A Helping Hand: The Efforts of American Relief for Norway

A Helping Hand:

The Efforts of American Relief for Norway By Jeff Sauve

A

stark drawing by Johan Bull illustrates the horror of war-torn Norway. In the drawing’s forefront, a distraught mother clutches her baby, while her other child looks back at the ruins. Evoking the dark saga of the Nazi Germany invasion of Norway in April 1940, Bull’s image depicts a family without a father or a home. The infant likely symbolizes the future. The position of the other child, whose back is turned, suggests the rest of the world should not turn its back on Norway. Bull, a highly respected illustrator who emigrated from Oslo in 1925, created the drawing to help Johan Bull, from the pamphlet promote the activities of a ...It is not a Donation. It is Payment newly formed humanitarian organization, American Relief of a Debt, Norwegian Relief, Inc., 1942. Norwegian-American Historical for Norway, Inc. (ARNI).1 Association, American Relief for Norway, ARNI (originally named Inc. Papers. Used  with permission. Norwegian Relief, Inc.) was organized in Chicago, Illinois, on April 19, 1940 just ten days after the invasion of Norway. The breadth of ARNI’s operations extended from coast to coast, carried on through state and local committees. Bull’s image was utilized on several pamphlets, each offering different bold headlines like “Why we want to help stricken, devastated Norway” or “…It is not a donation. It is payment of a debt.” These headlines declared ARNI’s purpose or mission, which Dr. A. N. Rygg, author of the 1947 history, “American Relief For Norway,” stated as follows:

Seamen’s Christmas and Relief, Inc (aid and comfort, with special emphasis on providing packages and celebrations at Christmas each year, for the thousands of Norwegian seamen who were cut off from their families and homes); and American Friends of Norway (special tasks and problems for Norwegian-American war-connected agencies and institutions).3 These organizations, under the umbrella of ARNI, established an initial goal of raising $1,000,000 for relief efforts. Contributors by the thousands stepped up early and often to assist. Many would cite the children as their motivation as a “payment of debt.” Ultimately the child whose back is turned in Bull’s image needed to be righted. For the next seven years, ARNI campaigned to gather and disburse contributions for Norway during the war and after the liberation.

Its purpose was to gather contributions toward the acquisition of supplies of food, clothing and medicine for the suffering Norwegian people and Norwegian refugees, and in any way possible give them a helping hand. Among the incorporators were Arthur Andersen [of accounting firm fame], Birger Osland, and J.A.O. Preus.2 The extent of ARNI’s “helping hands” included affiliated organizations such as: Camp Little Norway Association, Inc. (Norwegian fliers at Camp “Little Norway,” Canada, and in Great Britain, and special aid to Norwegian seamen chiefly through Norwegian seamen’s churches); Norwegian 34

From the pamphlet American Relief For Norway, 1945, American Relief for Norway, Inc.

Norwegian-American Historical Association, American Relief for Norway, Inc. Papers. Used with permission.

Vesterheim