With the outbreak of war in 1914, Norway, like Sweden and Denmark, issued a declaration of neutrality. Norway was badly hurt by the war at sea, about half of Norwegian merchant shipping being lost. As the Allied powers could almost totally control Norway's foreign trade, they forced it to break off exports of fish to Germany and, at the same time, forbade exports of iron pyrites and copper, which were important commodities for the German war industry. Because of the many casualties caused by submarine warfare, public feeling in Norway was strongly anti-German. The government, however, under the leadership of Venstre politician Gunnar Knudsen, insisted upon maintaining the appearance of neutrality. Anti-German sentiment would have led the Norwegians to aprove of the harsh treaty, stripping down German territory, but as they were not in the war, they had no say in the matter.
2007-03-16 07:53:32
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answer #1
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answered by Retired 7
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Norway had nothing to do with the treaty since it was neutral in World War One.
2007-03-15 17:44:31
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answer #2
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answered by CanProf 7
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