{"id":2999,"date":"2019-12-18T22:45:08","date_gmt":"2019-12-18T22:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/?post_type=artikler&#038;p=2999"},"modified":"2025-09-01T11:21:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T11:21:52","slug":"kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two","status":"publish","type":"artikler","link":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Kirkenes was a battleground in World War Two"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-ingress\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vnn__ingress\">\n\t\t\t\tSeventy years ago, Kirkenes found itself on the front line of one of the coldest, hardest and most merciless theatres of World War II: the Murmansk front.\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">During the brief military campaign in Norway in 1940, Kirkenes was far removed from the military actions, and the town was occupied by the German forces in June 1940 without much ado. The situation changed in the summer of 1941, however, when North-Eastern Norway became the staging area for the German assault on the Soviet Union. The target for the German Wehrmacht was the harbour city of Murmansk, just 200 km from the border. However, at Litsaelva \u2013 halfway between Kirkenes and Murmansk \u2013 the offensive ground to a halt and hardly made any further progress during almost three years of hostilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-3\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_9766-1-2.jpg\" data-size=\"1197x800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_9766-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"In Kirkenes you can visit the museum telling you the stories from the area \u00a9 Trym Ivar Bergsmo\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_9766-1-2.jpg\" data-caption=\"In Kirkenes you can visit the museum telling you the stories from the area \u00a9 Trym Ivar Bergsmo\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_0869-2.jpg\" data-size=\"600x800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_0869-2.jpg\" alt=\"Look into a little alley in historic Troms\u00f8, with a view to the mainland \u00a9 Knut Hansvold\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_0869-2.jpg\" data-caption=\"Look into a little alley in historic Troms\u00f8, with a view to the mainland \u00a9 Knut Hansvold\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_1676-2.jpg\" data-size=\"1067x800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">03<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_1676-2-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"View across Troms\u00f8\u2019s Inner Harbour, where the midnight sun plays hide and seek among the buildings. \u00a9 Knut Hansvold\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_1676-2.jpg\" data-caption=\"View across Troms\u00f8\u2019s Inner Harbour, where the midnight sun plays hide and seek among the buildings. \u00a9 Knut Hansvold\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: In Kirkenes you can visit the museum telling you the stories from the area \u00a9 Trym Ivar Bergsmo<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: Look into a little alley in historic Troms\u00f8, with a view to the mainland \u00a9 Knut Hansvold<\/figcaption><figcaption>03: View across Troms\u00f8\u2019s Inner Harbour, where the midnight sun plays hide and seek among the buildings. \u00a9 Knut Hansvold<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One of the most frequently bombed towns in Europe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Kirkenes found itself in a very exposed position, and was subjected to constant bombing attacks from the hard-pressed Soviet forces. The air raid sirens sounded more than 1,000 times in Kirkenes, and the town was actually bombed over 300 times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The worst attack of all took place on 4 July 1944, when 140 houses were left in flames following a comprehensive Soviet assault. Kirkenes became one of the most frequently bombed towns on the European mainland \u2013 second only to Valletta on Malta. During the bombing raids people sought safety in Andersgrotta, an air-raid shelter in the centre of the town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">South Varanger was a battlefield arena<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before the war, the population of the Municipality of South Varanger numbered 7,000. Around half a million German troops fought on the Murmansk front on Soviet, Finnish and Norwegian territory. On the Litsa front, around 200,000 German soldiers were engaged in military action for most of the period. Of these, around 70\u2013100,000 were billeted in the Kirkenes area at any given time. Up to 65,000 Soviet prisoners of war were held in horrific conditions in 60 POW camps in South Varanger.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-2\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eclipse_2011-06-01_9011-2.jpg\" data-size=\"1195x800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eclipse_2011-06-01_9011-2.jpg\" alt=\"Towards the russian border \u00a9 Trym Ivar Bergsmo\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eclipse_2011-06-01_9011-2.jpg\" data-caption=\"Towards the russian border \u00a9 Trym Ivar Bergsmo\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_0141-2.jpg\" data-size=\"1197x800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_0141-2-768x513.jpg\" alt=\"Road signs in Kirkenes \u00a9 Trym Ivar Bergsmo\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_0141-2.jpg\" data-caption=\"Road signs in Kirkenes \u00a9 Trym Ivar Bergsmo\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: Towards the russian border \u00a9 Trym Ivar Bergsmo<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: Road signs in Kirkenes \u00a9 Trym Ivar Bergsmo<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The forces retreated swiftly but destructively <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In autumn 1944, the German Wehrmacht finally withdrew from the Litsa front. Finland pulled out of its alliance with Germany, and it became impossible to hold Finnmark. The Germans retreated and burned what little remained of the buildings in Kirkenes. On 25 October 1944, Kirkenes was the first place in Norway to be liberated by the Red Army, and the soldiers were given a heroes\u2019 welcome by the local population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">There are traces all over the place<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During three years of hostilities, hundreds of thousands