Structure of the Royal Norwegian Armed Forces in April 1940

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, the Norwegian government had mobilised parts of the Norwegian Army and all but two of the Royal Norwegian Navy's warships. The Norwegian Army Air Service and the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service were also called up to protect Norwegian neutrality from violations by the warring countries. The first such violations were the sinkings in Norwegian territorial waters of several British ships by German U-boats. In the following months aircraft from all the belligerents violated Norwegian neutrality.

Almost immediately after the outbreak of war, the British began pressuring the Norwegian government to provide the United Kingdom with the services of the Norwegian merchant navy, themselves being in dire need of shipping in order to oppose the Nazi regime. Following protracted negotiations between 25 September and 20 November 1939, the Norwegians agreed to charter 150 tankers, as well as other ships with a tonnage of 450,000 gross tons. The Norwegian government's concern for the country's supply lines played an important role in persuading them to accept the agreement.

The below county areas are listed following the 2020 reorganisation of counties.

Norwegian Government

• Norwegian Government
  • Head of State; King of Norway Haakon VII, Prince of Denmark and Iceland
  • Prime Minister of Norway; Johan Nygaardsvold
    • Minister of Foreign Affairs; Halvdan Koht
    • Minister of Finance; Oscar Fredrik Torp
    • Minister of Defence; Major General Birger Ljungberg
    • Minister of Supply; Trygve Halvdan Lie

Royal Norwegian Army

Despite the escalating hostilities throughout Europe in 1939 and 1940, the Norwegian government at the time failed to mobilise; leaving the Army wholly unprepared for the German invasion of April 1940. With the German occupational forces in 1940, as with the other parts of the Armed Forces, the Army had to surrender to a superior force, but army units were the ones resisting for the longest period of time: The 6th Division led by the legendary Major General Carl Gustav Fleischer participated in the allied recapture of Narvik.

As part of the in-place mobilisation plans, the military districts would become 'Military Divisions' with their brigades and HQs becoming the for these new units. However, only one division of note would fight; 6th Division.

Those units in italics were inactive/cadres.

Army Headquarters

• Royal Norwegian Army Headquarters, in Oslo
  • Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Royal Norwegian Army
    • Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Norwegian Army ; Major General Otto Ruge
  • x Heavy Artillery Battalion, at Hoytorp Fortress (with 12 x 105mm howitzers)
  • x Heavy Artillery Battalion, at Hoytorp Fortress (with 12 x 105mm howizers)
  • Anti-Aircraft Regiment, in Oslo
  • Engineer Regiment, in Hønefoss
  • Finnmark Brigade, in Kirkenes
    • 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment
    • 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment
    • Finnmark Infantry Battalion
    • 11th Artillery Battalion
  • Army Air Force
    • Army Air Force Headquarters, at Kjeller Airport
    • Reconnaissance Battalion, at Sola Air Station (with 5 x Fokker C.V and 1 x de Haviland Tiger Moth, 4 x Fokker C.V at Kjeller Airport)
    • Trondelag Reconnaissance Battalion, at Vaernes Air Station (with 9 x Fokker C.V and 1 x de Haviland Tiger Moth)
    • Hålogaland Reconnaissance Battalion, at Bardufoss Air Station (with 3 x Fokker C.V, 3 x Fokker C.V at Banak Air Station)
    • Fighter Battalion, at Fornebu Air Station (with 10 x Gloster Gladiator, 1 Gloster at Kjeller Airport)
    • Bomber Battalion, at Fornebu Air Station (with 8 x Fokker C.V and 5 x de Havilland Tiger Moth, 2 Fokker C.V at Kjeller Airport)
    • Supply Battalion, at Haernes Air Station
    • Army Air Force Training School, at Kjeller Airport (with 9 x Fokker C.V and 15 x Fokker C.V)

1st Military District

The 1st Military District overseeing south of Oslo, this covering (roughly) Oslo and Viken counties.

• 1st Military District Headquarters , in Halden, commanded by Brigadier General Carl Johan Erichsen
  • 1st Infantry Brigade Headquarters, in Fredrikstad
  • 1st Dragoon Regiment, in Gardermoen
  • 1st Infantry Regiment, in Fredrikstad
  • 2nd Infantry Regiment, in Oslo
  • 3rd Infantry Regiment, in Kongsberg
  • 1st Artillery Regiment, in Ski (with 8 x 120mm howitzers and 8 x 75mm field guns)
  • 1st Division School, in Halden
  • Fossummstroeket Fortress, in Mysen
    • Høytorp Fort (with 6 x 120mm howitzers, 8 x 84mm guns, 6 x 75mm guns, and 4 x AA Machine-Guns)
      • Officer's School (4 officers and 40 men)
      • Guard Detachment (2 officers and 30 men)
    • Trøgstad Fort (with 2 x 120mm howitzers, 8 x 84mm guns, and 6 x 75mm guns)
      • Officer's School (3 officers and 40 men)
  • Sparpsborg Fortress, in Sarpsborg
    • Greaaker Fort (with 2 x 120mm howitzers and 2 x 75mm guns)
    • Ravneberget Battery (with 2 x 105mm guns and 4 x 75mm guns)

2nd Military District

The 2nd Military District overseeing Innlandet County.

