1944 in Norway

Centuries:	18th; 19th; 20th; 21st; ;
Decades:	1920s; 1930s; 1940s; 1950s; 1960s;
See also:	List of years in Norway

Events in the year 1944 in Norway.

Incumbents[edit]

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[edit]

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.

The town of Kirkenes burning after withdrawal of German forces, October 1944
A reconnaissance photo of the capsized German battleship Tirpitz after the 12 November attack.
The prisoner ship Rigel under attack and on fire on 27 November.

Popular culture[edit]

Sports[edit]

Music[edit]

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

Film[edit]

Brudekronen, directed by Walter Fyrst

Literature[edit]

Notable births[edit]

Jon Bing, science fiction writer and jurist.

Jon Michelet in 2011

5 January – Eystein Eggen, writer
5 January – Eirin Faldet, politician
6 January – Mona Lyngar, novelist.^[1]
7 January – Arne Scheie, sports commentator
24 January – Kåre Hovda, biathlete (died 1999)
13 February – Lasse Efskind, speed skater, medical doctor and writer.^[2]

21 February – Harald Sunde, international soccer player and coach
24 February – Terje Sandkjær, politician
24 February – Bjørn Aamodt, poet (died 2006).^[3]
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 (died 2014).^[4]

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
27 May – Karen Fladset, handball player and coach.^[5]

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)
4 July – Jan Erik Kongshaug, sound engineering, jazz guitarist, and composer
12 July – Kjell Kristian Rike, sports commentator (died 2008)^[6]
14 July – Jon Michelet, thriller and crime fiction writer (Orion's Belt), publisher, newspaper editor (Klassekampen) and politician (died 2018).^[7]
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 (world champion 1966, 1970).^[8]

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]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Edvard Munch

Gregers Gram

23 January – Edvard Munch, painter and printmaker (born 1863).^[10]
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)