1939 in Norway

← 1938 1937 1936 1939 in Norway → 1940 1941 1942
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s
See also:	List of years in Norway

Events in the year 1939 in Norway.

Incumbents

• Monarch – Haakon VII. ^[1]
• Prime Minister – Johan Nygaardsvold (Labour Party)

Events

Oslo Airport, Fornebu on 1 July 1939, the day it opened.

• 17 May – Sweden, Norway, and Finland refuse Germany's offer of non-aggression pacts.
• 1 June – Oslo Airport, Fornebu is opened.
• 1 June – Kristiansand Airport, Kjevik is officially opened.
• 1 September – Norway, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland declare their neutrality.

Popular culture

Sports

Main article: 1939 in Norwegian football

Music

Main article: 1939 in Norwegian music

Film

Main article: Norwegian films of the 1930s § 1939

Notable births

January

• 1 January – Lars Oftedal Broch, judge (died 2017). ^[2]
• 8 January – Laila Kaland, politician (died 2007)
• 12 January – Dagfinn Ripnes, politician
• 13 January –
  • Guri Vesaas, translator and publishing house editor. ^[3]
  • Kari Wærness, sociologist. ^[4]
• 15 January – Bjørn Hansen, soccer player and coach (died 2018)
• 17 January – Kari Knudsen, model

February

Ole Ellefsæter

• 4 February – Ola Hunderi, physicist (died 2016)
• 5 February – Tor Bjerkmann, publisher (died 1999). ^[5]
• 13 February – Bjørn Bergvall, sailor and Olympic gold medallist. ^[6]
• 14 February – Grete Nash, ceramist (died 1999). ^[7]
• 15 February – Ole Ellefsæter, cross country skier, double Olympic gold medallist and World Champion (died 2022). ^[8]
• 16 February – Sigmund Borgundvåg, naval architect
• 21 February – Svein Erik Brodal, actor, theatre director, poet, novelist and politician. ^[9]

March

Ole Danbolt Mjøs

• 8 March – Ole Danbolt Mjøs, physician and politician, leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee (died 2013). ^[10]
• 8 March – Per A. Utsi, politician (died 2024). ^[11]
• 17 March – Lars Lefdal, politician
• 23 March – Hans Rasmus Astrup, ship broker, art collector, and founder of the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art (died 2021). ^[12]
• 23 March – Jannik Lindbæk, businessperson
• 27 March – Per Ove Width, politician
• 28 March – Toppen Bech, journalist (died 2024). ^[13]

April

Gro Harlem Brundtland

• 3 April – Kari Vogt, religions historian (died 2024). ^[14]
• 4 April – Ragnhild Queseth Haarstad, politician and Minister (died 2017)
• 7 April – Kjell Kaspersen, international soccer player
• 8 April – Veslemøy Haslund, actress (died 2005). ^[15]
• 14 April – Olaf Aurdal, politician
• 14 April – Dag Kavlie, shipping engineer
• 17 April – Jan Hoem, demographer (died 2017)
• 19 April – Solveig Sollie, politician and Minister
• 20 April – Gro Harlem Brundtland, Norway's first female Prime Minister

May

• 8 May – Tore A. Liltved, politician (died 2004)
• 13 May – Kari Løvaas, operatic soprano (died 2025)
• 17 May – Ola B. Johannessen, actor, stage producer and theatre director. ^[16]
• 19 May – Tore Godal, physician. ^[17]
• 23 May – Gunnar Breimo, politician (died 2024)

June

• 3 June – Jon Tolaas, poet and author (died 2012). ^[18]

July

Monna Tandberg

• 2 July –
  • Per Spook, fashion designer. ^[19]
  • Monna Tandberg, actress (died 2025). ^[20]
• 4 July – Thea Stabell, actress
• 15 July – Eilert Stang Lund, judge
• 15 July – Ketil Lund, judge
• 21 July – Magnar Norderhaug, zoologist and ecologist (died 2006)
• 25 July – Arne L. Haugen, politician
• 29 July – Jon Istad, biathlete and World Champion (died 2012)
• 29 July – Georg Johan Jacobsen, politician (died 2011)
• 30 July – Syver Berge, politician

August

Ove Stokstad

• 5 August – Nils Are Øritsland, polar researcher in zoophysiology and ecology (died 2006)
• 9 August – Odd Børre, pop singer
• 9 August – Ove Stokstad, printmaker and jazz musician (died 2018). ^[21]
• 18 August – Harald Heide-Steen Jr. actor, comedian and singer (died 2008) ^[22]
• 18 August – Georg Indrevik, politician