• 2nd Military District Headquarters , in Oslo, commanded by Brigadier General Jacob Hvinden Haug
  • 2nd Infantry Brigade Headquarters, in Oslo
  • His Majesty the King's Royal Guard, in Oslo
  • 2nd Dragoon Regiment, in Hamar
  • 4th Infantry Regiment, in Trandum
  • 5th Infantry Regiment, in Elverum
  • 6th Infantry Regiment, in Hønefoss
  • 2nd Artillery Regiment, in Gardermoen
  • Kongsvinger Fortress, in Fredrikstad, commanded by Major General E. Hoch-Nielsen
    • Gullbekkekk Fort
    • Vardefor Fort
    • Command and General Staff School
    • 2nd Division School
    • Cavalry School
    • Artillery School (with 2 x 75mm field guns)
    • Engineer School
    • Prisoner of War Depot

3rd Military District

The 3rd Military District overseeing Vestfold og Telemark county, Agder County, and Rogaland.

• 3rd Military District Headquarters , in Kristiansand, commanded by Brigadier General Einar Liljedahl
  • 3rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters, in Kristiansand
  • 7th Infantry Regiment, in Kristiansand
  • 8th Infantry Regiment, in Stavanger
  • 1st Mountain Artillery Battalion, in Evje

4th Military District

The 4th Military District overseeing Vestland county.

• 4th Military District Headquarters , in Bergen, commanded by Brigadier General William Steffens
  • 4th Infantry Brigade Headquarters, in Bergen
  • 9th Infantry Regiment, in Bergen
  • 10th Infantry Regiment, in Voss
  • 2nd Mountain Artillery Battalion, in Voss
  • Engineer Company, in Bergen

5th Military District

The 5th Military District overseeing Møre og Romsdal and Trøndelag counties.

• 5th Military District Headquarters , in Trondheim, commanded by Brigadier General Jacob Ager Laurantzon
  • 5th Infantry Brigade Headquarters, in Trondheim
  • 3rd Dragoon Regiment, in Stjordal
  • 11th Infantry Regiment, in Åndalsnes
  • 12th Infantry Regiment, in Trondheim
  • 13th Infantry Regiment, in Steinkjer
  • 3rd Artillery Regiment, in Trondheim
  • I Engineer Battalion, in Trondheim

6th Military District

The 6th Military District overseeing Nordland and Troms og Finnmark counties.

• 6th Military District Headquarters , in Harstad, commanded by Brigadier General Carl Gustav Fleischer
  • 6th Infantry Brigade Headquarters, in Tromsø
  • 14th Infantry Regiment, in Mosjøen
  • 15th Infantry Regiment, in Elvegårdsmoen
  • 16th Infantry Regiment, in Tromsø and Bardufoss
  • Alta Infantry Battalion, in Alta
  • 3rd Mountain Artillery Battalion, in Bardufoss
  • II Engineer Battalion, in Hardstad

Royal Norwegian Navy

• Commander-in-Chief, Royal Norwegian Navy , Rear Admiral Henry Edward Diesen
  • Chief of the Naval Staff, Commodore S. V. Storheill

First Naval District

• First Naval District, HQ at Karljohansvern, Horten — covering the Norwegian-Swedish Border to Jærens Reef.
  • Karljohansvern Naval Base
  • Minelayer: Olav Truggvason (being overhauled)
  • Cc. Radich (school ship)
  • Sorlandet (school ship)
  • Barracks Ships: King Oscar II and Brabrandt
  • 1st Naval Air Group, in Kristiansand
    • Karljohansvern Naval Air Station
      • 1 x MF.10, 5 x MF.11, and 2 x DT2c
    • Kristiansand Naval Air Station
      • 1 x MF.10 and 3 x MF.11
    • Hafrsfjord Naval Air Station
      • 1 x He.115a
    • Gresshomen Naval Air Station
      • 1 x Ju.52/3m
  • 1st Minelayer Division
    • Minelayers: Laugen and Glomen
    • Auxiliary Minesweepers: Nor and Vidar — Vidar in Melsomvik
  • 3rd Torpedo Division, HQ in Kristiansand
    • Motor Torpedo Patrol Boats: Jo, Grib, and Ravn; Orn and Lom in Horten being overhauled

Oslofjord Defense Sector

• Oslofjord Defense Sector, HQ at the Tønsberg Naval School
  • 1st Submarine Division, HQ in Horten
    • Submarines: A2, A3, and A4
    • Submarine Tender: Sarpen, in Tønsberg
  • 1st Minesweeper Division
    • Auxiliary Minesweepers: Hauk, Falk, Hvas, and Kjæk
  • 3rd Minesweeper Division
    • Auxiliary Minesweepers: Otra, and Rauma
  • Sector Patrol Vessels
    • Patrol Gun Boat Vessels: Farm, Pol III, Skudd I & II, Oter I, Hval II & III, Treff, Ramoen, Saetre, and Beta
  • Oslofjord Fortress, HQ at Haøy Fort
    • Defense Company (2 companies)
    • Haøy Fort (with 2 x 210mm guns, 2 x 120mm guns, 4 x 65mm guns, 6 x AA machine-guns (3 of which not manned), and 2 x searchlights, 10 officers and 90 men)
    • Rauøy Fort (with 4 x 150mm guns, 2 x 65 mm guns not manned, 2 x 40mm AA guns, 8 AA machine-guns 6 not manned, and 3 x searchlights, 23 officers and 210 men)
    • Bolaerme Fort (with 3 x 150mm guns, 4 x 120mm guns, 6 x AA machine-guns, and 2 searchlights not manned, 17 officers and 148 men)
    • Makeroy Fort (with 2 x 305mm guns, 3 x AA machine-guns, and 2 searchlights not manned, 10 officers and 70 men)

References

• Pettibone, Charles D. (2014). The Organization and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II: Volume IX - The Overrun & Neutral Nations of Europe and Latin American Allies. Rochester, New York, United States of America: Trafford Publishing. ISBN 978-1490733869.