Dragkamp og balansegang. Frigjøringsmarkeringene i Kirkenes 1954–1994: Et minnepolitisk perspektiv

Commemorating the Red Army Liberation in Kirkenes, Norway, 1954–1994This study traces development over fifty years of joint Norwegian–Soviet/Russian commemorations liberation eastern part Finnmark County, October 1944. The first commemorative events were held 1954 town Kirkenes close to Norwegian–Soviet border. Throughout Cold War and into post-Soviet period, such have been arranged every five years, with representatives Norwegian state authorities acting as hosts a Soviet/Russian delegation. focal point these has ceremony by Monument, unveiled 1952 honour soldiers who liberated territory driving back Nazi occupation forces. This article documents how tradition developed across Iron Curtain divide predominantly diplomatic struggle 1944, between small NATO-member, superpower that was Soviet Union. Our concludes that, despite struggle, which stemmed from tensions competing security perceptions interests, served stabilizing element bilateral relations, producing narrative not only about Finnmark, but also friendship mutual respect peoples Norway Russia, long peaceful relations two states.