September

Babben Enger-Damon

• 8 September – Arne Kielland, journalist and politician (died 2003). ^[23]
• 16 September – Jon Hellesnes, philosopher, novelist and essayist
• 19 September – Babben Enger-Damon, cross country skier, Olympic gold medallist and orienteer
• 23 September – Rolf Birger Pedersen, football player and coach (died 2001)
• 25 September – Berit Nøkleby, historian (died 2018). ^[24]
• 26 September – Snøfrid Skaare, politician
• 26 September – Lars Jacob Krogh, journalist (died 2010)

October

• 1 October – Astrid Sandvik, alpine skier
• 2 October – Kristin K. Devold, politician
• 3 October – Anneliese Dørum, politician (died 2000)
• 16 October – Sverre Bergh Johansen, diplomat
• 16 October – Hans Fredrik Dahl, historian, journalist and professor. ^[25]
• 21 October – Kjell Borgen, politician and Minister (died 1996)
• 30 October – Gro Gulden, mycologist

November

• 16 November – Tor Åge Bringsværd, author, playwright, editor and translator (died 2025)
• 27 November – Erik Bartnes, farmer and politician (died 2020)

December

• 1 December – Halvdan Skard, politician
• 27 December – Olav Jordet, biathlete, Olympic silver medallist and World Champion

Notable deaths

January to June

Peder Østlund

• 2 January – Eyvind Andersen, judge (born 1874). ^{[26] [27]}
• 22 January – Peder Østlund, speed skater (born 1872)
• 2 March – Einar Wang, politician (born 1855)
• 7 March – Bertrand Narvesen, businessperson (born 1860)
• 25 June – Olaf Ørvig, sailor and Olympic gold medallist (born 1889)
• 27 June – Mikal Angell Jacobus Landmark, politician (born 1867)

July to December

Olav Duun

Jens Bratlie

• 17 July – Oskar Braaten, novelist and playwright (born 1881)
• 14 August – Regine Normann, teacher and writer (born 1867). ^[28]
• 21 August – Sigurd Høst, educator (born 1866). ^[29]
• 13 September – Olav Duun, novelist (born 1876)
• 15 September – Jens Bratlie, politician and Prime Minister of Norway (born 1856)
• 8 October – Gustav Henriksen, businessperson (born 1872)
• 2 November – Eivind Heiberg, engineer and railway director (born 1870)
• 9 December – Nils Erik Flakstad, businessperson and politician (born 1876)
• 12 December – Olaf Amundsen, politician and Minister (born 1876)
• 14 December – Peter Torjesen, missionary to China (born 1892)
• 22 December – Østen Østensen, rifle shooter and Olympic silver medallist (born 1878)
• 29 December – Johannes Irgens, diplomat, politician and Minister (born 1869)

Full date unknown

• Lars Jorde, painter (born 1865)
• Elias C. Kiær, businessperson (born 1863)

References

1. Grimnes, Ole Kristian; Dørum, Knut. "Haakon 7.". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
2. Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Lars Oftedal Broch". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
3. Hovdenakk, Stine. "Guri Vesaas". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
4. Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Kari Wærness". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
5. Tveterås, Egil. "Tor Bjerkmann". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
6. "Bjørn Bergvall". olympedia.org. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
7. Linder, Mats. "Grete Helland-Hansen Nash". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
8. Bryhn, Rolf. "Ole Ellefsæter". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
9. Fidjestøl, Alfred. "Svein Erik Brodal". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
10. Halse, Per. "Ole Danbolt Mjøs". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
11. "Utsi, Per A. (1939–2024)" (in Norwegian). Storting.
12. Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Hans Rasmus Astrup". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
13. Holen, Øyvind. "Toppen Bech". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
14. Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Kari Vogt". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
15. Sande, Marte. "Veslemøy Haslund". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
16. Bikset, Lillian. "Ola B. Johannessen". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
17. Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Tore Godal". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
18. Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Jon Tolaas". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
19. Nordgaard, Karun. "Per Spook". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
20. Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Monna Tandberg". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
21. Stendahl, Bjørn. "Ove Stokstad". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
22. Aftenposten: "Harald Heide Steen jr. er død" Archived 24 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine , 3 July 2008 (in Norwegian)
23. Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Arne Kielland". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
24. Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Berit Nøkleby". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
25. Tvedt, Knut Are. "Hans Fredrik Dahl". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
26. Steenstrup, Hjalmar, ed. (1930). "Andersen, Eyvind Johannes". Hvem er hvem? (in Norwegian). Oslo: Aschehoug. p. 21. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
27. Gram, Harald; Steenstrup, Bjørn, eds. (1948). "Fortegnelse over personer som siste gang er omtalt i utgaven 1938 med angivelse av deres dødsdatum". Hvem er hvem? (in Norwegian). Oslo: Aschehoug. p. 598. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
28. Willumsen, Liv Helene; Dalen, Marit. "Regine Normann". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
29. Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Sigurd Høst". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 9 April 2025.