Øse is a small settlement on the E6 in Gratangen municipality, sitting at a strategically important mountain pass that saw heavy fighting between May 1 and May 14, 1940. Norwegian and French forces fought to clear German positions from the valley and surrounding mountains. The Germans put up fierce resistance, and the area was not recaptured until May 7.
The most disturbing event here happened on May 1, 1940. The Norwegian hospital ship Dronning Maud, clearly marked with Red Cross flags on both masts and a large Red Cross banner stretched over the bridge deck, was approaching the nearby wharf at Foldvik. She was carrying 119 medics, horses and trucks. German aircraft from Lehrgeschwader 1 attacked with bombs and machine-gun fire anyway. Eighteen crew members and medics were killed, 31 wounded, and the ship sank. After bombing the hospital ship, the same aircraft proceeded to bomb Gratangen village, killing two civilians.
The wreck of Dronning Maud still lies where she sank, near the wharf at Foldvik. A memorial stone was unveiled on July 30, 1989, next to an anchor recovered from the ship. A separate memorial at Øse marks the fighting that took place along this stretch of road.
The most disturbing event here happened on May 1, 1940. The Norwegian hospital ship Dronning Maud, clearly marked with Red Cross flags on both masts and a large Red Cross banner stretched over the bridge deck, was approaching the nearby wharf at Foldvik. She was carrying 119 medics, horses and trucks. German aircraft from Lehrgeschwader 1 attacked with bombs and machine-gun fire anyway. Eighteen crew members and medics were killed, 31 wounded, and the ship sank. After bombing the hospital ship, the same aircraft proceeded to bomb Gratangen village, killing two civilians.
The wreck of Dronning Maud still lies where she sank, near the wharf at Foldvik. A memorial stone was unveiled on July 30, 1989, next to an anchor recovered from the ship. A separate memorial at Øse marks the fighting that took place along this stretch of road.