Fritjof is a ten-year-old living in a fishing village in Norway, when the Second World War reaches his country. When his father goes to war, Fritjof must contribute to supporting his family. Together with his Uncle Arne, he goes out fishing, taking his father's place on the boat.
His first meeting with German soldiers surprises Fritjof, because they not only buy all their fish, they are also really friendly. At first, he and his uncle work for the Germans, but what they are paid can scarcely feed his family. Fritjof decides not to sell his share to the Germans and quickly discovers the other side of the 'friendly' occupiers. Nonetheless on their next trip, he tries to convince Arne not to sell their catch to the Germans and to keep it for themselves. But Arne warns him of the consequences. It is better if they co-operate. But Fritjof no longer wants to accept the situation and instead goes against the occupying forces – with far-reaching consequences for him and his family…
The Germans occupied Norway in April 1940 and initiated a system of Gleichschaltung, the Nazification of the state through suppression and persecution. It was especially the rationing of food and the economic exploitation of the land occupation brought that had most impact on everyday life in Norway. The second episode delves into the question as to what it meant/means to live in an occupied country or under foreign rule and the related question as to how one should deal with that.
Tha Fritjof (10) a’ fuireach ann am baile iasgaich ann an Nirribhidh mun àm a ruigeas an Dàrna Cogadh an dùthaich sin. Tha athair a’ sabaid sa chogadh agus feumaidh Fritjof taic a chumail ri theaghlach. Bidh e a’ dol a-mach a dh’iasgach còmhla ri Uncail Arne, a’ gabhail àite athair air an eathar. Tha na saighdearan Gearmailteach a’ cur ioghnadh mòr air Fritjof a’ chiad turas a choinnicheas e riutha, oir chan e a-mhàin gun ceannaich iad na tha aige de dh’iasg ach tha coltas càirdeil orra cuideachd. An-toiseach tha e fhèin agus uncail ag obair dha na Gearmailtich ach tha am pàigheadh cho beag ’s gur gann a thèid aca air an teaghlach a bheathachadh. An uair a dhiùltas Fritjof a’ chuid fhèin den iasg a reic ri na Gearmailtich, tha am balach a’ faicinn taobh eile dhe na còmhnaichean “càirdeil”. A dh’aindheoin sin tha e a’ feuchainn ri toirt air Arne gun an t-iasg aca a reic ri na Gearmailtich agus a chumail dhaibh pèin. Tha Arne a’ toirt dha rabhadh agus a’ moladh co-oibreachadh le na Gearmailtich. Ge-tà, chan eil Fritjof deònach gabhail ris an t-suidheachadh, agus nuair a thèid e an aghaidh nam feachdan coimheach, tha bhuil air a bheatha fhèin agus beatha an teaghlaich.
Nuair a ghèill Nirribhidh do na Gearmailtich anns a’ Ghiblein 1940 stèidhich na Gearmailtich siostam air an robh Gleichschaltung, a bha a’ sparradh feallsanachd Nadsaidh air an stàit tro mhùchadh agus geur-leanmhainn. Ge-tà, ’s e an raiseanadh bidhe agus an smachd air fearann a thàinig an cois an ionnsaigh, a bu mhotha a thug buaidh air beatha làitheil na dùthcha. Show less