00abserb\u00e1rh\u00e1vdeb\u00e1ik\u00e1i\u00bb borgem\u00e1nu 22. beaivvi 1942. F\u00e1\u014bgaleairrain j\u00e1pme golbmanuppelogis. Logis 1943:s ja golmmas 1944:s. Ma\u014bemus j\u00e1mii easka 26.10.1944. Golmmas j\u00e1pme leirii lahka duollu, muhto buohkaid h\u00e1vd\u00e1dedje jugo\u0161l\u00e1vaid h\u00e1vdeb\u00e1ik\u00e1i. Koarttain \u010duo\u017e\u017eu \u00ab300 mehtera nuorttaslul\u00e1s leairras\u00bb. Njeallje vuostta\u0161 f\u00e1\u014bgga mat j\u00e1pme, b\u00e1h\u010d\u010doje b\u00e1htarettiin, golmmas sis seamma beaivvi. Vi\u0111as j\u00e1pme tuberkulosain, ja soapm\u00e1sis ii leat f\u00e1\u014bgakortii \u010d\u00e1llojuvvon j\u00e1pminsivva. Buohkat ledje ruo\u0161\u0161at.<\/p>\n

D\u00e1iguin f\u00e1\u014bggaiguin lei b\u00e1ikk\u00e1la\u0161 olbmuin v\u00e1dd\u00e1set oa\u017e\u017eut oktavuo\u0111a go leairrat ledje doaresbealde. Du\u0161\u0161e divohagas, sah\u00e1s ja geaidnobargguin s\u00e1htte norgala\u0161 bargit singuin oa\u017e\u017eut veah\u00e1\u0161 oktavuo\u0111a.<\/p>\n

Loahppas\u00e1tni<\/h4>\n

F\u00e1\u014bggaid st\u00e1htus lea deh\u00e1la\u0161 go \u00e1igu \u010dilget mo nazisma singuin meannudii. Jugo\u0161l\u00e1vat ledje du\u0161\u0161e SS f\u00e1\u014bggat, muhto rievtti mielde lei sis vel heajut dilli, go sis lei juo j\u00e1pminduopmu Jugo\u0161l\u00e1vas. Sii eai meannuduvvon soahtef\u00e1\u014bgan Norggas ovdal 1943 cuo\u014bom\u00e1nu r\u00e1jes. Duiskka f\u00e1\u014bggat ledje r\u00e1\u014bgg\u00e1\u0161tusf\u00e1\u014bggat ja galge millosepmosit j\u00e1pmit Norgii. Sii eai o\u017e\u017eon \u0161at vejola\u0161vuo\u0111a leat soaldd\u00e1hin Wehrmacht:s, ja duohtavuo\u0111as meannudedje singuin dego SS soaldd\u00e1hiiguin, vaikko gulle Wehrmachtii. Sovjehtala\u0161 soahtef\u00e1\u014bggat ledje soahtef\u00e1\u014bggat, muhto Sovjetlihttu ii lean vuoll\u00e1i\u010d\u00e1ll\u00e1n Geneve-soahpamu\u0161a, mas daddjojuvvo mo soahtef\u00e1\u014bggaiguin galg\u00e1 meannudit. D\u00e1s \u00e1vkk\u00e1stalle nazistat, ja meannudedje f\u00e1\u014bggaid hejot, ja n\u00e1lleoahpa vuo\u0111ul ledje sii goitge heajut olmmo\u0161joavku. Muhtun b\u00e1ikkiin Norggas meannudedje sovjehtala\u0161 soahtef\u00e1\u014bggaid earenoam\u00e1\u0161 hejot, measta seamma hejot go jugo\u0161l\u00e1va f\u00e1\u014bggaid. Da\u0111istaga meannudi\u0161gohte m\u00e1\u014bgga b\u00e1ikkis f\u00e1\u014bggaid eambbo olmmo\u0161la\u010d\u010dat. D\u00e1t vuhtto earenoam\u00e1\u017eit 1943-1944. J\u00e1pminloguin vuhtto bures mo nazisma meannudii f\u00e1\u014bggaiguin K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161joga gielddas. F\u00e1\u014bggajoavkkuin ledje ovttaskas olbmot, geat buohkat v\u00e1sihedje ipmirmeahttun gill\u00e1mu\u0161aid K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161jogas d\u00e1id soahtejagiid.<\/p>\n

