Nordfjordlaget In America

Established in 1909, the Nordfjord Lag is a yearly gathering of people with Norwegian ancestry generally from the Nordfjord area on the west central coast of Norway. We get together for fellowship, food and entertainment of a Norwegian flavor. Many who first come to us looking for genealogical connections return for the cultural and personal contacts.

Picture of lag participants in Norway 2005

Lag participants on the Nordfjord Heritage Tour 2005.

June 2nd thru 12th, 2005 current and new members of the Lag joined together on a grand tour of Nordfjord. This tour was planned by the people of Nordfjord as a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Norwegian Independence day and as a thank you for their time with us in 2002 . In all a total of 75 Nordfjordings from our Lag, the Wisconsin Lag, and those who joined the tour on their own, went on this wonderful adventure. Many of us stayed on until June 17th touring other parts of Norway.

The people of Nordfjord went all out to not only show us a good time with lots of good food but also to show us the past and current culture of Norway. We were greeted by marching bands, mayors and officials of each community, the best of entertainment, fjord horses, school kids, lots of relatives, and the best of Norwegian hospitality. This was truly a once in a life time trip.

The 2006 Nordfjordlag Stevne was held on Sunday, September 17 at the Green Lake Bible Camp in Spicer, Minnesota. Entertainment was provided by Dassel Leikarring Scandinavian Folk Dancers, Kjell & Elaine Nordlie - Directors.

The 2007 Nordfjordlag Stevne was held on Sunday, September 16 at the Green Lake Bible Camp in Spicer, Minnesota. Entertainment was provided by Anderson family.

We look forward to seeing you at the Nordfjordlag Stevne on September 21, 2008 at the Green Lake Bible Camp in Spicer MN. Encourage family and friends to attend. In fact we challenge each member to bring along at least one new possible member to the 2008 stevne. With the price of gas climbing why not invite your friends and fellow members to car pool with you?

For our program this year we are pleased to have Christian Skjervold coming to speak to us on the Norwegian Resistance Movement. Anyone who has heard him will tell you that this is not something you would want to miss. The information below gives you a little information on Christian and his topic:

VITA

Christian K. Skjervold II Home Address: 7389 Memory Lane NE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55432
Telephone: 763-786-2427
e-mail cskjervold@worldnet.att.net

PERSONAL:

Born: September 3, 1937, Tracy, Minnesota
Marital Status: Married, two children, and wife: Betsy Anne

EDUCATION:

University of Minnesota, Bachelor of Science, 1959, Major: Education (Soc. St./English)
University of Minnesota, Bachelor of Arts, 1960, Major: History Minor: Political Science
University of Minnesota, Master of Arts, 1965, Major: History Minor: Political Science
University of Oslo, Norway, 1961-62, 1966-67. Graduate Program University of Minnesota, Doctoral work in History and Education

RECOGNITION:

Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit.
November 12, 2002,

CREDENTIALS:

Minnesota Teaching Certificate
Social Studies 7-12 Life Certificate
English 7-12 Life Certificate
Norwegian 7-12 Life Certificate
Det Kongelige Undervisningsdepartement (Royal Norwegian Ministry of Education)
Faglaerer Kompetanse i Historie (Teaching competence, in History)

"AWARDS FOR SCHOLARSHIP

Fulbright-Hayes Grant for graduate study in Norway
Bush Foundation Leadership Training Institute
Instructional Development Institute

All for Norway: The Military Resistance in World War II

Christian K. Skjervold II

The history of Norway and the Second World War is primarily the history of resistance, both against the occupying power -Germany- and against the small but dangerous group of Norwegian Nazis and collaborators. The main theme of this period is, without doubt, the resistance movement as organized and carried out by the Homefront leaders in Norway and by the legal government in London. The movement's origins, growth, organization, and widening scope, along with its manifold activities gave Norway a small but significant place in the final allied victory. The activity of the Homefront was of particular importance to the Norwegians as they could honestly feel that liberation had partially come about as a result of their initiative and not only as a gift from others.

While it is true that Norwegian resistance in part, particularly in the first year of the war, was of a passive holding nature there was a strong undercurrent of a more active resistance which led to the establishment of a military resistance (Military Organization -Milorg) not duplicated in any other land. Milorg was not known by the -"knife in the dark" -type of resistance but rather as a legitimate military force. And in the course of the war it grew to be the fourth arm of the Norwegian military establishment, alongside the Army, Navy and Air Force. There was in Norway, more so than in other occupied nations, a clear demarcation between the military and civilian arms of the resistance. Milorg at no time had thoughts of becoming a government outside of: the constitutional framework. There was cooperation between Milorg and (Sivilorg) the Civilian resistance and between Milorg and the government in London. Milorg had no political aims. Its only goal was the liberation of Norway, and the re-establishment of the legal government.

Milorg is the peculiar Norwegian example of a general international phenomenon, the resistance to German Occupation, and collaboration during World War II. In Norway, there was by the end of the Second World War, one resistance under one leadership with one goal in mind. There were few if any political divisions within the resistance. And those divisions which did exist within the resistance were for the sake of administration and the efficient carrying out of tasks rather than of principle, method, or goals. The Norwegian resistance was built in detail, compartmentalized and centralized. This is what makes Norway a unique example of resistance movements

Lag dues are still only $5 per year! So register now! You don't have much to loose and so much to gain by joining. We are looking forward to our 100th year as a lag and are beginning to look at plans for another trip to Norway sometime in the 2009-2010 time frame.

Green Lake Bible Camp is located on the south side of Green Lake, just over 1 mile east of Kandiyohi County Road 8. The address is 9916 Lake Avenue South (building on north side of the road) and the Bible Camp Chapel (Stave Church) is located just across Lake Avenue on the south side of the road.

If you are interested in joining our lag or if you would like more information, please contact one or more of the following: