by Tore Selmer (MA graduate, Uppsala University); the event has been jointly organised by the research groups PrePast and PSIF
This talk explores the narratives surrounding the suppressed memories in post-war Norway, focusing specifically on the 1944 sinking of M/S Rigel, which resulted in the deaths of 2,569 people, mostly Soviet POWs. Despite the tragedy's magnitude, the sinking and its victims were largely forgotten and left unburied for 25 years. The research investigates how political forces can suppress certain parts of history, leading to their exclusion from the nation's collective memory. By analyzing archival records, newspapers and secondary sources, this study aims to contribute to the academic discourse on the political use of history and the dynamics of collective memory. This is accomplished through methodical narrative analyses of the sources to gain further insight into the realities of Rigel’s perception throughout the period from its sinking until today. The talk also examines the evolving commemorative post-Cold War practices and the implications of modern geopolitical tensions on memory politics.