The "Road of Blood" in Saltdal
The German headquarters gave priority to reliable, easy to control traffic arteries. The plan was to build. over a three year period, a continous system of road and railroads, with as few ferrycrossings as possible, all the way to Kirkenes. Thousands of eastern European prisoners laboured under inhuman conditions on these construction projects. Many lost their lives.
In Saltdal there were 15-18 different prisoner of war camps, with 9500 Russian, Polish and Serbian prisoners that worked on the road stretch they themselves called the "Road of Blood". It went from Saltnes to Saksenvik, ca. 2 km. from the centre of Rognan. It is still possible towalk along this road and see, for example, the blood cross the prisoner painted on the rock face. At Dalmovika, some 100 m. along the road, stands a monument with Norwegian and Serbian text.
The "Road of Blood" museum at Rognan concern about the history of the prisoners of war, their life and work, during 1942-45. The Museum is a cooperation between the municipality of Saltdal and the State Department of Roads.
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