Oslo, Norway

We walked and walked dnd walked in the rain, all over Oslo. We stopped at City Hall, the old Fortress, the History Museum and the Resistance Museum. What a day and great way to conclude the trip.

The Snartemo Sword is one of Norway's most spectacular archaeological finds. Discovered in a Migration Period grave (c. 550 AD) – a golden age in Norwegian history 300 years before the Viking Age - it tells two tales: as a chieftain’s status symbol and as Nazi propaganda for their false myth of the Aryan race. The sword's owner must have been an exceptionally powerful man. Buried at Snartemo in Agder on a bearskin in fine clothing, he was surrounded by weapons, tools, a Roman glass cup – and an extraordinary sword. The sword is unique with its decorated gold plates and gilded silver. We find mythological figures connected to Odin and the ruling ideology of the time. The ring on the hilt likely symbolizes an oath between the chieftain and his loyal men. No other swords like this exist in Northern Europe from this era. The grave also held woven bands with swastikas – an ancient sun symbol. The Nazis misused this for their racist propaganda. After the German invasion on April 9, 1940, the new authorities tried to obtain the Snartemo Sword. But the Historical Museum had already hidden its most valuable artifacts in a bank vault in Valdres.

Norway's Resistance Museum was founded by several key figures from the organisations that made up the resistance, both civilian and military. Their aim was to strengthen the collective will to defend national freedom and to promote continued support for our democratic values.

At the top of Akershus Fortress, you’ll find the museum, which has been operated by the Norwegian Armed Forces since 1995. The museum’s mission is to enhance knowledge of the occupation period by collecting, preserving, and presenting objects, photographs, and documents. Through its impressive archive collection, the museum documents the history of the resistance from 1940 to 1945 – a story that still carries important lessons for our time.

Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle in the Norwegian capital Oslo that was built to protect and provide a royal residence for the city. The castle has also been used as a military base, a prison and is currently the temporary office of the prime minister of Norway.Read more