Deutsches Theater im Norwegen

Deutsches Theater im Norwegen or The National Theatre's new venue was a nationally owned German opera in Oslo. It opened in 1941, and was active until 1944. The theatre was established as a propaganda effort to win Norwegian hearts through the dissipation of German culture.

The order to establish the theatre came from Josef Terboven January 1, 1941, after he had discussed the matter with propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. The first production was performed at the main stage of The National Theatre April 22, 1941. June 7, 1941, the theatre opened its own venue in Stortingsgata 16, formerly the home of Casino. The opening production was the operetta The Land of Smiles by Franz Léhar.

All the musicians working for the theatre were Norwegian. The soloists were brought from Germany.

The theatre closed in 1944 as the defeats in the war led to economic cuts in what was considered luxury. The artists connected to the theatre were transferred to the front or sent back home to Germany.

Information

(Objekt ID 75229)
Object type Organization
Also known as The National Theatre's new venue
Organization type National institution
Main focus Opera
Established January 1, 1941 (closed September 1944)
Website Deutsches Theater mottas på togstasjonen i Oslo i 1941

Contact information

Address Stortingsgaten 16, Oslo, Norway

Other information

Legal entity Other
More

SOURCES:

Musikkultur, musikkultur.no, 10.06.2020, https://musikkultur.no/nyheter/andre-verdenskrig-et-kulturliv-i-unntakstilstand-6.337.688602.a90ef56f52

Norsk Krigsleksikon 1940-45, nb.no, 09.08.2017,  http://www.nb.no/nbsok/nb/e036c01828538f45e76000a61706dbf4.nbdigital?lang=no#73

Lokalhistorie Wiki, lokalhistoriewiki.no, 08.08.2017, https://lokalhistoriewiki.no/index.php/Deutsches_Theater

Own productions (4)
Title Premiere
The Flying Dutchman – 1943
The Land of Smiles – June 7, 1941
Der Vogelhändler – April 21, 1941
Der Vogelhändler – 1941