Here's something you might not know about paperclips! / myLot

Leicester, England

May 4, 2020 5:57am CST

You probably thought that there was nothing remotely interesting about the paperclip. However, did you realise that during World War Two it was used by Norwegians as a symbol of resistance to German occupation? The paperclip acquired political significance because it had been patented (although not invented) by a Norwegian back in 1899. When Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Norway, badges bearing the image of King Haakon VII, who had been forced into exile, were banned. Norwegians took to wearing paperclips on their jacket lapels instead.

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8 responses

Anna

@LadyDuck (502722)

• Italy

4 May 20

This is something I had heard and forgot. Norway declared itself Neutral during WWII, but of course the Nazi did not care a lot to respect the neutral countries.

1 person likes this

John Welford

@indexer (4852)

• Leicester, England

4 May 20

They left your country - Switzerland - and Sweden alone.

1 person likes this

Anna

@LadyDuck (502722)

• Italy

4 May 20

@indexer Swiss airspace was violated by both sides (Germans and allied) during WWII and Switzerland was bombed a few times (by both sides too).

Lakshman

@Lakshman15 (2662)

• India

4 May 20

Oh..it has good history.still now i dont know about it.Thanks for sharing us.

1 person likes this

Torunn

@Torunn (8606)

• Norway

4 May 20

I did know that :-) But that's hardly a surprise a suppose. The paper clip is definitly easier to use that way than one of other great inventions, the cheese slicer. Or artificial fertilizer, not really something you can wear.

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Torunn

@Torunn (8606)

• Norway

4 May 20

@indexer Yes, but wearing it on your jacket? Smell as a statement :-)

John Welford

@indexer (4852)

• Leicester, England

4 May 20

I don't know - our dog loves rolling in it!

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Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

4 May 20

I vaguely remember a movement to wear a safety pin, as a way to let people know you were a safe person to come to for help?

Jessica

@JESSY3236 (22244)

• United States

4 May 20

Cool. I didn't know that.

Kokil agarwal

@amitkokiladitya (171988)

• Agra, India

4 May 20

Wow...a little thing with such great history

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382408)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 May 20

That's very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Denise

@petatonicsca (7070)

• Japan

4 May 20

That's cool. I have heard of recently people wearing a safety pin to show they are offering safety to people who might otherwise be persecuted in public, such as Muslims, gay people, immigrants, etc. Also, I think a paper clip is called "trombone" in French, though I am not sure.