The Opstad Camp of Forced Labour

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Ståle Olsen presented his book project about Åna prison on KRUS

By Ottar Evensen - Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Ståle Olsen, who has become famous as the correctional historian of Norway, visited KRUS this week to present his new book project, which is about the development of Opstad camp of forced labour to Åna prison. He have been working

on the project a year, and is expecting the book to be printed next year. Of the anecdotes he could reveal the manuscript will be both entertaining and interesting reading. All history enthusiasts will surely enjoy the book.

Opstad camp of forced labour came into operation as the main institution for forced labor regulation in April 1915. A major outlying area were acquired from 15 farmers in Jæren of Rogaland county. The reason that Jæren was selected as the location place may lie in the fact that there were large areas of arable land, and that one could engage in the cultivation of work much of the year. In addition, there was a reasonable distance to the nearest town and not easy to escape during the outdoor work. With effect from 1970 the Vagrancy Act provisions on forced labor repealed and the institution changed it's name to Åna kretsfengsel.

Åna prison also has a history as an educational institution for Correctional Services, which is documented with six aspirant classes on the gallery wall at KRUS.

Ståle Olsen shows on the map the route of the ship the inmates had to travel around the coast with to arrive at atonement on Opstad tvangsarbeidshus when it opened in 1915.