FIGHTING SPANISH FASCISM

Ingeborg had already warned against Mussolini in 1936 (see [Artist's wage]!), and when Franco came to power in Spain through a civil war, Ingeborg used all her resources in the battle for democracy. From her memoirs De unge:

"I never forgot what Kinck taught me about fascism. (...) The Spanish tragedy moved all of us deeply. (...) I began a hectic program of reciting to raise funds for the helpers. During this period all my poems about Spain were written."

One poem from this period is "Now fade the red geraniums":

Now blood sprouts along the balustrades where Spanish geraniums flourished before. The people now cry loudly: "Comrades, save us!" And the Spanish sky darkens with smoke. Come! Stand up at the world's barricade, against the hell-fires of war and death. Become a stone in the wall that stands against fascism's murder and distress. Work hard, all you who stay at home. Wake up, keep watch, lift flag of freedom here. Shout restlessly to all our slumbering brothers that they answer for what takes place there. That it is our children and our women, our future life which is being trampled down. That mothers' lullabys at Madrids cradles is silenced while Death is taking toll. That blood of youth that flows on barricades will be the sparks that set the world aflame, in case you fail to stop the German nazi, and Judas-thinking freely may be spread. Through what we sacrifice to ease the distress, we build a wall protecting ourselves. For though we live so far up north as we do, may Nazi's mercenaries find their way. Yes, present are in each resigned idea, each comforting excuse: "We are too small;". They have a fort in every heart that's closed, in all cold minds that entreaties can't reach. Now blood sprouts around balustrades, where Madrid's geraniums bathed in the sun. And little children cry out: "Comrades, save us!" We hear you! Yes! Our brave brothers in Spain!

 

As we know, "nazi's mercenaries" did find their way to Norway. The poem is almost prophetical in its warning.

 

Thanks to Ian Reeve for help with the translation.