Fighting or Whitewashing Nazism: Will the Real Norway Please Stand up?
This year Norway has reached two milestones that go to the heart of how it deals with its past history and future values. Recently, Norway began serving as chair of the International Task Force for Holocaust Education, Research and Remembrance, whose 27 international members are committed "to place political and social leaders' support behind...Holocaust education, remembrance, and research both nationally and internationally." Indeed, Oslo has committed to use knowledge of the past to be a force against contemporary hate. In a strong address to the ITF plenary, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store insisted, "We need to strengthen the ITF as a vehicle for political action...we need the ITF to help us confront increasing anti-Semitism." Gahr Store went on to say that "Knowledge of our dark past is necessary to fight contemporary anti-Semitism and other forms of racism."
Coming at a time of resurgent global anti-Semitism this commitment by a senior official in Europe should be most welcome.
However there are conflicting signals from Oslo. For 2009 also marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Knut Hamsun, Norway's most significant writer outside of Ibsen. Hamsun was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature (in 1920). Plans for a multimillion-dollar commemoration include a museum dedicated to his life and series of events under the patronage of the Royal Family.
But there is one problem: Hamsun's love affair with Nazism. In 1943, during the height of WWII and the Holocaust, he presented his Nobel medal to Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda chief, and even had an audience with Hitler.
How Hamsun's behavior is portrayed is an extremely sensitive matter in a nation that produced Quisling and other collaborators, including those who participated in the deportation of Jewish citizens to Auschwitz.
A review of official Norwegian websites shows a virtual whitewashing of Hamsun's Nazi connection, while glorifying his literary career. The National Library's website makes absolutely no mention of his Nazi links but does state: "The aim of promoting Hamsun internationally in 2009 is to raise the profile of his writings, as well as to generate interest in Hamsun in a variety of cultural contexts in different parts of the world. An additional objective is to promote modern Norway as a nation presenting and renewing a significant part of its cultural heritage."
A second page also omits his Nazi connection, and describes the commemoration as "The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs wishes the anniversary of Knut Hamsun's birth to be commemorated in a manner commensurate with his standing as an internationally renowned author."
The most glaring example is on the website titled "Norwegian Literary Nobel Laureates." The site has one paragraph each devoted to Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Hamsun and Sigrid Undset. Bjørnson, Norway's first recipient of a Nobel in Literature, died in 1910. The paragraph about the heroic Undset, however, states: "Undset's books were banned in Germany in the 1930s, and she was forced to leave her native Norway as a result of the Nazi invasion during the WWII. She went to the United States but continued to support the Norwegian Resistance. After the war she returned to her country and received the Grand Cross of St. Olav for her writing and her patriotic endeavors."
As for Hamsun, the writeup is totally silent about his activities during the same period! There is absolutely no mention of his writings in support of the Nazis or his trip to Berlin. Only one official Norwegian site tells the whole story, describing Hamsun thusly: "His politics, on the other hand, were controversial. He sympathized with the Nazis, and was charged with treason after the war. He was later sentenced to pay a large sum in civil compensation."
The Stockholm Declaration, the foundational agreement of the ITF, states, "we must uphold the terrible truth of the Holocaust against those who deny it." Hamsun was not the only prominent author of that period to embrace the Nazis. Others, such as France's Louis-Ferdinand Céline and the US's Ezra Pound, did the same. Yet despite their claim to literary greatness, neither has been honored by their native countries -- to the contrary, their shameful collaboration is treated as a major part of their legacy. Hamsun was no better, and any "commemoration" of his life must include the harsh truth about how and why this literary giant and other Norwegians chose to become Nazi collaborators.
Over the past few years, Norway, like other European countries, has experienced open anti-Semitism in both its traditional forms of threats to synagogues, cemetery desecrations and other incidents. It has also seen anti-Semitism expressed in a virulent anti-Zionism in public discourse.
Norway's elite owes today's generation moral and historical clarity about Hamsun and his ilk. Whitewashing Hamsun will only further embolden Europe's resurgent Far Right, and raise the question whether this Scandinavian nation can be a leading voice in the fight against history's oldest hatred or a contributor the problem.
