Photos
Interviews
Thoralf asked about his part in the resistance
Watching dog fights from the hill near the house
Meeting with the Ambassador
Family Recipies
Frystekake Recipe
Crust:
¾ cups butter
¾ cups sugar
2 tablespoon milk
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups flour
Filling:
1-1/4 cups unblanched almonds
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon cardamom
1 egg white
4 tablespoons water
Mix dough and roll out on a floured surface to a ¼ inch think. Place in a round pan and cut off excess. Excess will be used later for the topping. Chop the almonds to a fine texture and mix with the rest of the filling ingredients. Pour into the crust. Take remaining dough and roll out to 1/8 inch think. Then cut into strips about 1-1/4 inches wide. Place strips in an alternating woven pattern on top and place in preheated oven at 325 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool and enjoy.
Your book was recommended by the 99 infantry Battalion of World War II… The Viking battalion! My father was a member of this special unit having been born in Norway but living in North Dakota when the war broke out. This book is excellent and a wonderful story relating all the history of the WWII in Norway along with your family’s trials of survival during the war. Thank you for sharing your father’s story and the photos also! !
Sonia, Thank you for your kind words about Occupied. I just started reading more about the Viking Battalion and have found it very interesting. My father was part of the XU but his Onkel Tarald was believed to be part of the MILORG and worked with British trained Norwegian commandos. This was only my fathers speculation but you, having read the book, may have noticed that he was a great influence on the boys when they first arrived but missing from my fathers journal from the wars start until the very end.
Kurt Blorstad
Hi Kurt! I loved your book! Dawn recommended it to me and I am so thankful she did. Amazing family story and who knew I’d find recipes and photos here too! Great work.
Hi Catherine! Sorry for the slow reply. As you can imagine life is a little screwy these days. I’m glad you enjoyed my book and thank you for taking the time to say so. Let me know if there is any part of the book you had questions about and I will be glad to answer them. Also soon I will be posting one of my Zoom book club presentations on the website and in that I do a short power point presentation and then there is a discussion and Q&A.
Kurt Blorstad
Hello Kurt. Just finished your book, which i enjoyed very much. I have relatives in Norway who lived this, and my dad’s cousin was in the 99th (“Viking Spy”. I’ve read various books like “Norway 1940, ” Skis Against Atoms” and “Shetland” but wanted to read what it might have been like for my relatives, day in and day out during the war. Thank you for sharing.
Just read and enjoyed. Thank you. I wrote a longer comment but then it didn’t post.?? Suffice now to say “thanjs for insight into what life was probably like for my family in Norway at that time. And that’s why I wanted to read it.
Kurt,
Loved your story! Having a grandfather who was 14 and the oldest of 8 children when they emigrated from Stavanger in 1925, Norway, it’s people and history are forever imbedded in my DNA. I see your grandparents first arrived in 1925, at least your Bestemor. 😉 My great-grandmother was very pregnant when they received their Visa to immigrate. As they had been waiting for this “golden ticket,” they decided to go ahead. She died a few days after they arrived in Northern Illinois after delivering twins, both of whom were stillborn, or died shortly after birth. My husband’s grandfather was born in the States and they, too, returned to Norway for a time. They were from Hydra, not far from Kristiansand. So many connections.
Of course, your book resonates after watching Atlantic Crossing on PBS. That’s how I found your book. After watching the series, I searched for books about Norway during WWII. Your book popped up. Norway’s story is often left off much of the WWII history. I found myself with emotional tears in my eyes watching the attack on Norway in the show. Your book helped to get a feel for what our family members in Norway went through during the German occupation.
Thank you for sharing your family story.
Dana
Dana, Thank you sharing your family story, even the sad parts. My relatives each told me what it was like the first days of the war but like you, I found that the Atlantic Crossing’s first episode made it that much more vivid for me. I think the 12th Man did a better job at showing how brutal the Germans were and how most Norwegians were willing to help fight back even with the risks to them and their families.
Just finished your book. I live in Norway (neighboring farm to Uncle Tharald) I will be passing it on to my mom who is the same age as Odd and played with him as children. Your book painted a picture of what went on during the war but is not talked about by the older generation. Looking forward to discussing the book with my mom and hope to hear her story.
Hello June, I am sorry it took me so long to reply. Please send me your email address as I have many photos to share and maybe your mom can help me identify some of the people in the photos.
I very much enjoyed your book! My family comes from Norway so I’m always interested in things connected to that country. This was a great story about some very brave people!