Manus "The Mischievous Boy" and The War Hero

- growing up with my stepfather Max Manus
3. Auflage 2024
ISBN: 978-87-430-6850-1
Verlag: BoD - Books on Demand
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 204 Seiten

In this book the author George Manus wants to give the reader an insight into how he, as the stepson of Max Manus, perceived his younger days on Landøya in Asker in the time from when he arrived there in 1946, aged seven, until he moved away from home at the age of 21. Here he has collected stories from his collection of reflections, all of which, in one form or other, relate to Landøya and thereby his stepfather Max. As many of his stories are around 65 to 75 years back in time he reminds readers of some words of wisdom from the author Gabriel Garcia Marques. "What matters in life is not what happened, but what you remember and how you remember it". The book contains three chapters from Max's war-book Underwater Saboteur, and pictures which are all related to the time it was about, some from Max Manus own pictures.

The stories in this book are part of my memories from a somewhat tumultuous life in my early years until I married as a 21-year-old. My stepfather, Max Manus, had immediately after the war bought the slightly less than 20-acre property "Norderhaug" on Landøya in Asker, outside Oslo. That's where I grew up. Apart from a few, the stories which makes part of this book have a direct relation to Landøya and thereby my stepfather Max, while three chapters are taken from his second war book "Det blir alvor", (It gets serious), which was first published in 1946. I have included them as, in my opinion, they give a an authentic picture of the time, seen through Max's eyes, among other things when it comes to the Oslo gangs dealings with self-developed torpedoes. The book also contains some black and white photos from the period immediately after the war. Most are taken by Max himself. "The Mischievous boy" and the War Hero - I have dedicated to the future, in the spirit that in my opinion there is no future without a past.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Manus, George

