Minister of Defence (Norway)

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The Norwegian Minister of Defence is the head of the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. The position has existed since 1814. The incumbent minister since 4 February 2025 is Tore O. Sandvik of the Labour Party.

Contents

Between 1819 and 1885 the Ministry was split into two different ministries, the Ministry of the Navy and the Army Ministry.

Norwegian defence ministers after 1945
Bjørn Arild GramOdd Roger EnoksenFrank Bakke JensenIne Marie Eriksen SøreideAnne-Grete Strøm-ErichsenEspen Barth EideGrete FaremoAnne-Grete Strøm-ErichsenKristin Krohn DevoldBjørn Tore GodalEldbjørg LøwerDag Jostein FjærvollJørgen KosmoJohan Jørgen HolstPer Ditlev-SimonsenJohan Jørgen HolstRolf PresthusAnders SjaastadThorvald StoltenbergRolf Arthur HansenAlv Jakob FostervollJohan KleppeAlv Jakob FostervollGunnar HellesenOtto Grieg TidemandGudmund HarlemHåkon KyllingmarkGudmund HarlemNils Kristoffer HandalKai Birger KnudsenNils LanghelleJens Christian HaugeOscar TorpMinister of Defence (Norway)

List of Norwegian Ministers of Defence (18141885)

NameFromTo
The position was named Chief of 6th Ministry from 1814 to 1818
Diderik Hegermann 18141816
Peter Motzfeldt 18161818
Mathias Sommerhielm 18181819
The position was named Minister of the Army from 1818 to 1885
Jonas Collett 18191819
Nicolai Krog 18221825
Jørgen Herman Vogt 18251826
Nicolai Krog 18261828
Thomas Fasting 18281829
Nicolai Krog 18391832
Thomas Fasting 18321833
Nicolai Krog 18331835
Valentin Sibbern 18351836
Nicolai Krog 18361837
Palle Rømer Fleischer 18371839
Oluf Borch de Schouboe 18391839
Valentin Sibbern 18391840
Palle Rømer Fleischer 18401842
Oluf Borch de Schouboe 18421843
Palle Rømer Fleischer 18431846
Valentin Sibbern 18461847
Palle Rømer Fleischer 18471848
Thomas Edvard von Westen Sylow 18481851
Hans Christian Petersen 18511852
Ole Wilhelm Erichsen 18521852
Hans Christian Petersen 18521853
Thomas Edvard von Westen Sylow 18521853
Hans Glad Bloch 18531856
Hans Christian Petersen 18561857
Harald Wergeland (acting)18571857
Hans Christian Petersen 18571857
Hans Glad Bloch 18571860
Harald Wergeland 18601862
August Christian Manthey 18621863
Harald Wergeland 18631866
August Christian Manthey 18661867
Harald Wergeland 18671868
Niels Christian Irgens 18681872
August Christian Manthey 18721872
Lorentz Henrik Müller Segelcke 18721874
Christian Selmer 18741875
Anders Sandøe Ørsted Bull (acting)18751875
Christian Selmer 18751875
Anders Sandøe Ørsted Bull (acting)18751875
Lorentz Henrik Müller Segelcke 18751877
Adolph Frederik Munthe 18771879
Christian Selmer 18791880
Adolph Frederik Munthe 18801881
Anders Sandøe Ørsted Bull (acting)18811881
Adolph Frederik Munthe 18811884
Anders Sandøe Ørsted Bull (acting)18841884
Lars Christian Dahll 18841884
Ludvig Daae 18841885
The position was named Minister of Defence from 1885 to present

Ministers of Defence (1885present)

Key

   Christian Democratic Party
   Conservative Party
   Centre Party
   Coalition Party
   Free-minded Liberal Party
   Independent
   Labour Party
   Liberal Party

