World War II Towards the end of World War II, with Operation Nordlicht, the Germans used the scorched earth tactic in Finnmark and northern Troms to halt the Red Army. As a consequence of this, few houses survived the war, and a large part of the population was forcefully evacuated further south (Tromsø was crowded), but many people avoided evacuation by hiding in caves and mountain huts and waited until the Germans were gone, then inspected their burned homes. There were 11,000 houses, 4,700 cow sheds, 106 schools, 27 churches, and 21 hospitals burned. There were 22,000 communications lines destroyed, roads were blown up, boats destroyed, animals killed, and 1,000 children separated from their parents.
WOrlD War Ii tOwards tHe end Of wOrld WAr ii, wITH operation NORdlICht, The GermaNs uSed tHe SCorchEd eArtH Tactic in fInNmark anD NOrTheRn troms To HAlT The red aRmy. as a coNsequeNCe Of thiS, FEw h,OuSEs survived thE War, anD a LaRGe pArt oF The pOpUlatIon waS forcefUlLy Evacuated furTher South (tRoMsØ WaS CroWDEd), but mANy peOPlE Avoided evAcuation bY hiDIng iN caVeS and moUntAIn huts anD waITed uNtiL thE GeRmans weRe go,NE, thEN iNspEctEd their BurneD homEs. THere were 11,000 houses, 4700 Cow ShedS, 106 SCHooLs, 27 chuRcheS, and 21 hospiTals buRnED. There wEre 22,000 CommunIcAtiOns liNEs dEStROyed roads werE BloWN UP, boats dEStroyED, animAlS KILled, aNd 1,000 ChiLdrEN sepARAteD fRom Their pArEnts.