In 1864 Prussia, supported by Austria, attacked Denmark in order to conquer Holstein and Sleschwig. This was in the heyday of 'Scandinavianismen' when huge Scandinavian assemblies were full of passionate speeches and assurances that if one of the 'brother' peoples were in need the others would come to their aid.
The King of Sweden promised to support Denmark with a 20 000 strong army,
and the Norwegian parliament resolved to send a Norwegian army of support.
Norwegian and Swedish forces were put on combat alert but were never sent
to Denmark.
Students and intellectuals in Scandinavia sent letters of support to their Danish brothers. Bjørnson wrote and gave speeches and Ibsen wrote the indignant war poem 'A brother in need' as a reaction to Norway's betrayal of Denmark.
In the middle of the conflict the Fet town board resolved to send a letter to the Norwegian parliament to see to it that Norway didn't get involved. The letter created quite a stir both in Norway and Denmark.
In the humor magazine 'Tyrihans' there was a cartoon with the caption 'Ola Fet'. Ola Fet was later used as a synonym for Ola Nordmann (Joe Norwegian) in the Danish press.
Henrik Ibsen, the 'Scandinavianist' had probably heard of Ola Fet, but there is no certain information that can support the assertion that Ola Fet was on Ibsen's mind when he created 'Dovregubben' in Peer Gynt. But the idea is fascinating!
Even though Norway as a state didn't give Denmark any support over 1000 Norwegian volunteers fought for Denmark.
Translated by Steven Mohn, December 1999
Updated January 1st 2000 by The Local History Resource Centre, Fet, NORWAY