Ministers

PhotoNamePartyTook officeLeft officeTenureCabinet
Johan Sverdrup portratt.jpg Johan Sverdrup Liberal 1 September 188513 July 18893 years, 315 days Sverdrup
Blank.JPG Edvard Hans Hoff Conservative 13 July 18896 March 18911 year, 236 days Stang I
Peter Holst.jpg Peter T. Holst Liberal 6 March 18912 May 18932 years, 57 days Steen I
Wilhelm Olsson.jpg Wilhelm Olssøn Conservative 2 May 189315 July 18941 year, 74 days Stang II
Johannes Winding Harbitz.jpg Johannes Harbitz Conservative 15 July 189427 April 1895286 days
Wilhelm Olsson.jpg Wilhelm Olssøn Conservative 27 April 189517 February 18982 years, 296 days Stang II
Hagerup I
Peter Holst.jpg Peter T. Holst Liberal 17 February 18986 November 19002 years, 262 days Steen II
Georg Stang by Szacinski.png Georg Stang Liberal 6 November 19009 June 19032 years, 215 days Steen II
Blehr I
Thomas Heftye (1860-1921).jpg Thomas Heftye Liberal 9 June 190322 October 1903135 days Blehr I
Oscar Strugstad (NFB.51795).jpg Oscar Strugstad Coalition 22 October 190311 March 19051 year, 140 days Hagerup II
Wilhelm Olsson.jpg Wilhelm Olssøn Conservative 11 March 190525 May 19072 years, 75 days Michelsen
Karl Friedrich Griffin Dawes.jpg Karl Friedrich Griffin Dawes Liberal 23 October 190719 March 1908148 days Løvland
Thomas Heftye (1860-1921).jpg Thomas Heftye Liberal 19 March 190811 April 190823 days Knudsen I
Haakon Ditlef Lowzow (OB.F06186a).jpg Haakon D. Lowzow Liberal 11 April 190820 August 19091 year, 131 days
August Geelmuyden Sporck.jpg August Spørck Liberal 20 August 19092 February 1910166 days
Karl Sigwald Johannes Bull.jpg Karl Bull Conservative 2 February 191020 February 19122 years, 18 days Konow
Jens Bratlie.jpg Jens Bratlie Conservative 20 February 191231 January 1913346 days Bratlie
Blank.JPG Hans Vilhelm Keilhau Liberal 31 January 19138 August 19141 year, 189 days Knudsen II
TheodorHoltfodt.jpg Christian T. Holtfodt Liberal 8 August 191420 February 19194 years, 196 days
Blank.JPG Rudolf Peersen Liberal 20 February 191917 June 1919117 days
Ivar Aavatsmark (NFB.41773).jpg Ivar Aavatsmark Liberal 17 June 191921 June 19201 year, 4 days
Karl Wilhelm Wefring.jpg Karl Wilhelm Wefring Free-minded Liberal 21 June 192022 June 19211 year, 1 day Bahr Halvorsen I
Ivar Aavatsmark (NFB.41773).jpg Ivar Aavatsmark Liberal 22 June 19216 March 19231 year, 257 days Blehr II
Karl Wilhelm Wefring.jpg Karl Wilhelm Wefring Free-minded Liberal 6 March 192325 July 19241 year, 141 days Bahr Halvorsen II
Berge
Blank.JPG Rolf Jacobsen Liberal 25 July 19245 March 19261 year, 223 days Mowinckel I
Karl Wilhelm Wefring.jpg Karl Wilhelm Wefring Free-minded Liberal 5 March 192626 July 1926143 days Lykke
Ingolf Elster Christensen.jpg Ingolf Elster Christensen Conservative 26 July 192628 January 19281 year, 186 days
Christian Fredrik Monsen.jpg Fredrik Monsen Labour 28 January 192815 February 192818 days Hornsrud
Blank.JPG Torgeir Anderssen-Rysst Liberal 28 January 192812 May 19313 years, 104 days Mowinckel II
Portrett av Vidkun Quisling i sivile klaer, ukjent datering.jpg Vidkun Quisling Independent 12 May 19313 March 19331 year, 295 days Kolstad
Hundseid
Blank.JPG Jens Isak Kobro Liberal 3 March 193320 March 19352 years, 17 days Mowinckel III
Christian Fredrik Monsen.jpg Fredrik Monsen Labour 20 March 193522 December 19394 years, 277 days Nygaardsvold
Ljungberg L 3172Fo30141705180012.jpg Birger Ljungberg Conservative 22 December 193920 March 19422 years, 88 days
26771 Oscar Torp (cropped).jpg Oscar Torp Labour 20 March 19425 November 19453 years, 230 days Nygaardsvold
Gerhardsen I
Jens Christian Hauge 1947.jpg Jens Christian Hauge Labour 5 November 19455 January 19526 years, 61 days Gerhardsen II
