On 25 September 1940, a few months after Germany occupied Norway, three fishing boats left Kiberg harbour in dense fog for the Soviet Union. On board were 48 people, men and women who were keen to escape the occupation; there were even some small children. When they reached Vayda-Guba, they were met by Soviet navy vessels and brought to the navy base in Polyarny, where they were questioned by the NKVD about their motives for going to the Soviet Union. After a few weeks, they were freed and sent Murmansk, the men agreeing to enrol in the Northern Fleet or the NKVD, while the women and children were sent on to Shadrinsk to work on a state farm. Others soon followed these refugees. In all more than 100 people fled occupied Finnmark for the Soviet Union in 1940.