Figure 1.--The German forces in Norway surrendered (May 8). Some had to surrender to resistance fighters who had to scrable to find any kind of uniform. The Allied soldiers first arriving in Oslo to take the German surrender were celeberites. Here the Norwegian girls want an autograph. We think this soldier is Norwegian Rolf Aruel wearing a British uniform. The first Allied forces to reach Norway were advanced uniys of the British First Airborn Division (May 9).

A substantial German army was garrisoned in Norway. Hitler convinced himself that the Allies were going to invade Norway. In fact, the Allies bypassed Norway and the German forces there played no role in the defense of the Reich. In the last month of the War, Reichskommissar Josef Terboven was favorably disposed to the possibility of making Norway a NAZI bastion (March 1945). He liked the idea of a refuge for NAZI leaders. Of course the fact that he had committed serious war crimes that he would have to answer for after the War was part of the reason he liked the idea of using German essentially as a personal security force. He was under no illusions as to his future in allied hands. After Hitler commited suiiside (April 30), the idea of a NAZI bstion in Norway of the Alps evaportated. It was all a bluff. Nothing had been done to prepre for either. Hitler's appointed successor, Admiral D�nitz, summoned Terboven and General Franz B�hme, Commander-in-Chief of German forces in Norway, to his headquaters in Flensburg. He orered both to follow OKW instructions. General B�hme upon returning to Oslo issued a secret order to his commanders insisting on 'unconditional military obedience' and 'iron discipline'. German forces in Norway surrendered (May 4). Gen. Eisenhower dispatched instructions to resistance headquarters in Norway (May 5) which was conveyed to Gen. B�hme. It included details on how to contact with Allied General Headquarters. D�nitz dismissed Terboven from his post as Reichskommissar (May 7). His powers were transferred to Gen. B�hme. Bohme surrendered to the Allied forces (early morning of May 8). Upon learning of the German surrender, Terboven committed suicide. He went out with a bang, detonating 50 kg of dynamite in a bunker on the Skaugum compound -- the official residence of Crown Prince Haakon. At his side was Obergruppenf�hrer Wilhelm Rediess, SS and Police Leader and commander of all SS troops in Norway who had previously shot himself. The major problem for the Germans was finding someone to whom they could surrender. The British 1st Airborne Division was still recovering from the heavy losses at Arnhem when it was ordered to Norway. Parts of the division had been detached to oversee the German surrender in Denmark. Advanced units flew into Oslo (May 9). They were assigned to oversee the surrender of the German troops. The main part of the division was delayed by bad weather. Their responsibility was to maintain law and order, secure the needed airfields, and oversee the German surrender. The division consisted of 6,000 men to duisarm the 350,000 Germans in Norway. The Division proceeded to repatriate POWs held by the Germans, find and arrest war criminals. The Germans were assigned to disable their extensive minefields. Crown Prince Olav and five government ministers returned to a liberated Norway (May 13). King Haakon, Crown Princess M�rtha. and the children returned (June 7). The day of course was especially chosen. It was exactly 5 years to the day that the King and Crown Prince had been forced to flee leave the country with the departing Allied force.

Finnmark (October 1944-April 1945)

The liberation of Norway began in the north in what became Finnmark--the extremne north of the country and a continuation of the Murmansk Front. The Murmansk and Finnmark actions were the mosr northerly fidhting of the war of an importance. The effort was conducted primarily by the Soviet Red Army aidw=ed by Norwegian forces (October 23, 1944 through Aoril 26, 1945). The Norwegian forces were flown in from Britain and Sweden. The Red Army launched the campaign with an offensive that liberated Kirkenes.

Huge German Garrison

A substantial German army was garrisoned in Norway. Hitler convinced himself that the Allies were going to invade Norway. Churchill certainly pushed for just such an invasion. The Allies bypassed Norway, however, and thesubstabtiak German forces there played no role in the defense of the Reich. In the last month of the War, Reichskommissar Josef Terboven was favorably disposed to the possibility of making Norway a NAZI bastion (March 1945). He liked the idea of a refuge for NAZI leaders. Of course the fact that he had committed serious war crimes that he would have to answer for after the War was part of the reason he liked the idea of using German essentially as a personal security force. He was under no illusions as to his future in Allied hands. After Hitler commited suiiside (April 30), the idea of a NAZI bastion in Norway or the Alps evaportated. It was all a bluff. Nothing had been done to prepre for either. In fact, except in Finnmark, were the luckiest German soldiers still in the War. There was no one shooting at them.

