Sinking of Pol III
Welding-Olsen is killed when the patrol boat Pol III challenges German invasion ships approaching Oslofjord.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1940 in Norway
Explore 63 historical events and records for Norway in 1940.
Historical records for Norway in 1940
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 63 unique records.
63Unique records
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25Named events on this page
16Named people on this page
12Places on this page
April
Battle of Drobak Sound
Eriksen orders Oscarsborg Fortress to fire on Blucher and delays the German capture of Oslo.
Battle of Narvik
Commands the coastal defence ship Norge during the German attack.
Battle of Narvik
Commands Norwegian forces at Narvik when German troops arrive.
Battle of Narvik
Commands Eidsvold before the ship is sunk by German torpedoes.
Flight from Oslo
Haakon VII leaves Oslo with the government, preventing German forces from capturing the monarchy.
German Landing at Narvik
Commands Norwegian forces at Narvik as German troops arrive.
Government
Forms a new Government in Norway
Government
Forms a new Government in Norway
Government Evacuation
Nygaardsvold's government leaves Oslo as German forces advance on the capital.
Invasion of Norway
Rejects a German ultimatum
Northern Norway Command
Begins organising Norwegian resistance in northern Norway.
Quisling Coup
Quisling announces a coup by radio while German forces are invading Norway.
Rule of Norway
Forms a pro-German Government after the Invasion of Norway
Rule of Norway
Forms a pro-German Government after the Invasion of Norway
Commander in Chief
Ruge is appointed commander in chief and begins organising Norwegian resistance to the German invasion.
Battle of Hegra Fortress
Holtermann leads the defence of Hegra Fortress against German attacks in central Norway.
Council of Berg
Appointed Member of ruling administritive council by the Germans
Council of Berg
Appointed Member of ruling administritive council by the Germans
Council of Berggrav
Appointed Member of ruling administritive council by the Germans
Council of Berggrav
Appointed Member of ruling administritive council by the Germans
Dismissal
Dimissed by Hitler after he had declared himself head of the Norwegian Government
Dismissal
Dimissed by Hitler after he had declared himself head of the Norwegian Government
Battle of Narvik
Directs Norwegian forces resisting the German occupation of northern Norway.
Northern Norway Command
Fleischer directs Norwegian forces in northern Norway while the Allied Narvik campaign develops.
Battle of Gratangen
Loken directs Norwegian forces in the first counterattack toward Narvik during the Gratangen fighting.
Battle of Narvik
Commands Norwegian troops in the counterattack near Gratangen.
Gratangen Counterattack
Directs Norwegian forces in the first counterattack toward Narvik.
Narvik Front
Coordinates Norwegian pressure on Dietl's isolated mountain troops.
Battle of Gratangen
Bockman's battalion suffers heavy losses after German troops counterattack the Norwegian advance at Gratangen.
Invasion of Norway
Taken aboard the Glasgow & conveyed to the new provisional capital at Tromso
Coup
Leads a right wing coup
May
Surrender of Hegra Fortress
Holtermann surrenders Hegra Fortress after southern Norway collapses and further resistance becomes impossible.
Narvik Air Support
Supports northern operations through Norwegian air activity around Bardufoss.
Advance toward Narvik
Fleischer's forces continue pressure on Dietl's mountain troops as Allied units prepare the final Narvik assault.
Battle of Narvik
Maintains Norwegian pressure on isolated German mountain troops.
Operation Alphabet
Continues the Narvik offensive despite Allied plans to evacuate northern Norway.
Battle of Narvik
Coordinates Norwegian forces during the recapture of Narvik.
Operation Alphabet
Norwegian forces enter Narvik before Allied evacuation removes their support.
Recapture of Narvik
Norwegian forces join Allied troops in retaking Narvik.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.