Country Norway County Nordland Municipality Narvik | Region Northern Norway District Ofoten Elevation 512 m (1,680 ft) | |
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Bjørnfjell (Northern Sami: Bonjovárri) is a mountain and village of holiday cottage area in the municipality of Narvik in Nordland county, Norway. It's located along the Ofotbanen railway line and the European route E10 highway, west of the border with Sweden. There is a railway station and the Bjørnfjell Chapel as well as many cabins and homes in the area. The name Bjørnfjell for short may often refer to the Bjørnfjell Railway Station. The area is a popular vacation spot for residents of Narvik.
History
The mountain got its name during the planning of the railway line in 1883. The old railway station was named Bjørnefjell while it was being used from 1912-25. A new railway station was constructed in 1921 and the name of the new station dropped the middle e from the spelling.
The Battle of Bjørnefjell occurred on 15 April 1940 as part of the Narvik Campaign during World War II. A Norwegian company which had escaped from the city of Narvik by traveling along the railway line during the German invasion of April 9 was defeated by superior German forces. After capturing the Bjørnfjell area, the Germans used the area to drop supplies and soldiers from Ju-88 airplanes. The stone cottage "Solheimsbrakka" was used as headquarters by the Lieutenant General Eduard Dietl during most of the Battle of Narvik. A German prison camp was later established north west of Bjørnfjell. Yugoslav partisans were interned there, and 238 died.
In 1942 there were massacres of POWs at Beisfjord and Bjørnfjell.