Leseproben

My memories from 1946 to 1961
The main house on Norderhaug - Landøen 1904 I came to Landøya in Asker in the summer of 1946, right after I turned seven. The Manus family settled there after the war, first only my mother and Max, and then in the summer of 1946 I as well as the English setter called Pet. My brother Max Mikael (Lille-Max) arrived in 1947 when he was born, and later sister Mette in 1949. Mothers and Max’s friends kept coming to visit, and there was also a lot of activity early on related to Max’s business. My mother and Max always chose to entertain at home, and there they collaborated excellently. Max was a great host and mother the best hostess, besides being a fantastic cook, serving self-supported salmon and trout, likewise game. Personal friendships often developed between my parents and the representatives of the various suppliers, first those from Clausen & Manus A/S, later those from Max’s own companies. The highlights - with reference to the business activity - were for me anyway the annual company parties that were arranged on Landøya. Norderhaug - Landøya in the fifties These parties were always held in the summer, and all staff with their partners were of course invited. The parties were always a great success, a proof of which was that they lasted till long after I had been put to bed. Mother and Max were emotional people, and everyone enjoyed themselves in their company, something I witnessed myself, but also was told by others. Precisely the fact that my mother in all these years was Max’s secretary, and thereby strongly connected to the activities in the company, probably also contributed to the fact that all the entertainment they had on Landøya was valuable for the company’s operations. This was a fact throughout this period and lasted as long as Max was actively involved in the operation of the company, i.e., till I took over. Max was a person who always looked for ways out, like the fox who has several exits from his den. I remember he himself also used this comparison. He could not see himself “being trapped” in any context. Something I will write more about in an episode later. The time immediately after the war must have been special for everyone. As a boy, I did not perceive at that time the many special events, also those in connection with the company, they were explained to me later. As I said, mother was Max’s secretary and was therefore in the office with him every day. We had the housekeeper Ragnhild Block, called Boddi, who took care of the house and who, among other things, got me to school, a sometimes not easy job, I can imagine. Max was constantly visited in the office by people who wanted his advice regarding all kinds of things. I have the impression that he understood, and took it for granted that this happened, and I never heard him reject anyone. Furthermore, I have the impression that many of those who came had mental problems, but no one could say if they were caused by the war or not. The story of the lady who every night went to bed with a dream of the house being burnt down I especially remember well. Max listened patiently a long time to her many explanations why she was convinced somebody persecuted her, and then asked her what her bed looked like. Was it one of those beds with four iron legs? Yes, she confirmed, after which Max takes a long pause for thought. “Yes, I think I can help you”, he says and continues: ”Do you have access to four fish ball boxes, the type of Bjelland’s of metal with a rough bottom”? Yes, she said, she could easily get hold of such. “You take the four boxes and fill them up 4 to 5 cm. with water. Then you place the four bed legs in the boxes. But remember, it must be Bjelland’s! When that is done, you will soon notice a difference.” The lady had almost no time to say thank you before she disappeared out the door, never to be heard from since. Max was a man of nature and an avid hunter. He has shot close to 100 moose, and nobody knows how many grouse, pheasants, ducks, wood cocks and capercaillies. On Landøya we had a large kennel and always several dogs, usually English setters, and Norwegian elk-hounds. My best friend in the early years was the English setter Pet. Max had acquired it immediately after we had moved to Landøya. Pet was well over the puppy stage and ready for grouse hunting. From the age of 10-11 I was allowed to drive my mother’s Morris Minor, but only on our property of course. Hunting with my own ”Pan” Max after a day of hunting All this Max took for granted, but the situation seemed something special to the neighbours. I remember well the first time I got to sit on Max’s lap and steer his big American DeSoto, I cannot have been more than 8 years old. Not many in the area had cars at that time, and if I remember correctly, it was only the Russian Moskvitch that was imported to Norway. These came to the country packed in wooden boxes, which soon became extremely popular. Across the country they were used as outbuildings or as materials to construct cabins with. Mette and lille-Max in front of the Morris Minor Mother had received her Morris Minor from England thanks to Max, who had been able to obtain an import permit because he had saved up money in England partly from his book having been translated into English, partly as salary being a soldier during the war. Then something happened that had to happen one day: One of my older friends saw an opportunity to borrow the Morris when Mom and Max were away. It was, as always, parked in the garage with the key present in the keyhole. The car was observed late in the evening by a homeland security colleague of Max, as it passed Asker church with a boy at the wheel. The man immediately drove to Landøya to report, but Max was away, so he acted himself. He apprehended my friend when he shortly afterwards turned into the courtyard to return the stolen car. Of course, it led to a terrible commotion, but Max and mother believed me when I stated that I had nothing to do with the situation. Max was fair by nature but had his own tendency to create split-and-rule situations. An example of this is how he, to my great despair, constantly sided with the others in the circle of friends when disputes arose, and then set them up against me. He could then, after playing the parties against each other, control it all. He thought the procedure would make me tougher? As a fourteen-year-old I became an unofficial member of the Home Guard in Asker, where Max was area manager, and was at times allowed to drive around the local area during exercises. For him, it was the most natural thing in the world, that was just the way it should be. At that time frequent and very realistic homeland security exercises were held at weekends. My first and only reindeer hunt on Hardangervidda Hunting was also something I was early introduced to. I cannot remember the first time I went grouse hunting with Max, but I was at the age of thirteen. I got my first shotgun, an Aya, on my fourteenth birthday, and with a German Mauser on my back, the first and last reindeer hunt for me was conducted as a fourteen-year-old on the Hardangervidda. I shot 3-5 reindeer, but soon found out that shooting game with a bullet was not the big excitement for me. I think it was the slaughter process that followed the shooting that I did not have any feeling for, but that it was part of all hunting I early learned and have full respect for. I have never shot big game since, but the story tells of great experiences when it comes to hunting birds, both at home and abroad. The family’s American friends, Monells, rented Strynselven for many years. For mother and Max, it was an annual event to visit them in Stryn, and for Max, there were often several trips during the fishing season. From the very first visit he became the man of the gillies and enjoyed profound respect. He ”blended in with the river”. The first time I was invited to Stryn was immediately after I came home from schooling in Italy in 1958. I had barely driven a car in Norway, but with Max’s brand-new Peugeot I drove from Oslo to Stryn with Monell’s two eldest sons as passengers. They had travelled from America alone to visit their parents in Stryn. They were a couple of years younger than me. Near to Eidsvoll I was stopped by the police and given the first speeding ticket of my life. The trip otherwise went simply fine and was the start of annual visits to the Monell family, also for me, for many years. Salmon fishing with Max in Stryn I was not at all unfamiliar with fishing but standing in a salmon river with a fly rod is an adventure that everyone who has experienced such never forgets. The nature, the excitement, and the feeling when the explosion of a bite happens, and you know that an unknown battle is going to take place, is indescribable. The friendship with the Monells and their friends, they always had visitors, was unfortunately broken when the parents died, and the younger generation gave up the fight to continue the lease. As the man of nature Max was, one can only imagine what an experience it was for me to have him as instructor. As I recall, there was never any talk of Max adopting...