Mark Weitzman, Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center Taskforce Against Terrorism and Hate, co-authored this essay.
Follow Rabbi Abraham Cooper on Twitter: www.twitter.com/simonwiesenthal
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“The whole school of fiction in the 20th century stems from Hamsun,” Nobel laureate Isaac Singer, himself Jewish, wrote in 1967. Hesse called Hamsun his favorite writer; Hemingway recommended his novels; Gide compared him to Dostoyevsky, but believed that Hamsun was "perhaps even more subtle." The list goes on. See e.g., http://bus
In the Ethicist Blog of The New York Times, Randy Cohen asks: "Can you hate the artist but love the art?" His answer is yes. See http://eth
Could it be that the government of Norway thinks like Mr. Cohen -- or are these social democrats, whose grandparents, friends and mentors died or risked their lives fighting Nazism, really trying to whitewash a Nazi?
Some facts about Hamsun might be of interest. Biographer Ingar Kolloen says there can be no doubt that Hamsun was a Nazi sympathizer. Yet after the war, Hamsun challenged Norwegian authorities to find "any attack on the Jews" anywhere in his collected writings. Furthermore, it has been clearly documented that Hamsun helped his Jewish friend Max Tau emigrate from Germany to Norway in 1938, and that Hamsun's son Tore (with the elder Hamsun's knowledge) helped Tau escape to Sweden in 1942, thus saving his life. An indication of the the lasting friendship between Tore Hamsun and Max Tau can be found here: http://www
Hamsun's meeting with Hitler also shows him to be an unusal kind of Nazi. He argued with the Fuhrer, wanting an end to executions in Norway, then broke down and cried, Hitler later screaming to his aides: "I don't want to see that sort of person here again!"
Dear Joagurk
1. I agree, Bhatti is no average Norwegian. My point is: as long as the threat to the Oslo synagogue is larger than the threat to other places of worship, this may be seen as an indication of anti-Semitism.
2. You can read about Independent Labor here: http://www
3. I am sure Gilbert, Hausberg and Lilleng all felt that their comparison was justifiable.
4. The crown prince was present at the dialogue meeting at the House of Literature when Mohammed ali Chisti held his speech "Why I hate jews". Ed Hussein, author of "The Islamist" was also present and warned against bestowing legitimacy upon people like Chisti, saying that this was the mistake they had made in the UK. Nonetheless, the Queen manages to visit a mosque which is not only assciated with Jamaat-e-Islami, the very same organization to which Ed Hussein belonged, but where the imam is an honorary member of the European Fatwa Council, which still has not retracted the fatwa of 2003 condoning suicide actions against all adult Israelis. Events like these are indicative of a society which lacks the ability to identify and deal with anti-Semitism as a contemporary force.
Concerning anti-islam sentiment versus anti-Semitism, Cora Alexa Døving (Holocaust senteret) and Herman Willis had an interesting debate on that issue in 2007, you'll find some pointers to it here: http://www
What do you think?
Best regards
Sophie
Dear Sophie
I agree that here is an anti semitism is ripe among many muslim in Norway and it is horrible. No child should be scared to proclaim their religion. We totally agree. I do think that there is a decline in respect for Israel along the line in Norway. I have never heard anyone say that Norwegian Jews are less worth than people of other religions.
Do you agree that there is a distinct seperation between being against the Israeli politics and being antisemitic?
I am so tired of the anti semitic accusation everytime this comes up, and I think it undermines the real threat and strife the jewish population in Oslo.
Sorry if the grammar is bad, but i got 39,5 fever and bad flu symptoms.
Joachim
Dear fellow Norwegians
There are clear indications that anti-Semitism thrives in Norway today. Here are five items:
1. The Olso synagogue has been attacked and the jewish cemetery repeatedly vandalized. The synagogue is under such threat that it is under near constant police protection.
2. The political party Independent Labor has openly claimed that Mossad were behind the 9/11 bombings, and that the jews working at the premisis were warned of the attack.
3. Holocaust distortion: Mayor of Tromsø Arild Hausberg, national hero Mads Gilbert and diplomat Trine Lilleng have all participated in Holocaust distortion by comparing operation Cast Lead in Gaza to the Nazi actions in the Warsaw ghetto during WWII. Yet not only are they not criticised for making such comparisons, but Trine Lilleng is actually promoted to consul and Foreign Minister Støre lied about her to protect Norway's image.
