Norway's Council of State during Second World War
1940 - 1945
Article | Last updated: 26/03/2014
When Norway was occupied by Nazi Germany on 9 April 1940, the King and the Government left the capital together with civil servants. During the flight northwards, frequent government conferences and council of state sessions were held until 7 June.
On 30 April the Council of State even had a session in the Norwegian Ocean - on board the HMS Glasgow, a British cruiser taking the King and the Government from Molde to Tromsø.
On 7 June the King and the Government left Tromsø for Great Britain, on the British cruiser the HMS Devonshire.
At the German capitulation in Norway on 8 May 1945, Mr. Vidkun Quisling’s German-supported National Socialist government ceased to function and its members were arrested. According to an agreement between the Home Front and the Norwegian Government in London, eight secretaries generals were appointed to administer the ministries in Oslo until the arrival of a government delegation from London.