of people left their mark on this remote Arctic landscape. In the centre of Kirkenes stands a monument in memory of the brave Soviet soldier \u2013 in unmistakably Soviet style. The Borderland Museum puts the campaign in perspective. A guided tour of the Andersgrotta bomb shelter (the engineer who built it was called Anders) provides a physical sense of the war. In Vaggetem in Pasvikdalen, you can visit a well-preserved POW camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n<div class=\"vnn__byline vnn-grid has-no-author has-no-date has-tags\"><div class=\"vnn__byline-tags\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_se-og-gjore=culture-and-history\" rel=\"tag\">Culture and history<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_se-og-gjore=worldwar2\" rel=\"tag\">World War II<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_omrder=kirkenes\" rel=\"tag\">Kirkenes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_sesonger=autumn\" rel=\"tag\">Autumn<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_sesonger=spring\" rel=\"tag\">Spring<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_sesonger=summer\" rel=\"tag\">Summer<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_sesonger=winter\" rel=\"tag\">Winter<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_fasiliteter=groups\" rel=\"tag\">Groups<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div data-wp-context=\"{}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/query\" data-wp-key=\"0\" data-wp-router-region=\"query-0\" class=\"wp-block-query alignwide\"><ul class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-template t2-grid\"><li data-wp-key=\"post-template-item-13403\" class=\"wp-block-post t2-grid-item-col-4 post-13403 artikler type-artikler status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry todo-activities todo-archeology-and-early-history todo-coastal-culture todo-culture-and-history todo-hiking todo-hiking-trips todo-worldwar2 facilities-family-friendly facilities-sustainability season-autumn season-summer region-harstad malgrupper-heritage-explorer malgrupper-leave-no-tracer malgrupper-local-insider malgrupper-nature-lover\"><div class=\"t2-featured-template-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-activities todo-archeology-and-early-history todo-coastal-culture todo-culture-and-history todo-hiking todo-hiking-trips todo-worldwar2 facilities-family-friendly facilities-sustainability season-autumn season-summer region-harstad malgrupper-heritage-explorer malgrupper-leave-no-tracer malgrupper-local-insider malgrupper-nature-lover wp-block-t2-featured-template-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/the-culture-path-from-skallan-to-ra-is-a-pastoral-idyll-with-grand-fjord-views\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Sommerfjosgrenda5-768x432.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tHarstad\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>The culture path from Skallan to R\u00e5 is a pastoral idyll with grand fjord views<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tCulture and history\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li><li data-wp-key=\"post-template-item-8680\" class=\"wp-block-post t2-grid-item-col-4 post-8680 artikler type-artikler status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry todo-attractions todo-culture-and-history todo-worldwar2 season-autumn season-spring season-summer season-winter region-harstad malgrupper-heritage-explorer\"><div class=\"t2-featured-template-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-attractions todo-culture-and-history todo-worldwar2 season-autumn season-spring season-summer season-winter region-harstad malgrupper-heritage-explorer wp-block-t2-featured-template-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/a-soviet-prisoner-of-war-tells-his-story\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1188\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Konstantin-Severdintsev-768x1188.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tHarstad\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>A Soviet prisoner of war tells his story<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tWorld War II\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li><li data-wp-key=\"post-template-item-3099\" class=\"wp-block-post t2-grid-item-col-4 post-3099 artikler type-artikler status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry todo-archeology-and-early-history todo-architecture todo-culture-and-history todo-worldwar2 facilities-universal-accessibility season-autumn season-spring season-summer region-harstad malgrupper-culture-lover malgrupper-culture-specialist malgrupper-heritage-explorer\"><div class=\"t2-featured-template-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-archeology-and-early-history todo-architecture todo-culture-and-history todo-worldwar2 facilities-universal-accessibility season-autumn season-spring season-summer region-harstad malgrupper-culture-lover malgrupper-culture-specialist malgrupper-heritage-explorer wp-block-t2-featured-template-post\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/historical-walks-on-trondenes\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/003053_Baard-Loeken_www.nordnorge.com_-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tHarstad\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Historical walks on Trondenes<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tWorld War II\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":6008,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_searchwp_excluded":"","vnn_header_layout":"featured","vnn_header_layout_image_id":6007,"vnn_header_layout_image_focal_point_x":0.48,"vnn_header_layout_image_focal_point_y":0.61940298507463,"vnn_header_layout_description":"","vnn_header_layout_url":"","vnn_header_layout_url_text":"","vnn_header_layout_photographer":"\u00a9 Trym Ivar Bergsmo","vnn_header_layout_video_id":"","vnn_header_layout_yt_id":"","vnn_header_layout_vimeo_id":"","teft_location_geodata_lat":69.724011108558,"teft_location_geodata_lng":30.053327208789,"teft_cards_image_id":6008,"teft_cards_image_focal_point_x":0.6,"teft_cards_image_focal_point_y":0.47014925373134,"teft_cards_title":"","teft_cards_excerpt":"","footnotes":""},"todo":[19,82],"facilities":[5],"season":[6,8,7,16],"region":[68],"malgrupper":[22,73],"class_list":["post-2999","artikler","type-artikler","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","todo-culture-and-history","todo-worldwar2","facilities-groups","season-autumn","season-spring","season-summer","season-winter","region-kirkenes","malgrupper-culture-lover","malgrupper-culture-specialist"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.5 (Yoast SEO v25.3.