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Folklore Fights the Nazis details how Norwegians kept their sense of humor and their spirits high by poking fun at the Germans who occupied their land during World War II. The book centers on four "joke notebooks" kept by women ranging in age from eleven to thirty, who found sufficient meaning in this humor to risk recording and preserving it, notwithstanding an October 1942 ordinance threatening the death penalty for possessing any form of anti-Nazi propaganda.
In addition to narrative jokes, quips, and anecdotes, author Kathleen Stokker explores the Norwegians' use of symbolic clothing, Christmas cards, children's literature, and mock postage stamps to express anti-Nazi sentiment.
Supplemented by the wartime diaries of three additional women from East, West, and North Norway, respectively, and informed by Stokker's interviews of numerous other occupation survivors, the book contains a wealth of historical detail and personal perspective that belies the traditional historical accounts of Norway's occupation that assume the entire population's immediate and unanimous resistance to Nazism. Instead we find in these unassuming wartime documents far more complex attitudes toward the occupiers and the Norwegian Nazis, attitudes that both in frailty and humanity appear more psychologically valid.
Intended to serve both scholars and the general public, the book, based on eight years of research, includes thorough source annotations and footnotes, as well as a bibliography and index, but is written in a popular style and includes the historical and cultural background necessary to the nonspecialist.
In addition to narrative jokes, quips, and anecdotes, author Kathleen Stokker explores the Norwegians' use of symbolic clothing, Christmas cards, children's literature, and mock postage stamps to express anti-Nazi sentiment.
Supplemented by the wartime diaries of three additional women from East, West, and North Norway, respectively, and informed by Stokker's interviews of numerous other occupation survivors, the book contains a wealth of historical detail and personal perspective that belies the traditional historical accounts of Norway's occupation that assume the entire population's immediate and unanimous resistance to Nazism. Instead we find in these unassuming wartime documents far more complex attitudes toward the occupiers and the Norwegian Nazis, attitudes that both in frailty and humanity appear more psychologically valid.
Intended to serve both scholars and the general public, the book, based on eight years of research, includes thorough source annotations and footnotes, as well as a bibliography and index, but is written in a popular style and includes the historical and cultural background necessary to the nonspecialist.
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About the Author:
Kathleen Stokker is professor of Norwegian at Luther College. She is the co-author (with Odd Haddal) of Norsk, Nordmenn og Norge, the most widely used Norwegian-language textbook series in the United States, also published by the University of Wisconsin Press. Her life-long interest in Norway was stimulated by attending the Oslo International Summer School in 1968 and is increased by annual returns to the country.
Review:
“An indispensable history of a nation’s resistance to occupation. . . . Stokker’s penetrating study shows folk humor as a form of psychological warfare.”—Choice
“Folklore Fights the Nazis concludes that Norwegians—traditionally regarded as serious-minded folks—employed a sly sense of humor at the expense of their invaders, even in the face of possible harsh retaliation.”—Jack Hovelson, Des Moines Register
“Folklore Fights the Nazis concludes that Norwegians—traditionally regarded as serious-minded folks—employed a sly sense of humor at the expense of their invaders, even in the face of possible harsh retaliation.”—Jack Hovelson, Des Moines Register
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherUNKNO
- Publication date1995
- ISBN 10 0838635946
- ISBN 13 9780838635940
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages273
- Rating
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