Radiohola
Encyclopedia
Radiohòla is a natural shelter used by the Norwegian resistance during the second world war
. It served as a hiding place for a radio that brought news from the British
, during a time of which radios were banned and the German occupants
arrested and prosecuted those found in possession of one.
, 1.5–2 kilometres inland, on the edge of the forest. It has no roads, but a small path leading up to it is used by the local population as well as tourists. A proper road, as well as a parking lot big enough to fit tourist buses, is scheduled to be completed in 2011.
The cave itself is on the top of a small clearing surrounded by trees, and can not be seen from low ground, which made it an ideal hiding place for the resistance.
began in 1940, the Germans banned the use of radios in Norway, to prevent the Norwegian people from getting news and information about the war from British broadcasts. However, the resistance kept several radios hidden around in the country, one of which was kept in Radiohola, where the local villagers and resistance members would listen to news from the Norwegian government that were exiled in Britain, and spread the news word-to-mouth. After the war ended in 1945, the cave would remain untouched for a long time, until 1990, when a memorial was built outside the cave. At the same time, a wooden platform and sitting area was constructed, to allow memorial events and services to be held, as well as providing sitting for tourists and other visitors.
Today, the cave is one of the most popular tourist sites on Halsnøy
, with several hundred visitors every month during the summer. The locals also use the cave frequently for outdoor arrangements, as well as an annual war memorial service held on the weekend closest to May 8, which is Liberation Day
in Norway.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It served as a hiding place for a radio that brought news from the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, during a time of which radios were banned and the German occupants
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
arrested and prosecuted those found in possession of one.
Location and accessibility
The cave is located on the island of HalsnøyHalsnøy
Halsnøy is an island in Sunnhordland in the county of Hordaland, Norway. It has c. 2,500 inhabitants, and is 38 square kilometres in area. It is the most populated island in Kvinnherad and was until 2008 the most populated island in Norway without a direct connection to land.- History :It was...
, 1.5–2 kilometres inland, on the edge of the forest. It has no roads, but a small path leading up to it is used by the local population as well as tourists. A proper road, as well as a parking lot big enough to fit tourist buses, is scheduled to be completed in 2011.
The cave itself is on the top of a small clearing surrounded by trees, and can not be seen from low ground, which made it an ideal hiding place for the resistance.
History
The cave is situated on the topside of several farms, and were prior to the second World War used as a natural shelter by animals and farmers. Very little information of its use prior to the 1930s exist. After the occupationOccupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
began in 1940, the Germans banned the use of radios in Norway, to prevent the Norwegian people from getting news and information about the war from British broadcasts. However, the resistance kept several radios hidden around in the country, one of which was kept in Radiohola, where the local villagers and resistance members would listen to news from the Norwegian government that were exiled in Britain, and spread the news word-to-mouth. After the war ended in 1945, the cave would remain untouched for a long time, until 1990, when a memorial was built outside the cave. At the same time, a wooden platform and sitting area was constructed, to allow memorial events and services to be held, as well as providing sitting for tourists and other visitors.
Today, the cave is one of the most popular tourist sites on Halsnøy
Halsnøy
Halsnøy is an island in Sunnhordland in the county of Hordaland, Norway. It has c. 2,500 inhabitants, and is 38 square kilometres in area. It is the most populated island in Kvinnherad and was until 2008 the most populated island in Norway without a direct connection to land.- History :It was...
, with several hundred visitors every month during the summer. The locals also use the cave frequently for outdoor arrangements, as well as an annual war memorial service held on the weekend closest to May 8, which is Liberation Day
Liberation Day
Liberation Day is a day, often a public holiday, that marks the liberation of a place, similar to an independence day. Liberation marks the date of either a revolution, as in Cuba, or the end of an occupation by another state, thereby differing from independence in the meaning of secession from...
in Norway.