4. The Queen has visited a mosque where the imam, as a member of the European Fatwa Council, has participated in the blessings of all suicide attacks made against jews.
5. On January 8th Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen participated in a march in which there were cries of "kill the jews" (Norwegian newspapers reported on this). After an erroneous article in the Jerusalem Post, Halvorsen's party The Socialst Left issued a press release stating that no such calls were made at all.
The list goes on and on. Please do visit Norway, Israel and the Jews on www.israel
It's your call, gents.
Sophie
Hi Sopie
1. The synagoge in Oslo was attacked by a high, muslim gang banger. Hardly representing the average norwegian.
2. Who is independent labour? Link please.
3.Tasteles
4. Are you claiming the queen is an antisemite?
A question to you Sophie:
Is it possible to condem and be critical towards current Israeli politics without being labelled an anti semite or nazi?
Would you say anti islam sedement in Norway is more widespread than anti semitism? What are your thoughts on that?
Peace for all.
People like Rabbi Cooper, who seem to imply that there is any kind of sympathy with Nazism in Norway, should perhaps also know the following:
Norway currently has a Labor Prime Minister. Two former Labor Prime Ministers, Einar Gerhardsen and Trygve Bratteli, almost died in German concentration camps. A former Labor Minister of Defense, Jens Hauge, led the Norwegian resistance during World War II. Hauge also played an instrumental role in helping Israel acquire the heavy water it needed to develop its nuclear bomb. During the war, Norwegian resistance fighters gave their lives to stop Germany from getting their hands on the same heavy water. Like many Norwegian politicians, Hauge had personal friends among leading Israelis, such as Golda Meir.
Readers' might also want to check out an article in jweekly.co
“It’s not right to say that Norway is anti-Semitic,” insists Imre Hercz, an 80-year old Jewish Norwegian Holocaust survivor who was born in Hungary. “Most people are not anti-Semitic. I love Norway. I love Israel. Official Norway has been very good to Israel, has helped Israel and sold oil to Israel.
"According to Michael Melchior, 55, the titular chief rabbi of Norway and a former Knesset member, the claim that Norway is anti-Semitic is false," says the article. See http://www
Rabbi Cooper says "A review of official Norwegian websites shows a virtual whitewashing of Hamsun's Nazi connection
"... he also applauded Hitler and the Nazi ideology, and sided with the Nazi occupation of Norway for five years.
Hamsun’s Nazi sympathies are a sordid part of his life. He received massive condemnation for them after the war, and they have been debated in Norway for many years. Also this aspect of Hamsun’s life is duly noted as part of the commemoration of Hamsun’s anniversary.
At the opening of the Hamsun 2009 project earlier this year ... his Nazi sympathies were clearly exposed through his infamous newspaper article on Hitler’s death in 1945, which was included in the presentation of his life and his works at the Hamsun exhibitions in Oslo earlier this year.
The Hamsun anniversary in no way condones the man’s support for the Nazi regime. On the contrary, the anniversary has generated and renewed the public debate about the dark sides of Knut Hamsun.
Norwegian governments have unequivocally taken a clear stand against the Nazi ideology and the horrors it resulted in. They have taken an equally clear stand against anti-Semitism and racism." See http://www
This article does not acknowledge the resisters fighters in Norway, who were the first and best in Europe.
I personally know a man who risked his life in Norway to supply intelligence to the Allies, and who rescued a Jewish family.
The Gestapo took half of the students and faculty of the University of Oslo and sent them to concentration camps in Germany.
Portraying Norway as an anti-semitic country is disgusting.
disgusting and desperate.
The rasism and biggotry in Norway is mainly directed against Muslims.
I think most people do not think of jews or israeli as very much different than themselves. I have never in my life heard anyone in Norway criticize the jewish way of belief.
You see in this situation too it is possible to have two thoughs at the same time. The terrible and unexusable way the jews were treated in ww2, and their right to a suvereign state is not up for disscussion, and at the same time there is injustice done to palestinians right now by the israeli state.
