Karasjok (village)

69°28′18.84″N 25°30′40.32″E / 69.4719000°N 25.5112000°E / 69.4719000; 25.5112000

For other places with the same name, see Karasjok (disambiguation).
Karasjok

Karasjok (Norwegian) or (Northern Sámi: Kárášjohka) is the administrative centre of Karasjok Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The village is located along both sides of the Karasjohka river, just 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) west of the Norway-Finland border. The European route E06 highway runs through the village on its way from Lakselv to Tana bru and Kirkenes. The 2.19 square kilometres (0.85 sq mi) village has a population (2017) of 1,844 which gives the village a population density of 842 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,180/sq mi).[1]

The village is an important centre in the municipality and region. The Sámi Parliament of Norway is located in the village. It acts as an institution that protects cultural autonomy for the indigenous Sámi in Norway. The Old Karasjok Church and the newer Karasjok Church are located in the village. The newer church is also the seat of the Indre Finnmark prosti (deanery) of the Church of Norway.[2]

World War II

During World War II a Nazi concentration camp was built in Karasjok: Lager IV Karasjok (German for "Karasjok Camp No.4").[3][4] The camp was run by SS,[5] and it was among the first four Nazi concentration camps in Northern Norway.

In July 1943, 374 political prisoners and POWs prisoners (mostly Yugoslavs) were brought to the concentration camp. They were tasked with widening the road to Karigasniemi, Finland. After four or five months, only 111 of these prisoners were still alive. At the end of the prisoners' stay in Karasjok, 45 prisoners were murdered by the firing of small arms.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Population and land area in urban settlements". SSB. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  2. ↑ Dalfest, Terje; Askheim, Svein (2023-04-04), "Karasjok", Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian), retrieved 2023-04-30
  3. ↑ Bakke Styrvold, Sigurd. "Heil og Sæl. Jeg er utdannet morder!" - Den norske SS Vaktbataljon 1942 – 45" (PDF). MA in History - University of Oslo (in Norwegian): 14.
  4. ↑ Richter, Timm C. (2006). Krieg und Verbrechen: Situation und Intention: Fallbeispiele (in German). p. 114. ISBN 9783899750805.
  5. ↑ Bakke Styrvold, Sigurd. "Heil og Sæl. Jeg er utdannet morder!" - Den norske SS Vaktbataljon 1942 – 45" (PDF). MA in History - University of Oslo (in Norwegian): 14. Retrieved April 29, 2023. Det fantes på forskjellige tidspunkter flere serberleire i Norge, men de norske vaktene gjorde bare tjeneste i de fire første; Lager I Beisfjord, Lager II Elsfjord, Lager III Rognan (også kjent som Botn) og Lager IV Karasjok
  6. ↑ Lindi, Marte (2014-11-08). "Blodveien i Karasjok". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2023-04-30.