Protect Our Paperclips

The Norwegian-American Bent Vanberg writes in his book "Of Norwegian Ways" (Dillon Press, Minneapolis, 1970, 1984) about Norwegian inventions as the televison, the gas turbine, the cheese slicer, and, among them, the paper clip:

"Still another Norwegian first was the ordinary office paper clip. It came about in 1899, and the name of the inventor was Johan Vaaler. Now in use all over the world, this paper clip became a symbol of national unity during the five-year Nazi occupation of Norway in World War II. Loyal Norwegians wore the clip proudly, knowing well that they risked arrest, deportation, imprisonment, and even execution by displaying this simple sign of their true feelings." (p. 5).

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