The seminar «75 Years of the Liberation of Northern Norway from the Nazi Invaders by the USSR Army»

On 25 October 2019, a seminar was held at the museum to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Northern Norway from the Nazi invaders. The seminar was organized by the General Consulate of the Kingdom of Norway in Saint-Petersburg.

The seminar began with a welcoming speech by the General Director of the museum, Evgeny Artemov, who noted that the State Museum of Political History has always aimed to show the true facts about the Second World War. He expressed his gratitude to the Norwegian and Russian historians whose work contributes to strengthening relations between these two countries.

The General Consul of the Kingdom of Norway in Saint-Petersburg, Mr. Doug Malmer Halvorsen, recalled that exactly 75 years ago, the inhabitants of East Finnmark welcomed the Soviet liberators. The war left a heavy mark on Northern Norway. «More than 6,000 Soviet soldiers gave their lives for our freedom, and we will not forget them. We have not only a common border, we have common interests and common hopes», - said the General Consul.

The guests watched a documentary film about the Petsamo-Kirkenes operation, created by historian Ruslan Tikhomirov. Then the author of the film answered the questions of the audience.

Kari Aga Muklebust, a historian from Trumse University, shared her views on the 75 years ago events. Alexander Chapenko, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor of the History and Law Department of Murmansk Arctic State University, presented the point of view.

At the end of the program the a musical surprise waited for the guests from Galina Sidorenko (mezzo-soprano) and Stanislav Solovyov (piano), who performed music pieces by Irgens-Jensen, Weil and Dunayevsky written in the wartime.