Making Memories the Politics of Remembrance in Postwar Norway and Denmark
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Department of History and Civilization Making Memories The Politics of Remembrance in Postwar Norway and Denmark Clemens Maier Thesis submitted for assessment with a view to obtaining the degree of Doctor of History and Civilization of the European University Institute July 2007 EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE Department of History and Civilization Making Memories The Politics of Remembrance in Postwar Norway and Denmark Clemens Maier Thesis submitted for assessment with a view to obtaining the degree of Doctor of History and Civilization of the European University Institute Examining Board: Professor Bo Stråth (EUI) Professor Heinz-Gerhard Haupt (EUI) Professor Anette Warring (Roskilde University) Professor Øystein Sørensen (University of Oslo) © 2007, Clemens Maier No part of this thesis may be copied, reproduced or transmitted without prior permission of the author Maier, Clemens, (2007), Making Memories: The Politics of Remembrance in Postwar Norway and Denmark European University Institute DOI: 10.2870/37104 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... - 1 - MEMORY, HISTORY AND COMPARISON................................................................... - 15 - 1. Collective Memory Versus History Culture ................................................................ - 15 - 2. Comparing Memory Cultures ..................................................................................... - 35 - I. THE ORIGIN AND AGENTS OF BASIC NARRATIVES IN NORWAY AND DENMARK............................................................................................................................ - 43 - 1. NORWAY – A HEROIC STRUGGLE OF 'JØSSINGER' VERSUS 'QUISLINGER' .............................- 43 - 1.1. A Narration of Good and Evil – of David and Goliath............................................ - 47 - Excursus: Museum Language ......................................................................................... - 58 - 1.2. Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum – Veterans Making a Museum.................................. - 69 - The Roots and the Founding Fathers .................................................................. - 69 - The Exhibition..................................................................................................... - 73 - The Memorial Next to a Memorial ..................................................................... - 80 - A Centre of Research and Competence .............................................................. - 82 - 1.3. Rituals – the Frigjøringsjubileer.............................................................................. - 89 - The Early Celebrations........................................................................................ - 91 - 1965 – A Big Celebration ................................................................................... - 93 - 25 Years of Freedom – 1970............................................................................... - 97 - 1985 – 40 Years of Peace.................................................................................. - 102 - The Half-Centenary Anniversary – The Last Celebrations............................... - 105 - Norway – Back to 'Normal' on the 60th? ........................................................... - 112 - Norway Celebrates Itself................................................................................... - 113 - 1.4. People and Protagonists ........................................................................................ - 115 - 1.5. Successful Politics of Remembrance...................................................................... - 119 - 2. DENMARK – IN PEACE BUT OCCUPIED .............................................................................- 123 - 2.1. The Postwar Compromise – A Basic Narrative ..................................................... - 127 - 2.2. Museet for Danmarks Frihedskamp 1940-1945 .................................................... - 143 - The Frimurerloge and the Exhibition in the Nationalmuseet............................ - 143 - Churchillparken and the Frihedsmuseum.......................................................... - 148 - Frihedsmuseum as Memorial ............................................................................ - 159 - The Revision of the Frihedsmuseum – How to Change a Memorial? .............. - 162 - 2005 – A New View? The Exhibition Spærretid.............................................. - 175 - 2.3. The Celebrations of Denmark's Victory................................................................. - 181 - The First Big Celebration – 1965...................................................................... - 183 - 25 Years – Consensus and Conflict .................................................................. - 185 - 1985 – the Last Celebrations?........................................................................... - 188 - 1995 – 50 years of Peace and Democracy ........................................................ - 194 - The 60th Anniversary – 'Historikerstreit' and Politicians Re-write History ...... - 201 - Denmark: Celebrating Unity............................................................................. - 202 - 2.4. People and Protagonists ........................................................................................ - 203 - 2.5. 'Matador' and 'Danmark besat' – Popular Culture as History Teacher................ - 207 - 2.6. Silenced Collaboration – Danish Politics of Remembrance.................................. - 211 - 3. TWO COUNTRIES – TWO NARRATIVES?............................................................................- 211 - Maier, Clemens, (2007), Making Memories: The Politics of Remembrance in Postwar V Norway and Denmark European University Institute DOI: 10.2870/37104 II. TOWARDS A COMPLETION OF THE BASIC NARRATIVE – CHANGES AND CHALLENGES................................................................................................................... - 217 - 1. COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION .............................................................................- 219 - Quisling and the Nasjonal Samling........................................................................... - 220 - 'Active' vs. 'Passive' Resistance................................................................................. - 232 - Summary ................................................................................................................... - 255 - 2. TROUBLESOME RESISTANCE – BLACK STAINS AND THE COMMUNISTS............................- 257 - 2.1. Liquidations of the Resistance Movements ............................................................ - 257 - The 'Right to Kill'...................................................................................................... - 259 - Over Grensen?........................................................................................................... - 275 - Summary ................................................................................................................... - 283 - 2.2. The Troublesome Communists ............................................................................... - 285 - Pioneers or a Risk for the Civilian Population? ........................................................ - 286 - Spanish Civil War Fighters Pioneer the Resistance.................................................. - 294 - Summary ................................................................................................................... - 308 - 3. 'TYSKERPIGER' AND THEIR 'KRIGSBARN' ..........................................................................- 311 - 'Vi ville ikke ha dem' – Deportation and Apologies ................................................. - 313 - Acts of Mobbing and Accepted Pornography........................................................... - 327 - Summary ................................................................................................................... - 335 - 4. NORWEGIAN ANTI-SEMITISM AND THE FLIGHT OF THE DANISH JEWS..............................- 339 - Norwegian Guilt and Cooperation? .......................................................................... - 339 - The Flight of the Danish Jews – October 1943......................................................... - 359 - Summary ................................................................................................................... - 377 - 5. Two countries – differing challenges? ...................................................................... - 381 - MAKING MEMORIES...................................................................................................... - 385 - REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................- 403 - Unpublished Sources............................................................................................. - 403 - Published Sources/ Newspapers............................................................................ - 404 - Literature............................................................................................................... - 405 - Maier, Clemens, (2007), Making Memories: The Politics of Remembrance in Postwar VI Norway and Denmark European University Institute DOI: 10.2870/37104 Acknowledgements I am deeply indebted to several people without whose help this work could never