The milk strike (Norwegian: melkestreiken) was a strike in Nazi-occupiedOslo on 8 and 9 September 1941. It led to strong reprisals from the German occupiers, in the form of martial law, court-martial, mass arrests, two executions and several long-term jail sentences.[1]
Start
The strike started among workers at the shipyardAkers mekaniske verksted and the industry site Christiania Spigerverk, as a spontaneous protest against the milk rationing announced on 8 September 1941. The workers lost their daily quota of milk, which had been given to them until then. The protests spread to other companies. On 9 September the number of strikers was estimated to 20-25,000, at around fifty industry sites.[1][2]
The arrests had direct consequences for the leadership of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions. Until then the Confederation had had a certain degree of independence with Buland as deputy chairman and Hansteen with a leading role. In May 1941 Håkon Meyer had proposed that in a reorganization of the Confederation, Hansteen would continue his job as legal consultant.[8] After the milk strike the Confederation underwent "Nazification", with members of the Fascist party Nasjonal Samling installed as leaders. Erling Olsen became acting chairman on 10 September, and continued as deputy chairman when Odd Fossum was installed as chairman on 11 September. Kåre Rein was installed as secretary.[9][10][11] I. B. Aase continued in his position as treasurer.[12]
A crackdown on certain parts of Norwegian society, especially left-wingers in the trade unions, was in some ways imminent after Operation Barbarossa. The incidents signalled a harder regime from the German occupiers. The executions of Hansteen and Wickstrøm became a lasting symbol for the Norwegian resistance.
^ abcdVoksø, Per, ed. (1984). "Nye aksjoner og dommer". Krigens Dagbok (in Norwegian). Oslo: Det Beste. p. 166. ISBN82-7010-166-4.
^Ording, Arne; Johnson, Gudrun; Garder, Johan (1949). "Buland, Ludvik". Våre falne 1939-1945 (in Norwegian). Vol. 1. Oslo: The State of Norway. p. 377.
^Ording, Arne; Johnson, Gudrun; Garder, Johan (1949). "Vestli, Harry August". Våre falne 1939-1945 (in Norwegian). Vol. 4. Oslo: The State of Norway. p. 478.