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Chief of Defence (Norway)

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Chief of Defence
Forsvarssjefen
Coat of arms for the Chief of Defence
Standard for the Chief of Defence
since 17 August 2020
Ministry of Defence
Reports toMinister of Defence
AppointerThe Prime Minister
with approval from The Council of State
Formation18 May 1940
First holderOtto Ruge

The Chief of Defence (Forsvarssjefen) is the highest-ranking officer of the Norwegian Armed Forces, second only to the King of Norway. Even though he holds the same rank as the King of Norway, according to the Norwegian Constitution the King holds the highest command of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Home Guard.

The Chief of Defence is the top advisor to the Government regarding military issues. He is responsible for carrying out the mission the King or Minister of Defence gives to the Military. He is also Norway's representative to NATO's military committee.[1]

The post was first established in 1940,[2][3] and is currently held by General Eirik Kristoffersen.[4]

List of Chiefs of Defence

[edit]
No. Portrait Chief of Defence Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch
1
Otto Ruge
Ruge, OttoMajor General
Otto Ruge
(1882–1961)		18 May 19409 June 194022 days Norwegian Army
–
Carl Gustav Fleischer
Fleischer, Carl GustavMajor General
Carl Gustav Fleischer
(1883–1942)
Acting		10 June 194022 February 19421 year, 257 days Norwegian Army
2
Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen
Hansteen, Wilhelm von TangenMajor General
Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen
(1896–1980)		23 February 194230 June 19442 years, 128 days Norwegian Army
3
Olav
OlavHRH Crown Prince
Olav
(1903–1991)		1 July 194415 July 19451 year, 14 days Norwegian Army
(1)
Otto Ruge
Ruge, OttoLieutenant General
Otto Ruge
(1882–1961)		16 July 194531 December 1945168 days Norwegian Army
–
Elias Corneliussen
Corneliussen, EliasRear Admiral
Elias Corneliussen
(1881–1951)
Acting		1 January 194631 May 1946150 days Royal Norwegian Navy
–
Halvor Hansson
Hansson, HalvorMajor General
Halvor Hansson
(1886–1956)
Acting		1 June 194631 July 194660 days Norwegian Army
4
Ole Berg
Berg, OleLieutenant General
Ole Berg
(1890–1968)
(as Chief of the Defence Staff)		1 August 194631 October 19559 years, 91 days Norwegian Army
5
Finn Lambrechts
Lambrechts, FinnLieutenant General
Finn Lambrechts
(1900–1956)
(as Chief of the Defence Staff)		1 November 19558 December 1956 †1 year, 37 days Royal Norwegian Air Force
6
Bjarne Øen
Øen, BjarneLieutenant General
Bjarne Øen
(1898–1994)
(as Chief of the Defence Staff)		10 January 195731 December 19625 years, 355 days Royal Norwegian Air Force
(6)
Bjarne Øen
Øen, BjarneLieutenant General
Bjarne Øen
(1898–1994)		1 January 196331 December 1963364 days Royal Norwegian Air Force
7
Folke Hauger Johannessen
Johannessen, Folke HaugerVice Admiral
Folke Hauger Johannessen
(1913–1997)		1 January 196431 December 19728 years, 365 days Royal Norwegian Navy
8
Herman Fredrik Zeiner-Gundersen
Zeiner-Gundersen, Herman FredrikGeneral
Herman Fredrik Zeiner-Gundersen
(1915–2002)		1 February 197220 March 19775 years, 47 days Norwegian Army
9
Sverre B. Hamre
Hamre, Sverre B.General
Sverre B. Hamre
(1918–1990)		21 March 197730 June 19825 years, 70 days Norwegian Army
10
Sven Hauge
Hauge, SvenGeneral
Sven Hauge
(1923–1997)		1 July 198230 June 19841 year, 365 days Royal Norwegian Air Force
11
Fredrik Bull-Hansen
Bull-Hansen, FredrikGeneral
Fredrik Bull-Hansen
(1927–2018)		1 July 198431 August 19873 years, 61 days Norwegian Army
12
Vigleik Eide
Eide, VigleikGeneral
Vigleik Eide
(1933–2011)		31 August 19875 September 19892 years, 5 days Norwegian Army
13
Torolf Rein
Rein, TorolfAdmiral
Torolf Rein
(born 1934)		5 September 198931 October 19945 years, 56 days Royal Norwegian Navy
14
Arne Solli
Solli, ArneGeneral
Arne Solli
(1938–2017)		31 October 199430 April 19994 years, 181 days Norwegian Army
15
Sigurd Frisvold
Frisvold, SigurdGeneral
Sigurd Frisvold
(1947–2022)		1 May 199931 March 20055 years, 334 days Norwegian Army
16
Sverre Diesen
Diesen, SverreGeneral
Sverre Diesen
(born 1949)		1 April 200530 September 20094 years, 182 days Norwegian Army
17
Harald Sunde[5]
Sunde, HaraldGeneral
Harald Sunde[5]
(born 1954)		1 October 200919 November 20134 years, 49 days Norwegian Army
18
Haakon Bruun-Hanssen[5]
Bruun-Hanssen, HaakonAdmiral
Haakon Bruun-Hanssen[5]
(born 1960)		19 November 201317 August 20206 years, 272 days Royal Norwegian Navy
19
Eirik Kristoffersen[5]
Kristoffersen, Eirik JohanGeneral
Eirik Kristoffersen[5]
(born 1969)		17 August 2020Incumbent4 years, 96 days Norwegian Army

References and footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ Overview of the Chief of Defence of Norway position and a listing of holders (in Norwegian) Archived 2009-09-15 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Derry, T.K. (1972). A History of Modern Norway: 1814—1972. Clarendon Press, Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-822503-4.
  3. ^ Kersaudy, François (1987). Norway 1940. St. Martin's Press, New York. ISBN 0-312-06427-6.
  4. ^ "Generalmajor Eirik Kristoffersen ny forsvarssjef". 12 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Norway has appointed a new Chief of Defence". Regjeringen.no, 21 June 2013, webpage: Regj398.
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