7th June 1945 – a return to civilian life in Norway
With the King finally back in Norway, it was time for the Norwegian authorities to take over civil administration from the Allies. The Swedish Riksdag used the 40th anniversary of the dissolution of the union to wish the Storting the best of luck in the resumption of its work. Thursday 7th June 1945 was a date for the history books.
For the Storting and the other branches of the Norwegian state, the spring and summer of 1945 was a time for restoring democracy after five years of Nazi dictatorship. In the outpouring of joy that accompanied peace and liberation, there were multiple questions to address and formalities to be settled. Step by step, Norwegian democracy was reinstated.
The King’s homecoming
Kong Haakon VII and the Crown Prince family being welcomed home on 7th June 1945. Foto: Oslo Museum.
June 7th was one of the milestones of 1945’s summer of peace. The day is best remembered for the long-awaited return to Norway of King Haakon VII and the Crown Prince family, five years to the day since they had been forced to leave the country. In fact, Crown Prince Olav had returned over three weeks previously, on 13th May, along with some members of the Government and General Andrew Thorne, a senior British Army officer. For the first few weeks after Germany’s surrender, General Thorne was the highest authority on behalf of the Allies in newly-liberated Norway
Norwegian authorities back behind the wheel
The Royal Family, the Government and the Storting were once again reunited in Norway. With the Norwegian civil authorities in place, General Thorne was able to hand back head of state powers to King Haakon VII. In a letter of 7th June, Thorne wrote that civil authority had been transferred to the Norwegian state. Read the letter (pdf facsimile of a document in the Storting Archives)
“…sincere wishes for success to the Storting, as it once again convenes in a free Norway,” wrote the Speaker of the Swedish Riksdag (Parliament) in this telegram – 40 years to the day after the dissolution of the union with Sweden. (facsimile of a document found in the Storting Archives).
From that point on, Norwegian authorities took charge of civil power in the country. The Allies, under the command of General Thorne, retained military duties and authority, including the disarmament and repatriation of German prisoners of war.
Sweden sends its greetings
The date of 14th June had already been fixed as the Storting’s first sitting since the end of the war. Freedom in Norway and the resumption of parliamentary democracy after five long years of occupation sparked widespread congratulations and greetings.
During these hectic weeks, the Storting received warm wishes from many quarters. Among the most symbolic was the telegram which arrived from Sweden on 7th June, 40 years to the day after the Storting, unilaterally and to the great indignation of its neighbour, had declared the union between the two countries dissolved.
Last updated: 22.05.2025 10:15