Vi vil oss et land
Encyclopedia
"Vi vil oss et land" is a famous phrase in the context of Norwegian
nationalism
, derived from a poem by Per Sivle
. It has been evoked by many different groups, including during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
, when an arrest order was issued on the deceased Sivle.
(1857–1904) issued in 1895, ten years before Norway gained its independence. Sivle's poem, titled "Vi vil os et Land -", was published in the poetry collection Bersøglis- og andre Viser
from 1895. It was originally written as the last verse of the occasional poem "Her spirer i Norge", written for a procession in support of universal male suffrage organized by Kristiania
Liberal Party in 1894.
newspaper Norges Kommunistblad
in 1925, and the far-right Fatherland Party
opened the 1997 election
manifesto with a part of the poem. The poem lent its name to a 1936 film, which agitated for the Conservative Party
ahead of the 1936 election
. The opening words of the poem are reportedly written on the tombstone of Liberal Party politician Johannes Steen
, and are also engraved in a portal on an avenue leading to the Eidsvoll Building, where the nationalist-symbolic Constitution of Norway
was drafted and signed.
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
, Vi vil oss et land was the name of one of the first anti-Nazi
illegal newspapers, written by Olav Gjærevoll
, Gunnar Sønsteby
and Max Manus
, among others. A rendition of the poem was staged in 1940 by theatre director Henry Gleditsch
, who ended up being killed by the Nazis. In 1942 the poem was printed in an illegal newspaper based in Bergen
. It was signed with Per Sivle's name, resulting in the Gestapo
issuing an arrest order for him.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
, derived from a poem by Per Sivle
Per Sivle
Per Sivle was a Norwegian poet, novelist and newspaper editor. He is known for his novel Streik from 1891, and for his collections of stories issued between 1887 and 1895, Sogor , Vossa-Stubba, Nye Vossa-stubbar and Sivle-Stubbar...
. It has been evoked by many different groups, including during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
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...
, when an arrest order was issued on the deceased Sivle.
Original use
It is taken from a poem by Per SivlePer Sivle
Per Sivle was a Norwegian poet, novelist and newspaper editor. He is known for his novel Streik from 1891, and for his collections of stories issued between 1887 and 1895, Sogor , Vossa-Stubba, Nye Vossa-stubbar and Sivle-Stubbar...
(1857–1904) issued in 1895, ten years before Norway gained its independence. Sivle's poem, titled "Vi vil os et Land -", was published in the poetry collection Bersøglis- og andre Viser
Bersøglis- og andre Viser
Bersøglis- og andre Viser is a poetry collection published by Norwegian poet Per Sivle in 1895. Among its poems are "Vaar-Von", "Vi vil os et Land -" and "Haust". Literary historian Kristian Elster characterized Bersøglis- og andre Viser as Sivle's most outstanding poetry collection....
from 1895. It was originally written as the last verse of the occasional poem "Her spirer i Norge", written for a procession in support of universal male suffrage organized by Kristiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
Liberal Party in 1894.
Later use
The phrase has been evoked by several very different groups who have appealed to Norwegian nationalism. It was praised as a "delightful poem of liberty" in the Communist Party of NorwayCommunist Party of Norway
The Communist Party of Norway is a political party in Norway without parliamentary representation. It was formed in 1923, following a split in the Norwegian Labour Party. The party played an important role in the resistance to German occupation during the Second World War, and experienced a brief...
newspaper Norges Kommunistblad
Norges Kommunistblad
Norges Kommunistblad was a daily newspaper published in Oslo, Norway.It was started on 5 November 1923 as the official party newspaper from the Communist Party, which was established that year after a split from the Labour Party. The first editor was Olav Scheflo...
in 1925, and the far-right Fatherland Party
Fatherland Party (Norway)
The Fatherland Party was a political party in Norway, which was founded by former local Progress Party politician Harald Trefall in 1990. Primarily based in Western Norway, the party supported nationalist positions such as opposition to immigration and the European Union...
opened the 1997 election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1997
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 15 September 1997. Before the election, Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland of the Labour Party, issued the 36.9 ultimatum declaring that the government would step down unless it gained 36.9% of the vote, the percentage gained...
manifesto with a part of the poem. The poem lent its name to a 1936 film, which agitated for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
ahead of the 1936 election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1936
The parliamentary election of 1936 was the last one held in Norway before World War II and the German invasion of Norway.-Results:*...
. The opening words of the poem are reportedly written on the tombstone of Liberal Party politician Johannes Steen
Johannes Steen
Johannes Wilhelm Christian Steen was a Norwegian politician, Prime Minister of Norway from 1891 to 1893 and from 1898 to 1902....
, and are also engraved in a portal on an avenue leading to the Eidsvoll Building, where the nationalist-symbolic Constitution of Norway
Constitution of Norway
The Constitution of Norway was first adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll , then signed and dated May 17...
was drafted and signed.
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
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...
, Vi vil oss et land was the name of one of the first anti-Nazi
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
illegal newspapers, written by Olav Gjærevoll
Olav Gjærevoll
Olav Gjærevoll was a Norwegian botanist and politician for the Labour Party. Gjærevoll was a professor of botany at the University of Trondheim from 1958 to 1986, and was a specialist in alpine plants....
, Gunnar Sønsteby
Gunnar Sønsteby
Gunnar Fridtjof Thurmann Sønsteby DSO was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement during the German occupation of Norway in World War II...
and Max Manus
Max Manus
Maximo Guillermo "Max" Manus DSO, MC & Bar was a Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II.Manus was born in Bergen to a Norwegian father and a Danish mother...
, among others. A rendition of the poem was staged in 1940 by theatre director Henry Gleditsch
Henry Gleditsch
Henry Cochrane Williamsen Gleditsch was a Norwegian actor and theatre director.He was born in Kristiania. In his young days he participated in skiing for SFK Lyn....
, who ended up being killed by the Nazis. In 1942 the poem was printed in an illegal newspaper based in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
. It was signed with Per Sivle's name, resulting in the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
issuing an arrest order for him.