Viking: King Haakon of Norway’s Daring Escape in WWII

Follow the riveting story of King Haakon, who evaded the Nazis during their invasion of Norway, then continued to lead his people from the UK throughout the conflict.

[@nairdamorton5148]

My dad was on the Norfolk when it took King Haakon, Olav, and the rest of the Royal family home after the war. I still have his "thank you" certificate, signed by Olav.

[@teddybirmingham7608]

I commend the film, "Kongens Nei" to everyone watching this. It shows what a wonderful man Haakon was and how lucky Norway was to have such a king.

[@torehaaland6921]

We were. He had very little formal power, but he enjoyed a lot of respect and reverence and through that, he had a lot of influence. Wich he used in the best way possible through the war. He was a very important figure, in absentia in Norway, as well as for the military forces and civilian sailors abroad. And as a campaigning and diplomatic figure.

[@billycampbell854]

Thanks for the great program, greetings from the Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern America.

[@watonemillion]

King Olav V truly was the people's king. There's a photo of him on a tram, with no body guards, trying to pay for his ticket. Very funny and a bit unreal

[@haceneouerdane6840]

Haakon VII was a great King. Gods save the King.

[@stianharestad6601]

Thanks too all the british troops for your support and help in WW2, sacrifice and fallen troops Are heroes, and will never be forgotten. And allso thanks to Polish, french, americans and russian soldiers. You will never be forgotten what you did for Norway. God bless your fallen troops.

[@Nick-rs5if]

A good enough king can make his people move mountains, even without any actual political power. And king Haakon VII was the best monarch of his time, change my mind. EDIT: Cheers from Sweden.

[@dennisroyhall121]

The Lady Narrator really does have a most beautiful voice! I wonder if she realised her blessing, she certainly deserved being complimented...

[@mollygirl96]

She sounds like the woman who introduces Masterpiece on public TV in the US. The series Atlantic Crossing was excellent.

[@serenityinside1]

English... of course. 😊

[@olofjansson9356]

Not only that but this narrator is the only English speaker I've ever heard who has properly pronounced Kong Haakon's name! Kudos!!!!

[@exaudi33]

This moved me to tears. Thank you!

[@sirderam1]

HMS Devonshire was not strictly a "battleship", she was a Heavy Cruiser. My father was serving on her as a very young (17 years old) sailor at that time. He helped to show the Crown Prince below decks to his quarters. Along with the Royal party came a large number of small but heavy wooden boxes. These were stored in a chain locker and two armed Marines were always stationed outside the chain locker for the rest of the voyage to the UK. The ordinary sailors were not told what was in the boxes, but they guessed, quite rightly, that it was Norway's gold bullion reserves. The King, the Crown Prince and the bullion were all returned safely to Norway at the end of the war.

[@Flapjackbatter]

Yes. Like her sisters in the County class she was a treaty standard heavy cruicer. 8 inch main armament. 10 000 t.

[@mapala78]

It was HMS Devonshire which launched the torpedoes to finish off the Bismark.

[@sirderam1]

@@mapala78 No, that was HMS Dorsetshire. People often get them confused. Devonshire was not involved in the hunt for Bismarck. Devonshire was in the South Atlantic or Indian Ocean at the time, too far away to take part.

[@duncanbuchanan3269]

@@sirderam1 The Devonshire sank the German raider Atlantis in the South Atlantic on November 22nd 1941.

[@perperson199]

This is the most lovely story yet told on this channel. Wish it was longer

[@shirleyu1335]

My father, Karl Undal was born in 1921 and raised in Norway . I enjoyed this history very much. Thank you!

[@Viking-TV]

Our pleasure!

[@jayo3074]

What does that have to do with anything? Was he part of the war? Was he at the battle? I'm confused sorry

[@RealAdelie]

Probably means his father served in the wat

[@ErinAbou]

@@jayo3074I think she simply means she enjoyed the historical video to give context to her father’s experiences.

[@jayo3074]

@@ErinAbou it was a useless piece of information in my view

[@peterwoods5310]

The British Foreign Office in London organized a banquet where the many exiled heads of state were invited. Each was individually introduced to the assembly. Many displaced monarchs were present and the young diplomat got flustered. "Excuse me sir, which country did you say you king of"? This amused King Haakon very much. "Norway".

[@kingofstrangeness7014]

Wait what?

[@mikewellwood1412]

There is another story about King Haakon in London in WW2. I don't know if it's true, but it ought to be. He was due to make a speech on Radio from BBC Broadcasting House. He modestly presented himself at reception, and was asked his name, and replied: "Haakon" (pronounced "Hawkon"). The receptionist looked puzzled, and then phoned his supervisor: "Sir, there's a Mister 'awkins down 'ere in reception...".

[@peterwoods5310]

@@mikewellwood1412 I believe it could well be true!

