Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany

The German occupation of Norway began on 9 April 1940 after German forces invaded the neutral Scandinavian country of Norway. The Germans used only 24 hours to take over Norway. It ended on 8 May 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht. Civil rule was effectively assumed by the Reichskommissariat Norwegen (Reich Commissariat of Norway), which acted in collaboration with a pro-German puppet government, while the Norwegian King and legitimate government continued to operate in exile from London. This period of military occupation is in Norway referred to as the "war years" or "occupation period".