German Surrender (May 1945)

Hitler's appointed successor, Admiral D�nitz, summoned Terboven and General Franz B�hme, Commander-in-Chief of German forces in Norway, to his headquaters in Flensburg. He orered both to follow OKW instructions. General B�hme upon returning to Oslo issued a secret order to his commanders insisting on 'unconditional military obedience' and 'iron discipline'. German forces in Norway surrendered (May 4). Gen. Eisenhower dispatched instructions to resistance headquarters in Norway (May 5) which was conveyed to Gen. B�hme. It included details on how to contact with Allied General Headquarters. Dönitz dismissed Terboven from his post as Reichskommissar (May 7). His powers were transferred to Gen. B�hme. Bohme surrendered to the Allied forces (early morning of May 8). Upon learning of the German surrender, Terboven committed suicide. He went out with a bang, detonating 50 kg of dynamite in a bunker on the Skaugum compound -- the official residence of Crown Prince Haakon. At his side was Obergruppenf�hrer Wilhelm Rediess, SS and Police Leader and commander of all SS troops in Norway who had previously shot himself.

Allied Arrival (May 1945)

The major problem for the Germans was finding someone to whom they could surrender. As part of Operation Doomsday, the British 1st Airborne Division acted as an interim police and military force during the Allied libration of Norway (May 1945). Advanced elements of the Division was rushed ton Oslo to maintain law and order until the arrival of the remainder of Force 134--the designated Allied liberation force. The Division was still recovering from the heavy losses at Arnhem when it was ordered to Norway. Parts of the Division had been detached to oversee the German surrender in Denmark. Liberating occupied Denmark was easy because British forces were close to the Danish border when the Germans surrendered. Getting to Norway was more of a problem. Advanced units flew into Oslo (May 9). They were assigned to oversee the surrender of the German troops. The main part of the Division was delayed by bad weather. Their responsibility was to maintain law and order, secure the needed airfields, and oversee the German surrender. The division consisted of 6,000 men to disarm the 350,000 Germans in Norway. The Division proceeded to repatriate POWs held by the Germans as well as find and arrest war criminals. We notive some Norwegian troops. We are not sure if they came with the Briish. Small Norwegian forcees was trained in Britain and Sweden during the War. After the surrender, the Germans were put to work disable their extensive minefields laid in anticipation of an Allied invasion.

Royal Arrival (May 1945)

Crown Prince Olav and five government ministers returned to a liberated Norway (May 13). The Government returned from exile in London (May 31). Finally King Haakon, Crown Princess M�rtha. and the children returned aboard 'HMS Norfolk' (June 7). The day of course was especially chosen. It was exactly 5 years to the day that the King and Crown Prince had been forced to flee leave the country with the departing Allied force.

Victory Parade (June 1945)

It took a little doing to organize a victory parade. It was easier to plan a victory parade in an unoccupied country or a country liberated months before. Not much could be done immeditely after liberation. And the King was not yet back home. It would be unthinkable to have a victory parade without the King. The Royal Family was held in high regard before the War. And theur residtanhce to ghe NAZIs thrioughout the occupation only added to their prestige. But by June they put together a badly needed parade. With the Government and Royal Family back home, it was finally held (June 8). Unfortunately we have not been able to find much informtion about the parade. There was a contingent of the Underground Norwegian Army. Hopefully we can eventually find more information.

Summer in Sweden (July 1945)

Norway was not self sufficient in food production. It has an important fishing industry. The northern lattitude and limited areas of flat arable land meant that grainsm dairy products, and meat had to be imprted. After the German invasion, food could not be imported and as part of the German occuoation regime, food was shipped tyo yhe Reich. This resulted in dood shortages. It was not as severe as thr diyturauion the Germans imposed on Oikes and the rest of the occupied East. This was in oart because of Norway's Nordic population. The vGermans comnsidered them valuablr racial material. But food was sgort and many experience hunger. This had an impact on public health, including the vchikdren. Both the children and the elderly are particularly vuklneravle to health problens as a result of malnutrition. Only after the German surrender (May 8) and thev arrival of the Allies did the Herman exploitation of the Niorwegian economy end. But the situation could not be immeduiately corrected because of the damage to the ev=conomy. The fishjing industry was significabntly damaged because the Germans were coincened the boats ouold bevused to dlee the vcountry. Thee Norwegians could begin to address the situation. Priority was given to the chlidren. Here the Swedes gave a hend. Theu offered to take vin vukonerabke Swedush children for the summer , providing them diets and vmedicak care that were not yet possible in Norway.

Punishment of Quislings

Some 50,000 Norwegians were convicted of treason after the war. They had joind the Norwegian national socialist party--the Nasjonal Samling, who collaborated with the NAZIs. Only 25 of these people, however, were executed for treason.

Sources

Created: 9:50 AM 9/10/2010
Last updated: 2:15 AM 3/25/2020