Chief of Defence (Norway)

Last updated

Chief of Defence
Forsvarssjefen
Coat of arms of the Norwegian Chief of Defence.svg
Coat of arms for the Chief of Defence
Flag of the Norwegian Chief of Defence.svg
Standard for the Chief of Defence
General Eirik Kristoffersen, Chief of Defense of the Armed Forces of Norway, at the Pentagon on 8 April 2024 (cropped).jpg
since 17 August 2020
Ministry of Defence
Reports to Minister of Defence
AppointerThe Prime Minister
with approval from The Council of State
Formation18 May 1940
First holder Otto 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

No.PortraitChief of DefenceTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branch
1
Otto Ruge.jpg
Ruge, Otto Major General
Otto Ruge
(1882–1961)
18 May 19409 June 194022 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
Carl Gustav Fleischer 1940b.jpg
Fleischer, Carl GustavMajor General
Carl Gustav Fleischer
(1883–1942)
Acting
10 June 194022 February 19421 year, 257 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
2
Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen.jpg
Hansteen, Wilhelm von TangenMajor General
Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen
(1896–1980)
23 February 194230 June 19442 years, 128 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
3
129. Kronprins Olav - no-nb digifoto 20160111 00008 bldsa pk kgl0064.jpg
Olav HRH Crown Prince
Olav
(1903–1991)
1 July 194415 July 19451 year, 14 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
(1)
Otto Ruge.jpg
Ruge, Otto Lieutenant General
Otto Ruge
(1882–1961)
16 July 194531 December 1945168 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
Elias Corneliussen.jpg
Corneliussen, Elias Rear Admiral
Elias Corneliussen
(1881–1951)
Acting
1 January 194631 May 1946150 daysFlag of Norway, state.svg  Royal Norwegian Navy
Coat of arms of the Norwegian Army.svg
Hansson, HalvorMajor General
Halvor Hansson
(1886–1956)
Acting
1 June 194631 July 194660 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
4
Ole Berg (1890-1968).jpg
Berg, OleLieutenant General
Ole Berg
(1890–1968)
(as Chief of the Defence Staff)
1 August 194631 October 19559 years, 91 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
5
Finn Lambrechts, Sjef Luftforsvaret - Kjevik 1955 (cropped).jpg
Lambrechts, FinnLieutenant General
Finn Lambrechts
(1900–1956)
(as Chief of the Defence Staff)
1 November 19558 December 1956 1 year, 37 daysRoyal Norwegian Air Force Flag.svg  Royal Norwegian Air Force
6
Bjarneoen littlenorway.jpg
Øen, BjarneLieutenant General
Bjarne Øen
(1898–1994)
(as Chief of the Defence Staff)
10 January 195731 December 19625 years, 355 daysRoyal Norwegian Air Force Flag.svg  Royal Norwegian Air Force
(6)
Bjarneoen littlenorway.jpg
Øen, BjarneLieutenant General
Bjarne Øen
(1898–1994)
1 January 196331 December 1963364 daysRoyal Norwegian Air Force Flag.svg  Royal Norwegian Air Force
7
Coat of arms of the Royal Norwegian Navy.svg
Johannessen, Folke Hauger Vice Admiral
Folke Hauger Johannessen
(1913–1997)
1 January 196431 December 19728 years, 365 daysFlag of Norway, state.svg  Royal Norwegian Navy
8
Herman Fredrik Zeiner-Gundersen 1979.jpg
Zeiner-Gundersen, Herman Fredrik General
Herman Fredrik Zeiner-Gundersen
(1915–2002)
1 February 197220 March 19775 years, 47 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
9
Coat of arms of the Norwegian Army.svg
Hamre, Sverre B.General
Sverre B. Hamre
(1918–1990)
21 March 197730 June 19825 years, 70 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
10
Royal Norwegian Air Force logo.svg
Hauge, SvenGeneral
Sven Hauge
(1923–1997)
1 July 198230 June 19841 year, 365 daysRoyal Norwegian Air Force Flag.svg  Royal Norwegian Air Force
11
Coat of arms of the Norwegian Army.svg
Bull-Hansen, FredrikGeneral
Fredrik Bull-Hansen
(1927–2018)
1 July 198431 August 19873 years, 61 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
12
Vigleik Eide.jpg
Eide, VigleikGeneral
Vigleik Eide
(1933–2011)
31 August 19875 September 19892 years, 5 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
13
Coat of arms of the Royal Norwegian Navy.svg
Rein, Torolf Admiral
Torolf Rein
(born 1934)
5 September 198931 October 19945 years, 56 daysFlag of Norway, state.svg  Royal Norwegian Navy
14
General Solli.jpg
Solli, ArneGeneral
Arne Solli
(1938–2017)
31 October 199430 April 19994 years, 181 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
15
Coat of arms of the Norwegian Army.svg
Frisvold, SigurdGeneral
Sigurd Frisvold
(1947–2022)
1 May 199931 March 20055 years, 334 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
16
Sverre Diesen.jpg
Diesen, SverreGeneral
Sverre Diesen
(born 1949)
1 April 200530 September 20094 years, 182 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
17
Harald Sunde.jpg
Sunde, HaraldGeneral
Harald Sunde [5]
(born 1954)
1 October 200919 November 20134 years, 49 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army
18
Haakon Bruun-Hanssen admiral IMG 5133.JPG
Bruun-Hanssen, HaakonAdmiral
Haakon Bruun-Hanssen [5]
(born 1960)
19 November 201317 August 20206 years, 272 daysFlag of Norway, state.svg  Royal Norwegian Navy
19
General Eirik Kristoffersen, Chief of Defense of the Armed Forces of Norway, at the Pentagon on 8 April 2024 (cropped).jpg
Kristoffersen, Eirik JohanGeneral
Eirik Kristoffersen [5]
(born 1969)
17 August 2020Incumbent4 years, 45 daysFlag of the Norwegian Army.svg  Norwegian Army

References and footnotes

  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: 18141972. 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. 1 2 3 "Norway has appointed a new Chief of Defence". Regjeringen.no, 21 June 2013, webpage: Regj398.

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