Oslo, July 15, 2025 – As the sun dipped below the horizon and painted the North Sea in shades of gold and crimson, many sailors aboard the HMS «Norge» found comfort in an unlikely companion: Bamse, the gentle Great Dane whose quiet courage helped steer his shipmates through the darkest days of World War II.

Born in Sweden and enlisted by the Norwegian resistance, Bamse served not with a rifle or a sword, but with empathy and presence. In the claustrophobic tension of life at sea, heated arguments were common—and when voices rose too high, Bamse would calmly place his massive paws on the shoulders of the quarreling sailors. His soft eyes and reassuring nuzzle had a disarming effect, turning hostility into laughter and restoring order on deck.

During patrols off the coast of Scotland, Bamse’s intuitive bravery truly shone. One night, as enemy vessels closed in under cover of darkness, Bamse alerted the crew with a series of urgent barks and stood firm at the rail until the sailors were on high alert. Thanks to his instinctive warning, the crew repelled the attackers and saved both ship and lives without firing a shot.

Following the end of hostilities, Bamse returned triumphantly to Norway, where his deeds earned him the country’s highest civilian honor for service. He spent his retirement years in the coastal town of Bangsund, where local children would line the streets just to see him pass. When Bamse died in 1947, the nation mourned—but his story was far from over.

Today, bronze statues of Bamse stand proudly in Bangsund and in Peterhead, Scotland, each a testament to the power of compassion in wartime. Passersby often pause to place flowers at his paws, reminded that true strength often speaks not through force, but through loyalty, kindness, and an unwavering commitment to those we call comrades.

In every statue’s gaze, Bamse whispers a timeless lesson: courage takes many forms, and sometimes the greatest weapon of all is a heart open to friendship.