this post was submitted on 12 Feb 2026
175 points (100.0% liked)
History Memes
1950 readers
895 users here now
A place to share history memes!
Rules:
-
No sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, assorted bigotry, etc.
-
No fascism (including tankies/red fash), atrocity denial or apologia, etc.
-
Tag NSFW pics as NSFW.
-
Follow all Piefed.social rules.
-
History referenced must be 20+ years old.
Banner courtesy of @setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world
OTHER COMMS IN THE HISTORYVERSE:
- !historymusic@quokk.au
- !historygallery@quokk.au
- !historymemes@piefed.social
- !historyruins@piefed.social
- !historyart@piefed.social
- !historyartifacts@piefed.social
- !historyphotos@piefed.social
founded 9 months ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Explanation: After WW2, Norway, using a very dubious interpretation of international law, forced German PoWs to disarm the minefields that the Nazis themselves had laid down in Norway - a very dangerous task. This was pretty well illegal, but none of the Allies after WW2 had the motivation left in them to quarrel over international law with a member of the coalition who had spent years under Nazi occupation. Hundreds of German PoWs died, and thousands were injured.
Denmark would also use German PoWs to clear minefields, but by a negotiated surrender agreement, and using German PoWs with pre-existing demining experience, which is a bit less objectionable, but still illegal under international law.
I never knew this.
I don't feel any shame about that part of history.
You should know that it isn't very close to what actually went down. It was the British forces who had negotiated this as part of the surrender deal with the German forces. It was British forces who oversaw the mineclearing process (in Denmark).