Torp
27540 Nils Langhelle.jpg Nils Langhelle Labour 5 January 195215 June 19542 years, 161 days Torp
Blank.JPG Kai Birger Knudsen Labour 15 June 195422 January 1955221 days
Blank.JPG Nils Handal Labour 22 January 195518 February 19616 years, 27 days Gerhardsen III
Blank.JPG Gudmund Harlem Labour 18 February 196128 August 19632 years, 191 days
8684 Hakon Kyllingmark.jpg Håkon Kyllingmark Conservative 28 August 196325 September 196328 days Lyng
Blank.JPG Gudmund Harlem Labour 25 September 196312 October 19652 years, 17 days Gerhardsen IV
Otto tidemand crop.jpg Otto Grieg Tidemand Conservative 12 October 19655 June 19704 years, 236 days Borten
Blank.JPG Gunnar Hellesen Conservative 5 June 197017 March 1971285 days
Alv Jakob Fostervoll.jpg Alv Jakob Fostervoll Labour 17 March 197118 October 19721 year, 215 days Bratteli I
Blank.JPG Johan Kleppe Liberal 18 October 197216 October 1973363 days Korvald
Alv Jakob Fostervoll.jpg Alv Jakob Fostervoll Labour 16 October 197315 January 19762 years, 91 days Bratteli II
Blank.JPG Rolf Arthur Hansen Labour 15 January 19768 October 19793 years, 266 days Nordli
Thorvald Stoltenberg 2009.jpg Thorvald Stoltenberg Labour 8 October 197914 October 19812 years, 6 days Nordli
Brundtland I
Blank.JPG Anders C. Sjaastad Conservative 14 October 198125 April 19864 years, 193 days Willoch I-II
Blank.JPG Rolf Presthus Conservative 25 April 19869 May 198614 days Willoch II
Johan Jorgen Holst, Pentagon 1993-03-16 (cropped).JPEG Johan Jørgen Holst Labour 9 May 198616 October 19893 years, 160 days Brundtland II
DietlevSimonsen.jpg Per Ditlev-Simonsen Conservative 16 October 19893 November 19901 year, 18 days Syse
Johan Jorgen Holst, Pentagon 1993-03-16 (cropped).JPEG Johan Jørgen Holst Labour 3 November 19902 April 19932 years, 150 days Brundtland III
Jorgen-Kosmo (cropped).jpg Jørgen Kosmo Labour 2 April 199317 October 19974 years, 198 days Brundtland III
Jagland
Blank.JPG Dag Jostein Fjærvoll Christian Democratic 17 October 199715 March 19991 year, 149 days Bondevik I
Eldbjorg Lower.jpg Eldbjørg Løwer Liberal 15 March 199917 March 20001 year, 2 days
Bjorn Tore Godal 2009.jpg Bjørn Tore Godal Labour 17 March 200019 October 20011 year, 216 days Stoltenberg I
Kristin Krohn Devold.jpg Kristin Krohn Devold Conservative 19 October 200117 October 20053 years, 363 days Bondevik II
Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen at the Pentagon (cropped).JPG Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen Labour 17 October 200520 October 20094 years, 3 days Stoltenberg II
Norges forsvarsminister Grete Faremo vid Nordiska Radets session i Reykjavik. 2010-11-03.jpg Grete Faremo Labour 20 October 200911 November 20112 years, 22 days
Nordiskt-baltiskt statsministermote under Nordiska radets session i Helsingfors (1).jpg Espen Barth Eide Labour 11 November 201121 September 2012315 days
Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen at the Pentagon (cropped).JPG Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen Labour 21 September 201216 October 20131 year, 25 days
SD meets with Norway's Minister of Defence 170517-D-SV709-158 (34721980225) (cropped).jpg Ine Eriksen Søreide Conservative 16 October 201320 October 20174 years, 4 days Solberg
Frank Bakke-Jensen.jpg Frank Bakke-Jensen Conservative 20 October 201714 October 20213 years, 359 days
211116-D-BN624-0103 (51685651919) (cropped).jpg Odd Roger Enoksen Centre 14 October 202112 April 2022180 days Støre
Bjorn Arild Gram leseambassador (cropped).JPG Bjørn Arild Gram Centre 12 April 20224 February 20252 years, 298 days
Tore O. Sandvik, 2025 (cropped).jpg Tore O. Sandvik Labour 4 February 2025present27 days

References