1944 in Norway
Events in the year 1944 in Norway.
Incumbents
- Government in Exile
- * Monarch – Haakon VII
- * Prime Minister – Johan Nygaardsvold
- German Military Governor
- * Reichskommissar in Norway – Josef Terboven
- German Puppet Government in Oslo
- * Minister-President – Vidkun Quisling
Events
- 3 April – The German battleship 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 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.
Popular culture
Sports
Music
- Song of Norway by Robert Wright and George Forrest, adapted from the music of Edvard Grieg
Film
- Brudekronen, directed by Walter Fyrst
Literature
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
- 13 February – Lasse Efskind, speed skater, medical doctor and writer.
- 21 February – Harald Sunde, international soccer player and coach
- 24 February – Terje Sandkjær, politician
- 24 February – Bjørn Aamodt, poet.
- 3 March – Arvid Knutsen, soccer player and coach
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 10 May – John Fredriksen, oil tanker and shipping tycoon
- 16 May – Jørgen Holte, politician
- 27 May – Karen Fladset, handball player and coach.
- 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
- 4 July – Jan Erik Kongshaug, sound engineering, jazz guitarist, and composer
- 12 July – Kjell Kristian Rike, sports commentator
- 14 July – Jon Michelet, thriller and crime fiction writer, publisher, newspaper editor and politician.
- 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
- 1 October – Yngvar Numme, singer, actor, revue writer and director.
- 9 October – Jan Fredrik Wiborg, civil engineer
- 14 October – Svein Flåtten, politician
- 17 October – Leiv Nergaard, businessperson
- 18 October – Finn Seemann, international soccer player
- 5 November – Asmund Kristoffersen, politician
- 5 November – Håkon Mjøen, alpine skier.
- 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
- Jiri Hlinka, music professor and piano teacher
- Stein H. Annexstad, businessperson and politician
- Ole T. Berg, political scientist
- Sven G. Eliassen, historian
- 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.
- 19 February – Reidar Haave Olsen, pilot
- 25 April – Olav Nielsen, boxer
- 12 June – Einar Hærland, military officer, executed
- 24 June – Sigurd Roll, diplomat and former sprinter
- 8 August – Ragnvald Hvoslef, politician
- 14 October – Torleif Torkildsen, gymnast and Olympic bronze medallist
- 13 November – Gregers Gram, resistance fighter and saboteur
- 12 December – Alf Hjort, electrical engineer in America
Full date unknown
- Haakon Martin Five, politician and Minister
- Alfred Klingenberg, pianist
- Odd Sverressøn Klingenberg, politician and Minister