July 22

On this day - July 22 2011 - The terror attacks in Norway

The terror attacks in Norway was two attacks by a Norwegian right wing extremist, Anders Behring Breivik. He first placed a bomb outside of the government offices in Norway. 8 people were killed and another 200 people injured from the bomb. The terrorist thereafter drove to Utøya where a summer-camp for the youth labor party in Norway was held. He was dressed as a police officer and started shooting the youth on the island. Another 69 people was killed before he was captured. He was later sentenced to 21 years in prison, which can be extended if he is deemed a threat to society. he name is marked in Norway today in memory of all those who lost their lives.

By Asav - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15901154

May 17th

On this day - May 17th 1814 - The Norwegian constitution was signed 

The Norwegian constitution was signed in 1814 when Norway declared itself independent from Denmark. The background for the signing of the constitution was the defeat of Napoleon and, with Napoleon, danish troops. Prince Christian-Frederik founded a independent movement.and a national assembly was called. The constitution was written over a five weeks period in the spring of 181, ratified on may 16th and signed on May 17th. It is the second oldest constitution still in use today and it was considered radical and liberal when it was first created. May 17th is celebrated as the national day in Norway today, but Norway did not receive its independence in 1814. After a short war with  entered Norway in a forced union with Sweden and it wasn't until 1905 that Norway gained its independence.

April 9th

On this day - April 9th 1940 - Vidkun Quisling and Nazi-Germany occupied Norway

Norway was occupied by Germany in the early morning of April 9th 1940. The Germany attack happened both by air and sea and since Norway's military defense was rather poor at the time was the occupation an easy quest for the much stronger German army. The Norwegian army and resistance managed to sink the German ship Blücher and the government managed to get escape. The occupying German forces had expected Norway to surrender, but after much discussion decided the government that they would not give into German demands. Germany and Quisling decided thereafter to start a military coup and Quisling announced himself as the new Prime Minister over Norwegian radio. Norway was occupied until the end of the war, when Quisling was sentenced to death for his betrayal. You can read about his death sentence on October 24th here.

If you want to know mor about the events during the occupation and the resistance against Germany recommend we the movie "Max Manus: Man of War (English Subtitled)". The movie tells the story of one of the most important resistance fighters in Norway, Max Manus , and his fight against the German occupation.

January 17th

On this day - 17th January 1991 - Harald V became king of Norway upon the death of his father, Olav V. 

Harald V became king after his father, Olav V died of a heart attack on January 17th. This made King Harald the first Norwegian born king since the countrys independence. His father Olav V had arrived in Norway in 1905 when his father, Haakon VII, was elected as King of Norway. Olav V was a very popular king in Norway had he is also knwn as the "peoples-king". He died of a heart attack on the 17th of January which was much caused by the tense political situation in the world at the time.
Norways new king, Harald V is closely related to several of the other European royalties and the second cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.  The royal family in Norway works as a representative of the country, but they have no real political power. Kong Harald, and his wife Queen Sonja have two children, crown-prince Håkon and princess Märtha. Today mark the 25 year anniversary for His Majesty the King of Norway Harald V's reign.

King Harald V

Former king Olav V 

January 9th

On this day - January 9th 1885 - Henrik Ibsens play Vildanden premiered

Henrik Ibsens play Vildanden (The Wild  Duck) premiered in 1885 in Bergen, Norway. The play has been adapted to both silent and talking movies, the earliest in 1926 when a German silent film was made. The most known movie was made in 1983 and stared Jeremey Irons and Liv Ullmann. The theme of the play is will people get a better life if uncomfortable truths about their life came out. The different characters in the play have different opinions about this. The most famous is the doctor who consideres the "life lie" to be a medicine for man. Other important roles in the play are Håkon Werle, a rich city merchant, Hjalmar Ekdahl and his wife Gina, and Hedvig, their daughter.  The play has been translated to over 60 languages and are still being played around the world today.

The most famous quote from the play is the Relling saying
"If you take the life-lie away from a person you take his life"

December 23

On this day - 23 December 1969 - Oil was found in Norway

No one had expected to find the amount of oil they did outside of Norway when Phillip Petroleum Company started looking for it in the 1960s.  In the 1950s had even the likelihood of finding oil this far north considered extremely unlikely. Phillip discover oil in an area which have been titled "Ekofisk" field in 1969. This is one of the largest oil-fields found in an ocean. Pre-production started in the area in 1971 and official production in 1974. Oil have since played an important part of almost all aspects of Norway and it is the most important source of income in Noway. In the year 2000, when Norwegian oil production was on top, were Norway the third largest oil- and gass exporter in the world. Oil is still being produced in the Ekosfisk field today.