Gudbrandsdal War Museum

About

On the 9th of April 1940, German troops landed in Norway. We were at war, and the battle to avoid invasion lasted for two months. The german army reached Gudbrandsdalen 21st of April 1940 with the battle of Tretten and Gausdal. On the 25th and 26th of April, Kvam in Gudbrandsdalen became the centre of one of the most serious battles in southern Norway. During this bitter fight between German and British troops, some 70 buildings were burned to the ground and among them was the church in Kvam. Gudbrandsdalen 1940 was the first ground battle between German and British forces in WW2. The Battle of Kringen on the 26th of August 1612, involved an ambush by Norwegian peasant militia of Scottish mercenary soldiers who were on their way to enlist in the Swedish army for the Kalmar War. George Sinclair was ambushed by Norwegian militia along with 300 of his men while marching through Norway to join the army of the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus. Sinclair, riding at the head of the column and wearing a plumed helmet, was the first to fall; he was shot by Sjelstad, a Norwegian militiaman. The officers, including the expedition leader, Colonel Ramsey, were ransomed while the remaining 15 survivors were conscripted into the Danish army. These are the historic events on which the Gudbrandsdal War Memorial Exhibition is based. The exhibition opened on the 5th of May 1995, and provides a unique insight into the acts of war, occupation and defence in Gudbrandsdalen.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes