workingclasshistory:

On this day, 21 May 1941, a strike began of actors in Norway against Nazi occupation. Many actors, who were unwilling to perform after the Nazis took over broadcasting, had previously signed a secret pledge to go on strike if any artist was fired for political reasons. Six actors refused to work on the radio when ordered to by Nazi authorities including Tore Segelcke, Lillemor von Hanno, Gerda Ring and Elisabeth Gording (pictured, clockwise from top left). On 21 May they were summoned to Oslo police HQ for interrogation, and all had their work permits revoked. That evening, workers walked out, shutting down every theatre in the capital. By the following day, the strike had spread to Bergen and Trondheim. The Gestapo began threatening the actors, but they voted overwhelmingly to continue the strike. On 24 May, German authorities gave an ultimatum to the workers, and began arresting union representatives. But even after this, and being threatened with the death penalty, the strike continued for 5 weeks. In the wake of the dispute, the Nazis decided to take complete control of theatres, but the general public had no interest in fascist “entertainment” and so boycotted them.
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