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Kirkenes was a battleground in World War Two - Visit Northern Norway<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Seventy years ago, Kirkenes found itself on the front line of one of the coldest, hardest and most merciless theatres of World War II.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kirkenes was a battleground in World War Two\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Seventy years ago, Kirkenes found itself on the front line of one of the coldest, hardest and most merciless theatres of World War II.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Visit Northern Norway\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernNorway\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-01T11:21:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/004228_Trym-Ivar-Bergsmo_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg\" \/><meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/004227_Trym-Ivar-Bergsmo_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/004228_Trym-Ivar-Bergsmo_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@NorthernNorway\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/\",\"name\":\"Kirkenes was a battleground in World War Two - Visit Northern Norway\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/004228_Trym-Ivar-Bergsmo_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-12-18T22:45:08+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-01T11:21:52+00:00\",\"description\":\"Seventy years ago, Kirkenes found itself on the front line of one of the coldest, hardest and most merciless theatres of World War II.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/004228_Trym-Ivar-Bergsmo_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/004228_Trym-Ivar-Bergsmo_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Kirkenes was a battleground in World War Two\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Visit Northern Norway\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Visit Northern Norway\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Logo_Vertikal_EN.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Logo_Vertikal_EN.png\",\"width\":2482,\"height\":1754,\"caption\":\"Visit Northern Norway\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernNorway\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/NorthernNorway\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/northernnorway\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/nordnorsk-reiseliv-as\",\"https:\/\/no.pinterest.com\/northernnorway\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/VisitNorthernNorway\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Kirkenes was a battleground in World War Two - Visit Northern Norway","description":"Seventy years ago, Kirkenes found itself on the front line of one of the coldest, hardest and most merciless theatres of World War II.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Kirkenes was a battleground in World War Two","og_description":"Seventy years ago, Kirkenes found itself on the front line of one of the coldest, hardest and most merciless theatres of World War II.","og_url":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/","og_site_name":"Visit Northern Norway","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernNorway","article_modified_time":"2025-09-01T11:21:52+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/004228_Trym-Ivar-Bergsmo_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""},{"url":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/004227_Trym-Ivar-Bergsmo_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_image":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/004228_Trym-Ivar-Bergsmo_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg","twitter_site":"@NorthernNorway","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/","url":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/","name":"Kirkenes was a battleground in World War Two - Visit Northern Norway","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/004228_Trym-Ivar-Bergsmo_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg","datePublished":"2019-12-18T22:45:08+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-01T11:21:52+00:00","description":"Seventy years ago, Kirkenes found itself on the front line of one of the coldest, hardest and most merciless theatres of World War II.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/004228_Trym-Ivar-Bergsmo_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/004228_Trym-Ivar-Bergsmo_www.nordnorge.com_.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/kirkenes-a-flashpoint-in-world-war-two\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Kirkenes was a battleground in World War Two"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/","name":"Visit Northern Norway","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#organization","name":"Visit Northern Norway","url":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Logo_Vertikal_EN.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Logo_Vertikal_EN.png","width":2482,"height":1754,"caption":"Visit Northern Norway"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernNorway","https:\/\/x.com\/NorthernNorway","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/northernnorway\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/nordnorsk-reiseliv-as","https:\/\/no.pinterest.com\/northernnorway\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/VisitNorthernNorway\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/artikler\/2999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/artikler"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/artikler"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/artikler\/2999\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16041,"href":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/artikler\/2999\/revisions\/16041"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"todo","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/todo?post=2999"},{"taxonomy":"facilities","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/facilities?post=2999"},{"taxonomy":"season","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/season?post=2999"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=2999"},{"taxonomy":"malgrupper","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/malgrupper?post=2999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}