Re: Looking for reindeer in Norway 1944
 

I've read in a book last year that when the Germans were to withdraw from northern Norway they told (ordered) the Same reindeer owners to drive their herds towards the west but they fooled the Germans and draw them towards the south and south-east instead, away from the Germans who retreated in a western direction along the northern coast road. It would have been near impossible for the Germans to track the reindeer herds in a terrain without roads while it would have been possible to find them from the air in good weather. They would still hardly be able to do much about where the reindeer were driven. This might be the reason for the flight note in the Flugbuch. I suppose the reason was to deny the Russians a potential food supply when retreating. Sadly the 'scorched earth' tactics were used by the Germans during the retreat in northern Norway, burning down the houses, farms and killing the farm animals. I don't remember the title of the book but I will remember it was in Norwegian language. It is probably still crated in my moving boxes.
BR
Göran

Re: Looking for reindeer in Norway 1944
 

It was the same for the Finnish Lapland during the Finnish-German Lapland War, BTW.

Kari

Re: Looking for reindeer in Norway 1944
 

So, in the end we can assume that what they were really doing was actually what it says - looking for reindeer...thanks for that Göran (if you find the name of that book...?).

Still, if you don't mind folks, I would love to have a professional opinion to my second question - "native" people of occupied countries taken on a flight by the German Luftwaffe...and mentioned in their Flugbücher. Wasn't that peculiar? Over the years checking hundreds and hundreds of those books, this is the first time I believe I've seen it. Lenzmann(sic) Toerseth for one and possibly Hauptmann Thomsen a couple of months later...

Greetings

Hans

Re: Looking for reindeer in Norway 1944
 

It is not that strange.

A "Lensmann" is more or less the same as a Sheriff and these were working in cooperation with the Germans, reluctantly, I might add, in many cases.
Having said that, in many areas, towards the end of the war, some of the policemen that were left were rather friendly towards the Germans. In quite a few areas the police were members of the Norwegian Nazi party, Nasjonal Samling. In some areas the Germans controlled the police, by having chosen German friendly Chiefs instated.
Policing Norway under the occupation was a difficult task and there are written several books about this. The policemen had to balance general law and order against being puppets for the Germans.

Re: Looking for reindeer in Norway 1944
 

An informative answer Kyrre...with some serious undertones - many thanks for your assessment of the situation at that time.

Perhaps knowing that the war was soon to come to an end, it was also easier to show some goodwill, and help each other where you could - like, in this case... together fly looking for reindeer;)...!

Greetings

Hans