This cave, which is 55 metres deep, concealed
four young Frenchmen during the winter of 1944/45. They were
prisoners in a German camp at Klauset on the shore-side of the
island Otrøya when they resolved to escape in the autumn of
1944. They made contact with locals whom they knew they could
trust, and the escape was planned with their help.
The Frenchmen fled in the night between 21 and 22
November 1944 and were picked up by a rowing boat in a cove near
Midsund. In the dark of the winter night they were rowed to
Dryna, where they were given clothes and a hot meal in the home
of the Sønderland family.
They were then taken on foot to the cave.
After a while a small cabin was built inside the cave to keep
out some of the cold and damp. Later still a wood-burning stove
was installed inside the cabin.
Unfortunately somebody put fire to the cabin a
few years later, and burnt it to the ground. The Norwegians
collected food for the Frenchmen, which was delivered every
third night at an agreed place some way from the cave. The
Frenchmen occupied the cave until the German capitulation on 8
May 1945. They were then taken to Midsund and honoured along
with their local helpers.
After this the name of the Cave has always
been Franskhellaren (the French cave). |