when 'The Moon Is Down'

Published in March 1942 The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck hasn't exactly stood the test of time, similar to the movie Red Dawn it focuses on the occupation of a single small town in Northern Europe by a state which is at war with England and Russia obviously referring to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany in World War II, the book even goes on to refer back to Germans humiliation after their defeat in World War I.



While for the time it was published the book was an inspiration showing a discontinued struggle with a growing resistance force of the town against the invaders, the mayor character who is forced to collaborate with the Nazi's stating "to break man’s spirit permanently is impossible!"

The historical background when this book was published was one of significance of the turning point of World War II, Western Europe had been conquered (except for England) and the war in the east was only just beginning to turn against the Nazi's after they were halted at the gates of Moscow and the same month the British launched the St Nazaire Raid.

The book was way before its time and shows the true spirit of man and in the end was right in stating that it would take time but the people would win over the evil presented by fascism, it did what it was written to do, and that was motivate and enthuse the resistance movements in occupied Europe, while it did this history shows (especially in Norway and France) that the will of the people is always stronger than the guns, the tanks and the planes of an evil empire.

Also it's a good book in the context of ordinary human beings and their ability against overwhelming odds to overcome them no matter how oppressed they are or how long it takes.

the story of the Donau

Known as the 'slave ship' in Norway during World War II the Donau was a 9,000 ton transport ship used by the Kriegsmarine between Nazi Germany and World War II.

Although a transport ship when the war started, it was later requisitioned for war duty and outfitted with anti aircraft guns and depth charges.

It was used by the SS and the Gestapo operating in Norway to transport 540 Jews from their home where they would be then moved to Auschwitz in Poland, whilst on the Donua Jewish men and women were put in separate holds, there they were deprived of basic sanitary and treated badly at the hands of the soldiers.

When the Allies were getting the upper hand over the Germans the Donau was seen by the Norwegian resistance as a very dangerous threat to the RAF, so while it was docked in Oslo Harbor Roy Nilsen from Milorg and Max Manus (who had already sunk another vitally important German ship) from Kompani Linge planted ten limpet mines on the port side of the Donau in the maximally secured harbor getting away Scott-free.

The departure of the Donau from Oslo Harbor was delayed however meaning that the limpet mines detonated before the ship reached its destination (Drøbak).



The captain managed to beach her however where it lay until seven years after the war.

* Photos from the Norwegian movie Max Manus

** A picture of the real ship