Nygaardsvold's Cabinet

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Nygaardsvold's Cabinet. From left: Minister of Finance Adolf Indrebo, Minister of Defence Fredrik Monsen, Minister of Foreign Affairs Halvdan Koht, Prime Minister Johan Nygaardsvold, Minister of Agriculture Hans Ystgaard, Minister of Trade Alfred Madsen, Minister of Social Affairs Kornelius Bergsvik, Minister of Education Nils Hjelmtveit and Minister of Justice Trygve Lie Nygaardsvold Cabinet.jpg
Nygaardsvold's Cabinet. From left: Minister of Finance Adolf Indrebø, Minister of Defence Fredrik Monsen, Minister of Foreign Affairs Halvdan Koht, Prime Minister Johan Nygaardsvold, Minister of Agriculture Hans Ystgaard, Minister of Trade Alfred Madsen, Minister of Social Affairs Kornelius Bergsvik, Minister of Education Nils Hjelmtveit and Minister of Justice Trygve Lie
Building in Kingston House estate, London used by the Norwegian government-in-exile. Norwegian Government-in-exile (5096990445).jpg
Building in Kingston House estate, London used by the Norwegian government-in-exile.

Nygaardsvold's Cabinet (later becoming the Norwegian government-in-exile) was appointed on 20 March 1935, [1] the second Labour cabinet in Norway. It brought to an end the non-socialist minority governments that had dominated Norwegian politics since the introduction of the parliamentary system in 1884, and replaced it with stable Labour governments that, with the exception of during World War II (during which the government remained de jure in power in exile) it would last until the coalition Lyng cabinet in 1963. [2]

Contents

Following the brief tenure of the Hornsrud cabinet in the winter of 1928, the Labour Party changed its political stance from revolutionary communism to social democracy. The main reason for the change was the realization that government power could be used for reforms that could lessen the impact of the economic crisis. In the 1933 election the party used the slogans "Work for everyone" and "Country and city, hand in hand". The last time the party portrayed itself as "revolutionary" was the 1930 election.

The Labour Party advanced in the 1933 election, but did not get a majority. Instead they made a compromise with the Farmer Party, allowing Nygaardsvold to enter the Council of State. The party also failed to gain a majority in the 1936 election, but stayed in office thanks to fluctuating support from various opposition parties.

The night before 9 April 1940, the Norwegian Government was, like most other authorities in the country, surprised by the German invasion. At first, it chose resistance over capitulation. The Government left Norway on 7 June 1940 after the German conquest and established itself in London the same day, along with King Haakon VII and Crown Prince Olav. [2]

Back in Norway, over the course of the war, four de facto governments were led by Vidkun Quisling and Josef Terboven. The Government-in-exile is sometimes referred to as the London Cabinet. It returned to Norway on 31 May 1945 aboard the UK troop ship RMS Andes. [3] On 12 June, Nygaardsvold announced his resignation, and on 25 June, the pan-political Gerhardsen cabinet took over.

Below are the four de facto governments in Oslo during the war, either sympathising with or appointed by German forces. The Reichskommissar in Oslo was Josef Terboven.

Cabinet members

PortfolioMinisterTookofficeLeftofficeParty
Prime Minister 20 March 193525 June 1945  Labour
Minister of Agriculture 20 March 193525 June 1945  Labour
Minister of Church Affairs and Education 20 March 193525 June 1945  Labour
Minister of Defence 20 March 193515 November 1935  Labour
20 December 193515 August 1936  Labour
20 December 193515 August 1936  Labour
15 August 193622 December 1939  Labour
22 December 193928 November 1942  Conservative
28 November 194225 June 1945  Labour
Minister of Finance 20 March 193513 November 1936  Labour
13 November 19361 July 1939  Labour
1 July 193928 November 1941  Labour
28 November 194125 June 1945  Norwegian resistance movement
Minister of Foreign Affairs 20 March 193519 November 1940  Labour
19 November 194025 June 1945  Labour
Minister of Justice 20 March 193519 November 1939  Labour
19 November 193925 June 1945  Labour
Minister of Labour 20 March 19352 October 1939  Labour
2 October 193925 June 1945  Labour
Minister of Social Affairs 20 March 193513 November 1936  Labour
13 November 19361 July 1939  Labour
1 July 193925 June 1945  Labour
Minister of Shipping 1 October 194225 June 1945  Liberal
Minister of Supply 2 October 193919 November 1940  Labour
19 November 19401 October 1942  Liberal
1 October 194225 June 1945  Labour
Minister of Trade, Shipping, Industry, Crafts and Fisheries 20 March 19351 July 1939  Labour
1 July 19392 October 1939  Labour
2 October 19397 June 1940  Labour
7 June 1940April 1942  Labour
April 19421 October 1942  Labour
1 October 19429 March 1945  Labour
9 March 194525 June 1945  Conservative

See also

References

  1. "The cabinet of Johan Nygaardsvold" (in Norwegian). NorgesLexi.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  2. 1 2 Friis 1965.
  3. Nicol, Stuart (2001). MacQueen's Legacy; Ships of the Royal Mail Line. Vol. Two. Brimscombe Port and Charleston, SC: Tempus Publishing. p. 170. ISBN   0-7524-2119-0.

Further reading

Preceded by Norwegian Council of State
1935–1945
Succeeded by
de facto
Quisling cabinet (1942)
de jure
First cabinet Gerhardsen (1945)