The automatic response that i am a anti semite or nazi sympathiser any time I question any aspect of the Israeli state is getting old. Anti semitism is real in the world, and we are well adviced to have history in our minds, but Israeli advocates are ill adviced to use it as a reflex.
Norway supported the creation of the Israeli state, norway secretly delivered heavy water, so they got the nuclear bomb. But since Norway now critice the illegal action of, our allies, Israel to the palestinians, we get labelled as Nazis and anti semites.
Maybe if the parts in the conflict in Israel/Palestine dug themselves out of their trenches and tried to hold both aspects of the conflict in their mind and heart at the same time they would take a step toward peace.
I get really frustrated reading this article.
I am a norwegian, and the public discourse here in Norway is all about the duality of the man Hamsund. He was a nazi sympathiser of the worst sort in his late years, but he was also a brilliant writer, a man who wrote magical about life, love and nature. His work has no sign anti semitism in it. His major work is written long before Adolph terrible thoughts and crimes. This duality is known by all Norwegians. The museum opening deals with the dark, aweful parts of Hamsun as well as his litterary work.
The ability to have two thoughts in the head at the same time might be the real Norway, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, is asking for.
Norway is chairing the International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research this year. This week the Knut Hamsun museum was opened by the crown prince’s wife in the framework of the Hamsun year. This Literature Nobel Prize winner welcomed the German occupiers of his country, gave his Nobel Prize to Goebbels, visited Hitler in Bavaria and wrote a positive obituary about him in 1945.
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation wrote: “Men and women like fellow Scandinavian Raoul Wallenberg, the many non-Jewish Norwegians or the heroic resistance movement who smuggled over 1,000 persecuted refugees, are still awaiting recognition on the scale given to this war criminal.”
This year, during Israel’s during the Gaza Campaign Norwegian Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen participated in an anti-Israeli demonstration where there were shouts of “Death to the Jews.” She did not leave the place.
In October 2007 King Harald V gave the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav to Fin Graff, a graphic artist who had drawn a cartoon portraying then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as a Nazi camp commander. In June 2009 Queen Sonia, who had opened the Hamsun year, visited an Oslo mosque and spoke with the imam who supports suicide bombings against Israelis.
It seems that everyone hates someone and denies something about someone.
At least Germany owns up to what it did (that's more than I can say about Japan).
Thank you for your opinion rabbi. I have not read the websites you refer to, but in every day discourse, the nazi background of Knut Hamsun is very much debated here in Norway. And more so than ever because of the 150 year anniversary of his birth.
One example is: The first ever statue depicting the author was unveiled this year - and still it is debated if that was appropriate, also debated is if it is correct to make a Hamsun museum.
So while the real Norway will approach Hamsun cautiously, there is also the feeling that the art is different from the man. But that can always be debated. And that is what we do.
Ps. The conduct of Israel towards it´s palestinian minority is also vigorously debated in Norway. The discourse is - in my view - also often misrepresented by some Israeli news organs. The idea seems to be that outrage from the Gaza war is to be interpreted as anti-jewish sentiments.
I find this a little strange -
Where I live we have a statue of a famous slave trader in our city centre, he paid for and build several public buildings, a university, and housing for the poor - he was however a slave trader responsible for 1000's of people being sent to work and die in a foreign land so he could benefit financially.
We all know what he did, but you will notice that his university does not have a plaque saying "funded by slave trader" - his public library does not say "killed 1000's for profit".
I understand the need for the holocaust to not be forgotten, but neither should it be pushed into peoples faces at every chance for no reason.
Anti-Semitism is not on the rise in Europe, there were changes in how crimes are logged - there is a yo-yo rise in violence all over Europe that is real - but this is against everyone not just people of Jewish faith (in fact crimes against Muslims outstrips those against Jewish minorities by a large factor).
So yes - respect, remember the past - but let people move forward confronting today's problems with today's solutions.
Anti-zionism is not anti-semitism.
Zionists who persist in making this claim endanger jews world-wide, by claiming that there is no distinction between opposing Israel and opposing jews. That claim is false, and Rabbi, you should be ashamed for making it here.
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