G\u00e1ldut<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n

Hansson, Per. Mamma Karasjok. Oslo 1970.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoffmann, Karl-Heinz. Am Eismeer verschollen. Berlin 1988.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jovanovic, Cveja. Flukt til friheten. Oslo 1985.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jovanovic, Cveja. Blodveien til Nordpartisanavdelingen. Beograd 1988.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nilssen, Trond Risto. Kommando Nord: myrsoldatene i Nord-Norge 1942-1945. I<\/span><\/p>\n

Historie nr. 1. 2001. S. 58-67.<\/span><\/p>\n

Milit\u00e6rarkivet, Beograd. Dokumenter fra Krigsforbrytersakene mot SS-offiserene.<\/span><\/p>\n

Riksarkivet, Oslo. Landssvik-saker mot nordmenn. Dokumenter fr\u00e5<\/span> H\u00e5logaland lagmannsrett 16.08.1948. Straffesak mot 11 vakter. Fra l-sak Hartvig D.<\/p>\n

Rapport. Gjelder behandlingen av de serbiske fanger i Karasjok h\u00f8sten 1942. 25 vitner uttaler seg. Fra l-sak Halvor B.<\/span><\/p>\n

Riksarkivet, Oslo. Documents section. Serie D. V-Mikrofilm nr. 56.<\/span><\/p>\n

Verdens gang 18.09.1959.<\/span><\/p>\n

www.obd-memorial.ru<\/a> (Kopi av fangekort p\u00e5 d\u00f8de sovjetiske krigsfanger.)<\/p>\n

Prison camps in Karasjok municipality, 1942-1944<\/span><\/h3>\n

Michael Stokke, Researcher, the Narvik Centre.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Yugoslavian prisoner (July-December 1942)<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

From the moment he arrived at Karasjok camp, Max Gemeinhardt \u2013 known as the \u00abnail\u00bb \u2013 treated the sick and exhausted prisoners in a brutal manner. He would strike even the sickest prisoners and send them to work regardless. He used to hit the exhausted prisoners so hard that they often died of his blows. He also took sick and exhausted prisoners to execution. All killings and executions were carried out by a group of Germans, of which Gemeinhardt was one. Testimony of Milorad Tasic, 18\/07\/1946.<\/p>\n

During World War II, Karasjok had several camps for prisoners from different countries. Yugoslavian, Soviet and German prisoners were all held in Karasjok municipality.<\/p>\n

The first prisoners to arrive in Karasjok were Yugoslavian. They had the worst conditions in Karasjok, and the worst conditions of any prisoners in the whole of northern Norway. On 23 July 1942, 374 Yugoslavian prisoners arrived and thereafter lived on the north side of the river, in the area near Ivvar Ivv\u00e1r Geavli. They lived in a large barracks without beds or windows. There was also a latrine within the double-barbed-wire fence and the camp had two watch towers. The kitchen, warehouse and guardhouse lay outside the entrance. Further away was a barracks for the guards. The camp was controlled by the SS, and the commandant\u2019s name was Franz de Martin. To begin with, the guards were from the German Ordnungspolizei; they were more humane. In mid-August, twenty Norwegians arrived from the Hirdvaktbataljonen (the Guard Battalion of the Hird: a Norwegian paramilitary organisation). They abused the prisoners as badly as the SS commanders.<\/p>\n

The prisoners were to work on widening the road to Finland. However, with little food and clothes unsuitable for the cold, little was done. The prisoners were beaten, and if they failed to work they were shot. Several people from Karasjok witnessed how prisoners were shot, or how the German guards beat them from behind with sticks until they fell to the ground. Then they were kicked and beaten even more. In the end, other prisoners had to carry them to the camp or graveyard. The prisoners had to work on the \u00abSvenskebakken\u00bb (Swedish hill), in a quarry at Riidonj\u00e1rga, or cut wood for fuel or do some work in Karasjok itself \u2013 in the yard, bakery or somewhere else.<\/p>\n

The local population tried to help, but it was strictly forbidden. It was only possible to give to the smaller working groups that were in Karasjok itself. There were many helpers, but there is limited space to mention them all. I will simply refer to the book about Mamma Karasjok by Per Hansson and the books of Cveja Jovanovic, in which prisoners recount stories of their detention.<\/p>\n

More and more Yugoslavian prisoners died during the autumn. They were buried in two large mass graves that lay a few hundred metres from the camp, close to where the Sami secondary school is now located. The Wehrmacht stated in September 1943 that of the 263 who died, 140 were shot and 123 died of exhaustion and illness. One reason why the SS could allow so many of the workers to die was that they were not classed as prisoners of war: they had been sentenced to death in Yugoslavia for being partisans. Some were innocent civilians who were arrested in retaliatory actions against villages that had aided the partisans. The 70 per cent death rate in Karasjok was much higher than that for Soviet prisoners of war in Norway, which was about 10 per cent.<\/p>\n

