The memory track of War - Gratangsbotn - Tennevoll

MOAN IN GRATANGSBOTN

Between the 23rd and the 24th of April 1940, the Trønder battalion, with 643 solders, and the Alta battalion with 766 soldiers, as well as horses, walked from Tennevoll, over Fjordbotneidet to Torvtak and “Hill 400” towards Gratangsbotn. They were headed for battle with the German forces. The Trønder battalion took cover on the farms in Moan on the night of the 24th of April. It was snowing and the snow was deep on the ground. The soldiers went to sleep, but were surprised by an attack at
5 am the 25th of April by approximately 3-400 German soldiers. The battle in Gratangsbotn resulted in Norway’s biggest loss of soldiers in a single battle on Norwegian territory during the Second World War. Norwegian casualties: 34 killed, 61 injured and 174 were captured or missing. The Germans reported seven killed and 14 injured. Remaining soldiers from the Trønder battalion retreated over Fjordbotneidet to Tennevoll.

Many of the locals hid in root cellars during the battle. No civilians were injured or killed.