The Merchant Seafarers at war

Norwegian ships and sailors provided Norway's most significant contribution to the Allies' victory during World War II. Civilian ships transporting fuel, soldiers, weapons, steel, and other war essentials played a crucial role in winning the war. The sailors on board faced equally perilous service as soldiers on the battlefield, and after the war, they were referred to as war sailors. Later, it became common to also include those who sailed in neutral waters from 1939-40, in the Navy, in the home fleet, in addition to foreign sailors and those who sailed during World War I, as war sailors. War sailors were both men and women. They were parents and family providers. Several thousand were also children between 14 and 18 years old.

WORLD WAR I

During World War I, Norway was formally neutral and not part of the conflict. Since the merchant fleet transported many goods for the Allies and Britain took over parts of the fleet, Norway was later called "the neutral ally." The sailors on board Norwegian ships were heavily affected by mines and submarine attacks. At least 2100 Norwegian and foreign sailors on Norwegian ships lost their lives in wartime sinkings during World War I.

THE FORGOTTEN WAR BEFORE APRIL 9

World War II began for Norwegian sailors on September 3, 1939. Norwegian ships sailed as neutral vessels. Nevertheless, they transported war essentials for the Allies and were therefore exposed to wartime sinkings early on. By April 9, 1940, 58 Norwegian ships had sunk with nearly 400 crew members and passengers perishing. This has been referred to as "The Forgotten War."

OCCUPATION AND THE STATE SHIPPING COMPANY

Norway was the world's fourth-largest shipping nation in 1939, a maritime power. When the country was attacked by Nazi Germany on April 9, 1940, it became crucial for the warring parties to secure control over around a thousand Norwegian ships and 30,000 sailors scattered across the world's oceans. While the Norwegian government was fleeing from the German invasion forces, it requisitioned all larger ships into a single state shipping company, Nortraship. Thus, the majority of the Norwegian merchant fleet came under Allied control, and the sailors could continue sailing under the Norwegian flag and provide an income for the Norwegian exile government. This strengthened the Norwegian exile government politically and economically, but most importantly, it ensured much-needed transportation for the Allies.

The home fleet consisted of Norwegian ships in German-occupied Norway. They sailed throughout the war with vital supplies for the civilian population. The ships also had to transport soldiers and equipment for the occupying power and were therefore subject to constant attacks from Allied forces. The sailors on board were called home sailors, and they could be arrested if they refused to sail. It was not voluntary to sail in the foreign fleet - it was mandatory, and the Norwegian exile authorities received significant help from the Allies in enforcing this on the sailors.

SIGNIFICANCE

During World War II, there was no land connection between the three major Allies: the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and the United States. Therefore, almost all transportation between them had to occur by sea. Access to fuel was of paramount importance to Britain. Norwegian shipowners had built up the world's most modern tanker fleet before the war. Access to these ships was crucial, as Nazi Germany's attacks on Britain were most intense during "The Battle of Britain," from July to October 1940. About half of Britain's fuel was transported to the island nation on Norwegian ships during that time.

Later in the war, war sailors participated in several major operations. In the Allied invasions of North Africa, Italy, and on D-Day, Norwegian ships and sailors were involved in supplying the military forces.

DANGEROUS SERVICE

The safest way to protect the ships was to gather them in larger convoys. These convoys varied in size but often consisted of between 40 and 60 ships. Usually, the convoys had military protection, including Norwegian naval vessels. Sailing in a convoy could be a significant mental strain, experiencing an attack or just waiting for what might happen. It was particularly painful to see other torpedoed sailors in the sea without being able to rescue them. Only the last boat in the convoy was allowed to do this.

In the Atlantic Ocean particularly, Nazi Germany devoted many resources to targeting Allied shipping. Submarines, which could attack almost anywhere, were most feared. Warships sailed the world's oceans to sink Allied ships or capture them and take the sailors prisoner. From the air, bomber planes posed a threat. Ships also had to avoid being caught by mines. In other parts of the world, merchant ships were vulnerable to attacks from Japanese or Italian forces.

The dangerous voyages had deadly consequences for more than 4,000 Norwegian war sailors, including naval and home sailors. Even more could have been killed during the many sinkings in the Norwegian foreign fleet, though good seamanship and protective equipment meant that on average 80% survived when a ship was sunk.

Behind the numbers of casualties lies much suffering. Moreover, a death affected those left behind. Women lost husbands, and children lost fathers. The consequences of becoming a widow or fatherless in an occupied and later free Norway often meant a harsh existence with limited means.

The Norwegian merchant fleet was entirely dependent on foreign sailors. In 1943, one in four sailors was foreign. The sailors consisted of nearly 100 nationalities - most from Britain, China, India, and Canada. Close to a thousand foreign sailors perished on Norwegian ships during the war.