in detail
Between 29 December 1941 and 30 October 1944, the German Security Police shot 173 Norwegians, 6 Britons and 15 Soviet citizens in Trandum forest. The shooting squads were under the command of Hauptsturmführer (Captain) Oskar Hans.
Most of the victims were executed because of resistance against the occupation. After his arrest, Oskar Hans took the investigators to the place of execution. There with the help of forensic investigation it was possible to identify the 18 mass graves and most of the victims. A Norwegian court convicted Hans, giving him a lenient sentence because he was acting "under orders".
In 1946, the Organisation of Norwegian Resistance Fighters (»Hjemmefronten«) openly called for the first time for the creation of a monument to the victims of the shootings in Trandum forest. In 1951, the Association of Norwegian Combat Veterans took up the idea and commissioned a committee for its realisation.
On 10 October 1954, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Olaf dedicated the monument.
It consists of a memorial stone and adjacent wall where the names of the victims are listed. Small stones along a forest path mark the location of the 18 mass graves.
In Trandum forest, between 29 December 1941 and 30 October 1944, the German Security Police shot 173 Norwegians, 6 Britons and 15 Soviet citizens, in some cases without a prior court sentence. After his arrest, the commander of the shooting squads, Captain Oskar Hans, took the Norwegian police investigators to the places where the executions had been carried out. The 18 mass graves identified in this way have been marked since 1954 by stones which are a part of the memorial for those shot.
29 December 1941
First shootings, execution of 11 Norwegian opponents of the German occupation.
30 October 1944
Last executions, the murder of 22 victims, including Norwegians and Soviet POWs.
May to August 1945
Forensic investigations by the Norwegian police make it possible to identify almost all of those shot.
1946
First initiative by the Organisation of Norwegian Resistance Fighters to create a monument at the site of execution.
1951
The Norwegian Association of Combat Veterans takes up the idea of erecting a monument.
10 October 1954
Dedication of the monument with a speech by Crown Prince Olaf.
Trandum, 2002, memorial stone, Bjarte Bruland.
Trandum, 2002, memorial wall with the names of those murdered, Bjarte Bruland.
Trandum, 2002, Massengrab Nr. 12, markiert durch einen kreuzförmigen Grabstein und einen Stein mit der Nummer des Massengrabes, Bjarte Bruland.
