Reichskommissariat Norwegen

Infobox Former Subdivision
native_name = "Reichskommissariat Norwegen"
conventional_long_name = Norway Reich Commission
common_name = Netherlands
continent = Europe
status = Colony
empire = Germany
status_text = Colony of Nazi Germany
era = World War II
year_start = 1940
event_start = Military occupation
date_start =
year_end = 1945
event_end = Liberation
date_end = May 13
p1 = Norway
flag_p1 = Flag of Norway.svg
s1 = Norway
flag_s1 = Flag of Norway.svg

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symbol = Coat of Arms of Germany
capital = Oslo
common_languages = Norwegian, German
leader1 = Josef Terboven
year_leader1 = 1940-1945
leader2 = Franz Böhme
year_leader2 = 1945
deputy1 = Vidkun Quisling
year_deputy1 = 1942-1945
title_deputy = Minister President
title_leader = Reichskommissar

Reichskommissariat Norwegen (Norway Reich Commission) was a colony and occupation authority of Nazi Germany of German-occupied Norway in World War II. It was governed by a "Reichskommissar" (Reich Commissioner) named Josef Terboven.

German Invasion and Occupation of Norway

The need by Nazi Germany to occupy and incorporate Norway into a German empire came about due to two principal reasons. The first was that in 1940, Germany was dependent on natural resources being sent from Sweden to Germany, if Norway allowed Allied vessels to pass through its waters, they could potentially blockade the trade routes. The second reason was part of Nazi ideology which called for unification of the "Aryan" Germanic race, which Norway was considered a part of.

Germany took advantage of the British boarding of the German transport ship "Altmark" to claim that the United Kingdom had violated Norway's official neutrality and with the British considering sending an expeditionary force to Norway , it was decided that Germany would invade and occupy Norway by claiming it was defending Norweigans from the British. Thus in April 1940 German forces began Operation Weserübung, which was the name for the invasion of Denmark and Norway.

Quisling Regime

Collaborationist support came from the pro-Nazi Nasjonal Samling (National Gathering) party led by Vidkun Quisling who was allowed by Adolf Hitler to form a Norwegian government under German supervision. Quisling became Minister President of Norway in 1942 but had little real power, Reichskommissar Terboven held control over Norway as a governor and all the military forces stationed in the Norway were under Germany's command.