[@Fernandwinnie]

How spiffing! As long as There weren’t any commoners there!

[@peterwoods5310]

@@Fernandwinnie In them days those who could not spell their own language correctly were refused admittance.

[@Jesse2ful]

Thanks for a wonderful presentation. Norway glorious Norway. I treasure many happy memories of visits to the North Land. Regret I have never been able to take the ship to Kirknes and see the Midnight Sun. God bless the Land of St Olaf !

[@heidihochrein7912]

I toured the coast and landed in Kirkeness, with the ship Hurtigruten, but storms and clouds kept us from that midnight sun! I'd seen it in previous trips,though.

[@allanwhorrall5142]

Truly a Great man.!!!!

[@MRMK24]

When his coastline was disappearing into sea, the king of Norway was supposedly seen quietly weeping. Whether there's any truth to that I'm not sure, but I would imagine you probably would, thinking you'd abandoned your people.

[@tonip1274]

He did abandon his people

[@perperson199]

@@tonip1274 He did not, he kept fighting for his people. A king that does not fight is of little use.

[@torehaaland6921]

@@tonip1274 total, utter, ignorant bulcrap. The king spent the whole war working tirelessly for Norway. You sound like an American.

[@jackmorrison7379]

@@torehaaland6921 No, a pretend American, usually Iranian agent or CCP agent trolling to create chaos and disinformation.

[@Jelly-hq7ug]

@@torehaaland6921 he probably is

[@archivesofarda986]

Wouldn't be the first King that complains about loneliness actually. Fascinating

[@norsemanbushcrafting1621]

Obviously. Lonely on the top

[@paulparry6766]

I spent 3 years at NATO no Oslo the best days of my life what a country.

[@ThomasGabrielsen]

I'm happy to hear that Sir. Were you stationed at the NATO camp at Kolsås?

[@markhughes7927]

Lovely - I hope Sir Nils Olaf has been shown around these important locations in his nation’s history and made new acquaintances and friends from old ones and their descendants to keep our histories entwined.

[@finleyfendt3750]

Well done. Amazing story. Thank you. 👍👍👍

[@terrystearns1196]

Great story.. Thanks for your attention to this subject.

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Wow! QI I must say. Thank you for posting.

[@mrtrailesafety]

Krupps cannons sunk the Blucher in 1940- a fascinating detail from Wm Manchester’s classic “Arms of Krupp”

[@rd3ster]

Excellent. Thank you. Conveniently timed with "Atlantic Crossing" on television.

[@annedwyer797]

Yes!! I knew nothing about Norway during WWll, other than it was invaded/occupied by Germany because of its North Sea oil and strategic location. I'm a history nerd and have been enjoying "Atlantic Crossing" on PBS.

[@edwardjones8919]

Yes watched it last nite 😊

[@edwardjones8919]

@@annedwyer797 I'VE ENJOYED ALSO...

[@jackjohnhameld6401]

This was most illuminating, thank you.

[@paulsummerfield6357]

Very nice indeed, thanks for sharing😊

[@digabledoug]

Very nice. Just when you thought you knew everything about WWII.

[@soniatriana9091]

A very nice video - thank you.

[@richardsimms251]

Very very interesting video. Thank you. RS. Canada

[@jt_norway9129]

My grandfather Trygve, was originally intended to study Law at Kongelige Fredriks universitet (AS UIO was called at the time) almost at the same time as the germans invaded. He immideately enlisted and fought the germans in the Gudbrandsdal-walley, something that turned him alcholic after the war ( 7 out of 50 survived the battle and IT was pure chance that he survived). He went on to work AS a lensmann (sheriff) and theres a clausuled document in the national archive regarding a few times where he was interrogated by Statspolitiet and Gestapo AS he was a resistance fighter after our country capitulated. My grandmother on the other hand, created a resistance group and fought alongside Solveig Bergslien in Stavanger. It was named Skjalg (after the local sports team). Lenge leve Kong Harald ❤️ og et demokratisk Norge. 😊 Also, we have Sardines named after Oskar the second 😂 which is very popular in Norway.

[@erikop817]

Thank you for this wonderful documentary

[@dennisroyhall121]

An excellent documentary, beautifully told by the lady who has a lovely voice.

[@serenityinside1]

English .. of course 😊

[@davidolien2828]

Be sure to watch the movie The King’s Choice. Excellent.

[@annedwyer797]

It's been on my list on a streaming website for some time. I'm gonna have to move it up near the top of my list!

[@1046fireman]

This was very well written.

[@dougholliday467]

I recently watched the movie about the King & family. Thanks for this all !!!

[@MrNikodemus5]

Very interesting personal angle - thanks for letting us get to know .

