The camps in Knutlia («Lager Osen») and at Fagerlimoen in Korgen («Lager Korgen») were the largest so-called «Serbian camps» in the Helgeland region, and also had the most dramatic histories. The term «Serbian camp» was used as a natural consequence of the high perecentage (90%) of Serbians among the prisoners.

In Helgeland, as well as the camps in Osen and Korgen, there were the following:

THE ARCTIC CIRCLE PRISON CAMP

Operational between 20. August 1944 to the declaration of peace, 8. May 1945. Prisoners from the other camps in Northern Norway were gathered in this camp to finish the work on the Nordland Line railroad. The camp was under the jurisdiction of the Wehrmacht. A total of 682 prisoners were sent to this camp. 14 were killed.

KROKSTRAND PRISON CAMP

Housed Yugoslavian prisoners from 24. October 1942 to 14. February 1943. Received an initial transport of 129 prisoners. 16 registered prisoner fatalities, but this number is somewhat uncertain. Different figures exist in various manifests. The prisoners in this camp were put to work on different tasks under Organisation Todt (OT).

BJØLLÅNES PRISON CAMP

Yugoslavian prisoners from 14. February 1943 to 18. April 1943. 109 prisoners transferred from Krokstrand prison camp. 9 registered prisoner fatalities, but similarly to Krokstrand camp, this figure is not confirmed. Prisoners in this camp also worked on various tasks for OT.

NESNA PRISON CAMP

Operational from 15. September 1944 to 20. November 1944. 50 prisoners were sent to this camp, no registered fatalities. Prisoners performed various tasks for OT.

SANDNESSJØEN PRISON CAMP

Operational from 22. July 1943 to 8. May 1945. 50 prisoners arrived at the camp 22. July 1943. In total, the camp housed 123 prisoners during its existence. No registered fatalities. Prisoners performed various tasks for OT.

LUND PRISON CAMP

Lund prison camp in Alstahaug. Operational from 22. July 1943 to 15. July 1944. 30 prisoners arrived at the camp on 22. July 1943, and the camp housed 52 prisoners during its existence. No registered fatalities. Prisoners performed various tasks for OT.

YLVINGEN PRISON CAMP ON THE ISLAND OF VEGA

Operational from 22. July 1943 to 16. May 1944. 50 prisoners arrived at the camp on 22. July 1943, and an additional 3 prisoners arrived later. 2 registered prisoner fatalities. The prisoners worked on the construction of the coastal fort of Ylvingen, under OT.

DREVJAMOEN PRISON CAMP IN VEFSN

This was not a “Serbian camp”. It was established in 1942 at the Drevjamoen parade ground. Initially for German citizens performing «Arbeitsdienst» (work service), and then for Polish and Russian prisoners of war, who mainly worked on the construction of the Nordland Line railroad. However, the camp also served as an infirmary camp for sick or dying prisoners from other prison camps. The manifests of the Drevjamoen camp has registered the names of six Yugoslavian prisoners who are supposed to have died there. The name of one the prisoners – Ostoja Malbassa – can also be found in a list of prisoners who were transported from the Jasenovac concentration camp in Croatia to «Lager Osen». Mid-April 1943 (after the Wehrmacht assumed control of «Lager Osen»), 166 ill and infirm prisoners were sent from Osen to the infirmary camp Øysand outside of Trondheim. It’s possible that the six prisoners who died at Drevjamoen were too ill to be transported to Øysand, and instead were brought to Drevjamoen.

After the war, the prisoners who had died at Drevjamoen were exhumed and moved to the Russian grave site at Tjøtta in Alstahaug. The six Yugoslavian prisoners registered at Drevjamoen were probably among these bodies, as were several Polish prisoners, all of them thought to be buried at Tjøtta, thought to be unknown Russian soldiers.