Many tried to escape, but it was difficult. Only one managed to make it to Sweden. That was Petar Filipovic, who escaped in September 1942 and after 28 days managed to reach Sweden. Petar escaped along with Bora Ivankovic, but they were given up to the authorities in Avzzi. After escaping from the guards in Kautokeino, Bora was again captured and then shot.<\/p>\n

Another prisoner who escaped was also turned in. Zivota Lupulovic, aged 17, got as far as a mountain lodge at \u0160uo\u0161j\u00e1vri, where he stayed the night on 9 September 1942. Unfortunately, he was seen by a Sami local who was scared and told a constable from Alta, who then came and arrested Zivota. For this and other things, the constable received five years in prison after the war. The Sami local went free.<\/p>\n

On 15 December 1942, the surviving 111 prisoners were sent to the Osen camp in Vefsn municipality in Nordland. Of the 374 who had arrived in July, 261 died in Karasjok, one died in Kautokeino and one reached Sweden.<\/p>\n

After the war, three of the SS leaders were arrested and put on trial in Belgrade. They were all given death sentences. Commandant de Martin died in battle in Germany in the spring of 1945. The last one to be convicted was a member of Organisation Todt who, in 1964, received a four-year sentence for the killing of a prisoner. On 16 August 1948, 11 of the 20 guards from the Hirdvaktbataljon were put on trial in Karasjok and received several years\u2019 imprisonment.<\/p>\n

The dead Yugoslavs were buried in several places within Karasjok municipality. In 1948 the following places were given as places where prisoners were buried: one body was at the church site, one at Riidonj\u00e1rga quarry, one at Diljohka, twenty-two at the border crossing, one by the large waterfall on the An\u00e1rjohka and two at \u0160uo\u0161j\u00e1vri. At the time, no-one knew their nationalities. It is possible that the twenty-two bodies at the border crossing were German prisoners. However, in the autumn of 1953 the Norwegian War Graves Service exhumed the bodies of 217 Yugoslavs from the three mass graves and 33 bodies from elsewhere: 250 bodies in total. In the autumn of 1959 a few more bodies were discovered, buried in a grave on the main highway. All of the Yugoslavs in northern Norway are now buried at a cemetery in Botn, near Rognan in Nordland. In 1979, the number found in Karasjok was reported as 254; i.e. seven fewer than previously calculated. Tablespoons engraved with names were found in some of the graves. A monument to the Yugoslavs was unveiled on 14 June 1970 at the site where the mass graves were discovered.<\/p>\n

German prisoners (September 1942-May 1943)<\/p>\n

In September 1942, German prisoners arrived at a new prison camp on the heights above the border crossing next to the An\u00e1rjohka. The group was part of a larger transport of 2,000 prisoners who came to northern Norway from several German prison camps for conscientious objectors and others who had resisted the Wehrmacht. The camps were located in an area of marshland in the Emsland region. The 35-odd camps in northern Norway were known as the \u00abStrafgefangenenlager Papenburg, Kommando Nord\u00bb. These prisoners were convicts and unwanted in their homeland. They were treated very badly. 200 prisoners arrived in September 1942 and remained until May 1943. They lived in ten so-called Finnish tents (octagonal tents), each holding 24 prisoners. There were also two Finnish tents for the sick, two barracks for the guards and a kitchen. These prisoners also worked on the road and in the quarry. In April 1943 the prisoners were sent elsewhere, by which time 22 had died. The death rate for the prisoners was the same as the national death rate for the Soviet prisoners of war.<\/p>\n

Soviet prisoners of war (June 1943 – October 1944)<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

After the Yugoslavian prisoners and German convicts were sent elsewhere, the German authorities needed new workers for the construction and widening of the road to Finland. As such, Soviet prisoners of war arrived in June 1943. They were under the control of the German Organisation Todt: a paramilitary construction organisation. The prisoners belonged to the 2nd Company of the Building and Labour Battalion no. 190. The Soviet prisoners received much better treatment than their Yugoslavian counterparts. They numbered no more than a few hundred in the first year, but the number rose with the withdrawal from Finland. As of 1 June 1944, the number of prisoners stood at 244. Four months later on 1 October, the prisoner number had risen to 703. The camps were divided according to where the work was most needed. According to a report given by Norwegians and Sami in the autumn of 1946, there were camps in the following places:<\/p>\n

1. The largest camp was the one at the border crossing. Between 100 and 400 men worked on the road widening, thereby taking over the work of both the Yugoslavs and Germans. The camp was in operation from June 1943 to October 1944.<\/p>\n

