1944 in Norway

Incumbents

Government in Exile (in London)

Monarch - Haakon VII

Prime Minister - Johan Nygaardsvold (Labour Party)

German Military Governor

Reichskommissar in Norway - Josef Terboven

German Puppet Government in Oslo

Minister-President – Vidkun Quisling (National Unification)

Events

3 April - The German battleship Tirpitz was bombed and damaged by British carrier-borne aircraft at Kåfjorden in Alta.

20 April - The German ammunition transport Voorbode accidentally explodes in the harbour of the Western Norway city of Bergen, killing around 160 people and leaving some 5,000 homeless.

3 October - Soviet troops cross the border to Norway.

4 October - British aircraft bomb the U-boat bunker "Bruno" and the dock area in Bergen harbour. As a result, 194 civilians, including 60 children, are killed.

25 October - the Petsamo–Kirkenes Offensive the Red Army liberates Kirkenes, the first town in Norway to be liberated.

28 October - Hitler orders the German forces to withdraw from northern Norway. The Germans were determined to leave nothing of value to the Soviets, as Hitler had ordered to leave the area devoid of people, shelter and supplies.

29 October - The Laksevåg borough of Bergen was bombed again. 52 civilians were killed.

10 November - The first Norwegian troops (300 men from the brigade in Scotland) arrive in Finnmark.

12 November - 29 Royal Air Force Avro Lancaster bombers sink the German battleship Tirpitz anchored in a fjord at Tromsø, with 12,000 lb Tallboy bombs.

27 November - The German prisoner ship Rigel is sunk off Sandnessjøen by Fleet Air Arm bombers in the deadliest ship disaster in Norwegian history.

31 December - Allied bombers tried to bomb the Victoria Terrasse building in Oslo, which was used as the Gestapo headquarters, but missed the target and instead hit civilian targets. 77 civilians are killed.

Music

Song of Norway by Robert Wright and George Forrest, adapted from the music of Edvard Grieg

Film

Brudekronen, directed by Walter Fyrst

Notable births

5 January - Eystein Eggen, writer

5 January - Eirin Faldet, politician

6 January – Mona Lyngar, novelist.

7 January - Arne Scheie, sports commentator

24 January - Kåre Hovda, biathlete (died 1999)

13 February - Lasse Efskind, speed skater, medical doctor and writer

21 February - Harald Sunde, international soccer player and coach

24 February - Terje Sandkjær, politician

3 March - Arvid Knutsen, soccer player and coach (died 2009)

6 March - Jarmund Øyen, politician

11 March - Øyvind Grøn, physicist

12 March - Fredrik Engelstad, sociologist

15 March - Jørun Drevland, politician

17 March - Arne Strand, journalist and politician

22 March - Rigmor Kofoed-Larsen, politician

30 March - Bjarne Johannes Hope, civil servant (died 2006)

5 April - Arne Risa, long-distance runner

7 April - Jorunn Kjellsby, actress

8 April - Odd Nerdrum, painter

11 April - Terje Haugland, long jumper

13 April - Steinar Imsen, historian and professor

18 April - Åse Gunhild Woie Duesund, politician

28 April - Magne Aarøen, politician (died 2003)

27 April - Siri Austeng, politician

30 April - Jon Bing, writer and law professor

6 May - Carl I. Hagen, politician

7 May - Eva Norvind, writer, documentary producer, director, sex therapist and actress (died 2006)

10 May - John Fredriksen, oil tanker and shipping tycoon

16 May - Jørgen Holte, politician

1 June - Øyvind Nordsletten, diplomat

7 June - Kjartan Fløgstad, author

13 June - Bjørn Tveter, speed skater

18 June - Ailo Gaup, Sámi shaman and author

19 June - Arne Holen, musicologist

29 June - Lars Grini, ski jumper and Olympic bronze medallist

3 July - Sverre Mitsem, judge (died 2005)

12 July – Kjell Kristian Rike, sports commentator (died 2008)

18 July - Sverre Anker Ousdal, actor

31 July - Knut Einar Eriksen, historian

5 August - Lars Myraune, military officer and politician

6 August - Halvor Stenstadvold, business person and politician

14 August - Åge Hadler, orienteer

9 September - Finn Urdal, handball player

27 September - Villy Haugen, speed skater and Olympic bronze medallist

9 October - Jan Fredrik Wiborg, civil engineer (died 1994)

14 October - Svein Flåtten, politician

17 October - Leiv Nergaard, businessperson

18 October - Finn Seemann, international soccer player (died 1985)

5 November - Asmund Kristoffersen, politician

11 November - Tore Berger, sprint canoer, Olympic gold medallist and World Champion

11 November - Per Ivar Moe, speed skater and Olympic silver medallist

26 November - Kjellbjørg Lunde, politician

3 December - Jan Johansen, sprint canoer, Olympic gold medallist and World Champion

13 December - Ursula Evje, politician

27 December - John M. Jacobsen, film producer

31 December - Kristin Hille Valla, politician and Minister

Full date unknown

Bjørn Aamodt, poet (died 2006)

Stein H. Annexstad, businessperson and politician

Ole T. Berg, political scientist

Sven G. Eliassen, historian

Karen Fladset, handball player and coach

Oddvar Flæte, county governor

Øystein Josefsen, businessperson and politician

Johan C. Løken, politician and Minister

Bjørn Myrseth, biologist and businessperson

Nic. Nilsen, businessperson

Åsmund Reikvam, professor in medicine and former politician

Aud Talle, social anthropologist

Torkel Wetterhus, businessperson and politician

Deaths

23 January - Edvard Munch, painter and printmaker (born 1863)

19 February - Reidar Haave Olsen, pilot (born 1923)

25 April - Olav Nielsen, boxer (born 1902)

12 June - Einar Hærland, military officer, executed (born 1909)

24 June - Sigurd Roll, diplomat and former sprinter (born 1893)

8 August - Ragnvald Hvoslef, politician (born 1872)

14 October - Torleif Torkildsen, gymnast and Olympic bronze medallist (born 1892)

13 November - Gregers Gram, resistance fighter and saboteur (born 1917)

12 December - Alf Hjort, electrical engineer in America (born 1877)

Full date unknown

Haakon Martin Five, politician and Minister (born 1880)

Alfred Klingenberg, pianist (born 1867)

Odd Sverressøn Klingenberg, politician and Minister (born 1871)