[@georgeasmundwiik6688]

My father was Norwegian He came From Alesund. I have a photograph, of My Father. With. Kong Olaf. At home, yeah . Ja Vi Elsker, .🤔😀

[@nicobas773]

King Olav 5 :)

[@valdemarhammer5981]

Ålesund*

[@valerune192]

bruh, I live in Ålesund. Yo B)

[@toomaskarmo9435]

Thank you for this. - (signed) Toomas Karmo, in Nõo Rural Municipality, Estonia

[@Bruce-1956]

What a facsinating story.

[@joydroneburg9944]

Beautiful story I love history

[@turidoreilly9078]

History written by the winners - we Irish have a different history

[@Jelly-hq7ug]

@@turidoreilly9078 I would like to hear it

[@shafur3]

This was wonderful❣️

[@F1Nerd15]

I have been on Oscarsborg on 17. May. It is interesing history of WW2. 👍🖒👍👍

[@BK-uf6qr]

Royalty. The king fled as representative of the country so as to not be used by the Nazis.

[@Stupot2]

Lovely story

[@KAl_SAMA]

My man literally buried his crown and the dirt so they wouldn’t get it. That is some savage work.

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Always there is war ...war ancient ...even during peace times ⏳ there is war ...in the material world, and realms unseen ...only the SON of MAN, can put away all war ...He is sitting at the Right hand of the Father 🐑🕊🦁

[@F1Nerd15]

Im from Norway and i have seen two movies about WW2. My grandmother have telled me history of her dad in WW2. And it is interesing

[@willhovell9019]

Excellent story and v good film on the King of Norway and the German invasion

[@jwpoeschmann9080]

never heard of this story before

[@elizabethross6111]

Well done, Karine!

[@bjornisB]

It's very unlikely that the king and the ambassador hid the crown in some cave. Most of all that they did so themselves. In 1940, the crown and the crown jewels had it's home in a vault in Norges Bank (Bank of Norway) in Trondheim. When the war broke out, they we're put in some anonomys containers in a store room - hidden in plane sight. The germansk never found them. They probably did'nt even look for them.

[@elainethomson7146]

Interesting although the music is very intrusive

[@thomasgangster9682]

VIKING 👑

[@happydace6991]

Watch the 2022 film Gold Run . Puts a different perspective on the King's leaving of Norway !

[@wistenser1441]

Jeg elsker Oberst, Eriksson

[@badweetabix]

Not point blank range. They opened fire on the Blucher at 1,800m. No cannons made in the 19th century has a point blank range of 1.8 km. There were only 2 torpedoes launched. Hardly a "barrage".

[@JackTheSlayer-ok5eq]

Hello y

[@juliataylor2623]

A eulogy to the man who made Norway a republic.

[@MarciaWilson-hq9ii]

Norway us not a Republic the monarchy are immensely popular

[@Ettibridget]

Norway is not a republic. You clearly didn't pay attention.

[@Fernandwinnie]

Now, were there not British seamen, whose ship had sunk as they were left to die in the freezing North Sea as the ship carrying this King carried on past them? The life of a King, who was fleeing his country was considered more important than all there brave sailors.

[@mlund3]

Not our king!! Imported.

[@Ettibridget]

Well, if Norway at the time wanted a king they had to import one. Thus they imported prince Carl of Denmark, who was born a second son and expected to live a quiet life in the royal wings. He became democratically elected king, changed his name to Haakon, took Norway to his heart, led the country safely through two world wars and remained deeply devoted to his adopted home country until his last breath. What more do want?!?

[@GAMIFING]

gaming us. love history -dislike English BS

[@koksalceylan9032]

Free Norway? Lapdog of UK is more like it.

[@markomaran9753]

Took the gold, fled to England and there safely from his luxury place yells on the radio "we are going to fight" 😂😂😂😂. Why the hell did he and Prince Olav wear a unifrom when they returned to Norway after the war, they didn't fight 1 day in their life!

[@einarbolstad8150]

Kings fighting on the battlefield went out of fashion sometimes in the 1700's. By escaping they could continue to lead and actually play a role. It seems that your understanding of these things is rather lacking.

[@markomaran9753]

@@einarbolstad8150 Haha. What was this Danes leadership? Taking the gold and fleeing to London. Easy to lead from there and say "fight" while he has butlers in an English mansion. You see Zelensky running away? Haakon 7 did what most kings do. Run away. So nothing special to be remembered about him!

[@einarbolstad8150]

@@markomaran9753 If you don't see the differences in the situation between Norway when he left, and the situation in Ukraine, then there is not much hope that you'll ever understand. But of course, your lack of insight doesn't really change anything, so it doesn't really matter.

[@DJFotele]

Took the national gold, ran away to England and let the people to die with a crumbeling army, only to be gently lead by Quisling and avoid catastrophic casualties. Only om Norway this could happen 😂

[@user-rk2nc8fg5t]

Молодцы норвежские северяне ни когда не. Здавались чувствуется историческая кровь непобедимый викингов я горжусь вами ник