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The Battlefields of Kaprolat & Hasselmann revisited 2003 & 2005 |
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The battle of Kaprolat and Hasselmann heights is the fiercest and most violent battle any Norwegian military unit has experienced in modern warfare. The losses experienced accounted for a significant portion of the Norwegian volunteer losses during World War 2.
When the SS Skijegerbataljon was forced to retreat during the battle they left behind their fallen comrades not knowing how many were taken prisoner and what would happen to their friends that they knew had given their lives. In the wake of this chaos, there was little or no possibilities to go back. And less then 1 year later the war was over, and other worries would prevail among the survivors and the Iron Curtain closed this area from the rest of the World.
But the thought was always there. At some time someone had to go back and bring home the human remains and bring closure to this chapter of Norwegian history.
It wasn’t until 2003 that someone would find their way to these remote hills again. For most previous years they had been behind the Iron Curtain effectively guarded by the Soviet Union, and in addition to being in a very remoter area not accessible without very good planning. An expedition of Norwegian and Russian historians made the trek to this battlefield during 2003 and later in 2005. What they found were the hills just as they were left by the Russian soldiers, but of course with what 60 years of age does. The soldiers were found exactly where they fell, Norwegian as well as Russian. Weapons, bunkers, equipment, personal belongings……
Very early it became clear that someone had to take a stand on what to do with the remains of over 100 Norwegian citizens that were found. Many were identified by their dog tags, wedding rings, etc. and their families in Norway were notified. The rest could of course with today's technology be identified with DNA analysis. It was hope that this could bring closure to families, friends and others that for some many years had been living in uncertainty.
Family members of the fallen soldiers contacted the Prime Minister of Norway, Kjell Magne Bondevik with a request if the Norwegian Government could be helpful in bringing these Norwegians back to Norwegian soil. Mr. Bondevik, the Prime Minister one of the Worlds richest nations and also a minister by profession, cynically replied back to their families that this would be the responsibility of Germany. It is easy to ask yourself if after all these years bringing closure for Norwegian taxpayers weighed anything or if this was yet another way to keep on the punishment. That these soldiers already had paid the ultimate price for making the wrong decisions in their life did not seem to count, and it was clear that this overruled their citizenship.
The remains of several soldiers were brought back to their families in Norway through private funding. It wasn’t until March 2007 that the Norwegian Government decided that they would take some responsibility for these forgotten Norwegian soldiers. They then provided NOK 1,000,000 (about US$ 160,000) that will be used for finding the remains of the soldiers and give them a proper grave in Russia. Ironically enough, it is the country they fought that will grant them their last resting place. May be this is a good sign that the relations between Norway and Russia now are on good neighborly terms and that Norwegians and Russians never again will fight against each other in war.
The graphic photos shown below are all taken from Kaprolat and Hasselmann during the 2003 and 2005 expeditions. While everyone agrees that this a very pretty and scenic place that gives a good frame for a gravesite, it should be clear that this is not the way we would like to leave the remains of loved ones exposed to the elements.
All photos courtesy of Tommy Natedal & Andrey Lysenko. |
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The Kaprolat Hill |
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The trenches covered by nature after 60 years. |
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UPDATE: |
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The Norwegian Government has recently turned and granted a sum of money to identify the human remains found at Kaprolat and Hasselmann as well as to locate other missing Norwegian volunteers in the area. Through DNA testing the remains of Ran Lykke Himberg was identified. The Norwegian consulate in St. Petersburg organized that the remains were sent back to his family in Lillesand.
Further, the remains of additional 28 Norwegian volunteers have been removed from the site and are being stored outside of St.Petersburg under the administration of the Russian War Grave Services and assisted by the Norwegian Consulate in St.Petersburg. These remains are stored in small numbered coffins under care by Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge and are awaiting identification which is expected to take place some time in 2008. |
