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Visit indre Østfold
1940 - Skirmishes at Fossum Bridge
After the Germans arrived in Oslo on April 9, 1940, the Germans set off towards Østfold and Sweden, 2-3 days earlier than planned. Due to the resistance and the warning of the mobilization of Norwegian forces. It was Battalion Commander Manthey and Ensign Ortwein who led the German attack. They had a battalion with up to 1200 Germans who were to cover Inner Østfold and the border with Sweden. A vanguard of 400 Germans had requisitioned 11 buses from Skøyen Busselskap, driven by Norwegian drivers.
At 5:00 in the morning they had arrived at Mjær, between Enebakk and Tomter. They woke up a grocer, they wanted chocolate, they spread butter on the chocolate before they ate. Some drove to Enebakk and on to Spydeberg, it is said that there were some skirmishes along the way, but 2 buses arrived at Fossum bridge, approx. at 06.40.
Guards were posted in Spydeberg all the way down to the Myrakrysset. Reports had come from Spydeberg that the buses had arrived, Sergeant Erik Sekkelsten was on the Spydeberg side with some men. Trees had been felled across the road as a barrier in front of the bridge. When the first bus stopped in front of the barrier, and the first German got out, Erik Sekkelsten and his men began shooting. That was the signal to the forces that were in positions on the Askim side of the Glomma. There was heavy fire and all the Germans in the first bus were killed. The driver Harald Nybraaten survived by jumping over the engine compartment and hiding there – slightly injured in the head, but got out of the bus and ran up the slope. He was later arrested.
It was Captain S. Sørli who led the defense at Fossum Bridge, he had about 123 men including 9 commanders. They had 8 machine guns and various small arms such as Krag Jørgensen rifles. There was a lot of snow and cold. They had been working since the day before, making defensive positions, felling trees, carrying up sinking logs from the river, etc. Carrying up heavy machine guns and a lot of ammunition. They had worked for almost a day, without rest and without food. They were very tired. There were hard battles. Some sat so long at the machine guns, it is said, that they fell asleep between the volleys of shots. The order was: The Germans were not to cross the bridge, not to cross the Glomma at all.
In advance, explosives specialist Johann Lynne had come from Fredrikstad Fortress with explosives for Fossumbrua, Langnes, Solbergfoss, Kjykkelsrud and Vamma. The charge on the bridge was not entirely successful, something fell onto the ice that they could not get back up. They also laid a backup, a dynamite charge on the bridge. It had to be ignited by hand. After the bus had been shot to pieces, the gunfire began. Now it was time to blow up the bridge. The main charge was to be ignited electrically, but it did not work. After several attempts, they had to give up. Then there was no other option than for someone to go out onto the bridge to light the tar fuse. It was Erik Sekkelsten who ran out to light the fuse. Everyone on the Askim side gave covering fire, including his father, Karl Sekkelsten, who stood by the bridge and shot at the Germans with a Colt pistol. The explosion came, the bridge lifted a little, but then fell back down. It was too, too weak a charge.
There was heavy fighting, and about 150 Germans began to descend onto the Glommaisen from the Spydeberg side, to cross. It had been cold, so the river was frozen and strong enough to cross. Captain Sørlie called and ordered the hatches in the Solbergfoss power station to be opened. They were opened at certain intervals to break up the ice. Some Germans sailed down the river on the ice floes, they were shot. Also those who tried to cross in rubber boats, almost all of them died, shot or drowned.
In the afternoon reinforcements arrived from Høytorp, but they were tired and out of training and long marches. Major General Eriksen sent 60 men against Trøgstad, it was a wrong decision. He had 3000 men under him to defend Indre Østfold, perhaps more should have been deployed at Fossum Bridge. The fighting was fierce, now the Germans began to cross the bridge, hiding behind a cannon, which they rolled ahead of them. Captain Sørli took some men to stop them, but in a violent hail of bullets he was hit by several shots and died there.
At about 3:30 in the morning of April 13, the Germans had besieged the bridge. The Germans had won. 60 Norwegians were captured, many wounded – 19 died. Captain Sørli, Lieutenant Veel, Sergeant Røtne were among the fallen. About 242 Germans fell.
There was a lot of air activity in the air during this period. Folkets Røst had counted 71 bombers over Askim. There were a lot of them, but it is said that it was true, but!!! A command post was established at Askim Middle School. The Norwegians who had not fallen, had not been captured or escaped, continued the defense in the retreat to Askim. There were many battles, Norwegian defense positions were set up. Artillery from Høytorp was brought forward, and some was fired from Høytorp fort. Unfortunately, something went wrong and some of our own positions were hit.
The German entered Rom school, the Norwegians shot it into the fire. The Germans entered Askim on Saturday at 13:00, there was still fighting and the Germans were making hard progress, 12 Norwegians fell in Askim. Then they continued on towards Mysen, almost all the farms were searched and razed, several lost their lives here and many were wounded. Some were also arrested. Now the Germans also used planes, they flew low, both shot and bombed, on Wednesday they came to Fusk. Fusk and formerly Fuskbakken, is located between Askim and Slitu, 2 km. From Askim. At Søtorp farm, the soldiers Odd Thue and Alf Høgås hid from the planes, The planes they shot at the house, the boys hid in the basement, the house was bombed and was completely gone. They came out of the basement with the help of the Germans and were taken to the Slitu plain and waited for medical attention. They were wounded. More Germans came from Askim, the prisoners were ordered to go towards Mysen, Alf Høgås was unable to walk, he had been in the fighting at the Fossum bridge and was injured there, he was shot on the spot right in front of Odd Thue's eyes.
At the Slitu crossing, Arne Trollerud was also shot in the back as he was about to walk across the courtyard and down into the potato cellar. He died a little later from the gunshot wounds. He had participated in the defense of Fossum Bridge as a private soldier, survived, but was shot at home.