Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany

Starting with the invasion of April 9, 1940, Norway was under military occupation of German forces and civil rule of a German commissioner in collaboration with a Norwegian fascist government. The occupation ended May 10, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe.

Refugees

Throughout the war years, a number of Norwegians fled the Nazi regime, mostly across the long land border to Sweden. These included Jews, political activists, and others who had reason to fear for the lives. The Nazis set up border patrols to stop these flights, but locals who knew the woods, combined with the long Norwegian-Swedish border, developed ways to bypass them. Along with individuals who hid refugees in their homes, the "border pilots" were among those in the resistance movement that took the greatest risks.

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Swedish authorities accepted such refugees and ensured their safety once they had crossed the border, but did little to facilitate the flights. In Sweden, refugees were often confined to camps where their basic needs were met. A total of close to 50.000 Norwegians fled to Sweden during the war.

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