JAN O HANSEN
National Socialism in Norway

My grandfather was a baker and
a Nazi; his specialities were French
bread, Napoleon cake, and chocolate
éclair. During the austere German
occupation he always had a good
supply of pure wheat flour and made
quite a lot of money selling his wares
to SS officers and big-shot Nazis

Bought properties he did in his wife's
name because she was a righteous
woman who spent her time knitting
jumpers for the poor; he knew that
his good time wouldn't last forever.
Two years he got for dallying with
the enemy and a five years ban on
baking bread.

Now that my own father is no more
I find myself well off being a sole
owner of properties, in the posh
part of town, which once belonged
to a far seeing enemy collaborator.
My grandmother is ninety-four
under her black blouse, hidden from
view, she wears the iron cross.