The Norwegian High Command was Norway's top military leadership from 1970 to 2003. It was first established in Northern Norway in 1940 by General Otto Ruge. It was then re-established by the Norwegian Government-in-exile in London in 1942, lasting until 1946. The High Command was re-established in 1970, lasting until 2003, when a different organization was established.

World War II

The Norwegian High Command was re-established on 6 February 1942. Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen

Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen

Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen was a Norwegian Army officer.From 1937 to 1941, Hansteen served as Norwegian Military attaché to Helsinki...

 was Chief of Defence

Chief of Defence of Norway

The Chief of Defence of Norway is the highest ranking officer of the Military of Norway, 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...

 until 1 July 1944, when Crown Prince Olav

Olav V of Norway

Olav V was the king of Norway from 1957 until his death. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Olav was born in the United Kingdom as the son of King Haakon VII of Norway and Queen Maud of Norway...

 took over. Among the offices were FO II, which dealt with intelligence, and FO IV, which dealt with Milorg

Milorg

Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....

 and Special Operations

Special Operations Executive

The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...

.