Jossingfjiord, Norway

Jossingfjord is situated on the south-west coast of Norway.; two significant events in World War 2 occurred there. The first event has become known as the Altmark incident. Norway was still a neutral self governing country in February 1940, when a Altmark, a German tanker carrying 299 British POW's (transferred off the Admiral Graf Spree), took refuge in the fjord from a British warship.

The British boarded the tanker, calling out,
"Are there any Englishmen here?" All 299 men were rescued.

It is reputedly the last time the British navy have boarded an enemy ship whilst brandishing a cutlass (visions of Mark Penn).

The fjord is also the home to a memorial commemorating four New Zealand airman, killed in when attacking a tanker sheltering in the fjord on the 14th April, 1945 - one of the last acts of World War 2 in Norway. Every year, on Norwegian Constitution Day, the New Zealand flag is raised to remember the involvement of Allied soldiers in liberating Norway.
 

It was quite moving to stand in front of the memorial, wave the New Zealand flag (the same flag we had in 1945) and sing our National Anthem - well Gretel and Johan sang, Tony attempted.

A view down Jossinfjord

Gretel and Johan in front of the memorial.

Proud to be New Zealanders

The New Zealanders who gave their lives in Jossingfjord in 1945.