German occupation of Norway

German occupation of Norway began on 9 April 1940 with Operation Weserübung, the surprise German invasion of Norway. The occupation lasted until the surrender of Nazi Germany on 8 May 1945, making it one of the longest-held territories in Western Europe during World War II. The period was characterized by a harsh civil administration, a potent Norwegian resistance movement, and extensive collaboration by the Nasjonal Samling party.

Background and invasion

The strategic importance of Norway's coastline for the Kriegsmarine and its access to Swedish iron ore shipments via Narvik were key factors in Adolf Hitler's decision to invade. On 9 April 1940, German forces launched a combined naval and airborne assault, targeting Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Narvik simultaneously. The Norwegian Army, led by General Otto Ruge, and allied British, French, and Polish troops mounted a determined defense, notably in the Battles of Narvik. Despite Allied efforts, superior German air power from the Luftwaffe and the unfolding Battle of France forced an Allied evacuation by early June, leading to the Norwegian campaign's conclusion and the government's flight to London.

Administration and collaboration

Hitler appointed the ruthless Gauleiter Josef Terboven as Reichskommissar, who dissolved the Storting and banned all political parties except the fascist Nasjonal Samling led by Vidkun Quisling. Quisling's attempt to seize power on 9 April failed, but he later headed a puppet government from 1942 under Terboven's control. The collaborationist apparatus included the paramilitary Hirden and the secret police Statspolitiet, which worked closely with the Gestapo. Key economic and cultural institutions like the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation and the University of Oslo were subjected to Gleichschaltung, while the Supreme Court resigned in protest in 1940. The police and parts of the civil service were compelled to cooperate with the occupiers.

Resistance movement

Civil disobedience began immediately, symbolized by King Haakon VII's famous refusal to appoint a Quisling government. Organized military resistance was coordinated by Milorg, supported by the Special Operations Executive and the exiled government's forces. Kompani Linge conducted spectacular sabotage operations, such as the destruction of heavy water at Vemork to hinder the German nuclear weapon project. The civilian branch Sivorg engaged in illegal press distribution, intelligence gathering for the Allies, and covert communications. The movement's activities, however, sometimes provoked severe reprisals against the civilian population, as seen following the Telavåg tragedy.

Life under occupation

Daily life was marked by scarcity, strict rationing, and pervasive fear. The Nasjonal Samling implemented a program of cultural assimilation and Nazification of institutions like the Norwegian Teachers' Union. Food shortages were acute, leading to long queues and a thriving black market. German economic demands led to the forced mobilization of Norwegian labor for projects like the Atlantic Wall and the Nordland Line. Political oppression was severe, with thousands detained in camps such as Grini concentration camp and Berg concentration camp, while Norwegian Jews were persecuted, with over 700 deported to Auschwitz concentration camp.

Liberation and aftermath

As Allied forces advanced in 1945, German troops in Norway, under General Franz Böhme, were ordered to implement a scorched earth policy. The liberation was largely peaceful following the German Instrument of Surrender, with Crown Prince Olav and the government-in-exile returning to a jubilant Oslo on 7 June 1945. The immediate post-war period was dominated by the legal purge, where collaborators were tried; Quisling was executed by firing squad at Akershus Fortress. Norway became a founding member of the United Nations and later NATO, with the occupation profoundly shaping its national security policy and historical memory, commemorated at sites like the Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum.

Category:Military history of Norway during World War II Category:Occupied territories of Nazi Germany Category:1940s in Norway