Norwegian resistance remembernace plate

[Oceansider]

I got this today from a picker in the most southwesterly city in the United States and in seeing it, my first thought was, "How did it get here from Norway?"

Then I looked at it some more and by second thought was, "Why does this plate have a painting of a German firing squad?"

The 1st question may never be answered, but Google provided answers the the 2nd.

The wooden plate apparently commemorates the May 9, 1944 execution of Major Arne Laudal and other members of the Norwegian resistance.

That prompts he bigger question of who made the plate and what? I would assume there was more than one made.

This was apparently presented to someone in 1948.

I have sent photos to a couple of collectors in Norway in hopes they may be able to translate the writing for me and perhaps have some knowledge of the plate.

[Oceansider]

Judging by the mistakes in my initial post you can tell it was late at night when I posted that....

The inscription on the back appears to say that it was presented to "Helene" on 29 April 1948 with “regards Leif, Johan Frithjof, Inger Marie”

It makes me wonder if this Helene had some connection to Major Laudal or one of the other people executed on 9 May 1944 and this does not seem like something you would give to someone without a connection.

I have search all over the web for another example of this plate, but nothing do far. I did find a Norwegian wooden plate commemorating the German surrender.

[NARVIK1940]

Here is the original text: "For Norge, vårt kjære fedreland er intet offer for stort - da blir det ikke engang tungt å gi livet – jeg er hellig overbevisst om at all vi dødsdømte vil møte på stillingen for siste gang og dø med løftet hode og ja vi elske dette landet på våre lepper – vi skal dø oppreist gutter -"

This is apparently a quote of Major Arne Laudal's last words:

"For Norway, our dear fatherland is no sacrifice to great - then it isn't even difficult to give our lives - I am completely convinced that all we that are doomed to die will meet at the place for the last time and die with unbowed heads and "Ja, vi elske dette landet" (Yes, we love this land (Norwegian national anthem)) on our lips - we shall die standing, boys".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arne_Laudal