2. Seidej\u00e1vri. The Karasjok-Nattvann stretch. This road was also to be widened and there were two camps with a total of 200 men working there from October 1943 to October 1944.<\/p>\n

3. Karasjok Church site. Two camps with 50 and 60 men each, working from April to October 1944 at a German workshop, at a sawmill and on road maintenance.<\/p>\n

In total, there were around five camps for Soviet prisoners of war that were in use for varying amounts of time from June 1943 to October 1944.<\/p>\n

In the case of dead Soviet prisoners of war, a very useful source can be found in the prisoner identity cards sent to Berlin and confiscated by the Red Army in 1945. Each prisoner had a card that followed them throughout their captivity and included all their personal information. The cards also record the cause of death, such as shooting for attempting to escape.<\/p>\n

It is probable that thirteen Soviet prisoners of war died in the camps between July 1943 and October 1944. Two escaped prisoners from Billefjord were shot in the area and buried at \u00abSerbergravplassen\u00bb (the \u00abSerbian grave site\u00bb) on 22 August 1942. Of the thirteen who died in the prison camps, ten of them died in 1943 and three in 1944, the last one as late as 26 October. Three of them died in the camp at the border crossing, but all were buried at the Yugoslavian grave site. The cards are marked \u00ab300 metres southeast of the camp\u00bb. The first four prisoners who died were shot for attempting to escape, three of them on the same day. A further five died of tuberculosis and some do not have a cause of death recorded on their identity cards. All of them were Russian.<\/p>\n

It was more difficult for the locals to have contact with those prisoners in the more remote camps. It was only when they were at the workshop or sawmill, or when they were working on the road, that the Norwegian workers could have any contact with them.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h4>\n

A prisoner\u2019s status was important in defining the way the Nazis treated them. The Yugoslavians were regarded merely as \u00abconvicts\u00bb by the SS, but they were actually worse off since they had already received death sentences in Yugoslavia. They were not treated as prisoners of war in Norway until after April 1943. The German prisoners were also convicts and were preferably to die in Norway. They did not receive new chances as soldiers in the Wehrmacht and, in practice, were treated as SS prisoners, even though they were under the control of the Wehrmacht. The Soviet prisoners of war were just that, but the Soviet Union had not signed the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War. The Nazis took advantage of this and treated the prisoners badly, and their racist ideology regarded them as subordinates in any case. In some places in Norway, Soviet prisoners were treated very badly, almost as badly as the Yugoslavians. However, in many places, more humane treatment occurred later on in the war, often noticeable from 1943-4 4. The differential treatment administered by the Nazis to these three groups of prisoners in Karasjok municipality is reflected in the death tolls. The prisoners as a group consisted of many individuals, every one of whom underwent unimaginable suffering during those war years in Karasjok.<\/p>\n

Sources:<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n

Hansson, Per: Mamma Karasjok<\/span>, Oslo 1970.<\/p>\n

Hoffmann, Karl-Heinz: Am Eismeer verschollen, Berlin 1988.<\/p>\n

Jovanovic, Cveja: Flukten til friheten<\/span> (English: Escape to freedom), Oslo 1985.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jovanovic, Cveja: Blodveien til Nordpartisanavdelingen<\/span> (English: Blood Road of the Northern Partisan Division), Belgrade 1988.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nilssen, Trond Risto: Kommando Nord: myrsoldatene i Nord-Norge 1942-1945<\/span> (English: Northern Command: Soldiers of the Mire in Northern Norway 1942-1945<\/span>), in<\/p>\n

Historie no. 1<\/span>, 2001, pp. 58-67.<\/p>\n

Military Archives, Belgrade: Documents from the war crime cases against SS officers.<\/p>\n

The National Archives of Norway, Oslo: The treason trials of Norwegian citizens. Documents from H\u00e5logaland<\/span> Court of Appeal 16\/08\/1948. Criminal trial against 11 guards. From the treason trial of Hartvig, D.<\/span><\/p>\n

Report concerning the treatment of Serbian prisoners in Karasjok during the autumn of 1942.<\/span><\/p>\n

Statements given by 25 witnesses. From the treason trial of Halvor B<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The National Archives of Norway, Oslo: Documents Section, Series D, V-microfilm no. 56.<\/span><\/p>\n

Verdens Gang<\/span> (newspaper<\/span>) 18\/09\/1959.<\/p>\n

www.obd-memorial.ru<\/a>: (Copy of prison identity card of dead Soviet prisoner of war).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n