THEY CAME AS FRIENDS

This, as far as I know, is the first general book about occupied Norway. Sigrid told part of the story; the Mayor of Narvik told another part; novels probably based on fact presented various facets. But this reads as authentic, straightforward, unaccented handling -- from 1940 on, following the German invasion. For two months a freedom loving peoplehose war, in spite of unpreparedness, rather than Quisling then, after succumbing, they encountered a front of friendliness, soon to be replaced by hostility, and met it with silent resistance and mockery. He traces the steps by which the Nasis tried to break the people, striking at labor, the church, the schools, finally -- through Heydrich -- the installation of a reign of terror. He tells of Norway's counter-opposition, underground propaganda machine, country-wide unity of spirit and action, protesting the Nazi regime. Interesting, revealing reading.