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1st Division (Norway)

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1st Division
Active1916 – 5 May 1940
May 1952 – 1 January 1963
Country Norway
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQHalden, Norway (1916–1940)
Ski, Norway (1952–1963)
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable CommandersMajor Carl Johan Erichsen

The 1st Division (Norwegian: 1. divisjon) is a former unit in the Norwegian Army, responsible for the defence of Eastern Norway along with the 2nd Division.

History

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The history of the Norwegian 1st Division dates back to the reorganization in 1911 of the 1st Akershusiske Infantry Brigade into the combined arms 1st Brigade, which in 1916 was reclassified as the 1st Division. This came after the brigade had developed into what by European definitions would be considered a division. During the First World War the 1st Division was activated to safeguard Norwegian neutrality. Training was intensified with several large-scale exercises and units performed guard duty on important sites like arsenals and industrial facilities.[1]

Following the German invasion of Norway in 1940 the Norwegian 1st Division, commanded by Major General Carl Johan Erichsen, was responsible for defending the land areas on both side of the Oslofjord against the invading troops. The division was not well prepared for the situation, the troops were not mobilized and the division's stores depots in Fredrikstad were captured by the Germans already on 9 April. The 1st Division was responsible for Fossum Fortress (Høytorp Fort and Trøgstad Fort) in Askim and the Greåker Fort in Sarpsborg. The Germans started attacking on 12 April, and there were battles at bridges crossing Glomma (Fossum Bridge, Langenes Railway Bridge, and a bridge near Kykkelsrud Power Station). Fossum Fortress was surrendered on 13 April. On 14 April a large number of troops in Østfold, around 3,000 men, chose to cross the border to Sweden instead of continuing the fight or surrendering to the German troops. At Kongsberg two bataillons surrendered without fighting, while some officers and soldiers disagreed with the surrender and defended the Vinje district for about one month.[2][3][4]

The 1st Division was reastablished in May 1952 with headquarteres in Ski, tasked with the defence of South Norway. The 1st Division was disbanded by 1 January 1963, its personell dispersed and tasks reassigned to the District Command Østlandet.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Silseth, Ole Johan; Hærstaben (2004). Distriktskommando Østlandet 1945-2002 : hærens regionale kjempe [District Command Østlandet 1945-2002 : The Army's regional giant] (in Norwegian). Oslo: InfoMediaHuset. ISBN 8207020695.
  2. ^ Faye, Wilhelm (1963). Krigen i Norge 1940. Operasjonene i Østfold (in Norwegian). Forsvarets Krigshistoriske Avdeling / Gyldendal.
  3. ^ Skodvin, Magne (1990). Krig og okkupasjon 1939–1945 (in Norwegian). Samlaget. p. 54. ISBN 82-521-3490-4.
  4. ^ Nordlie, J.H (1947). "Kort oversikt over kampene i Norge våren 1940". Innstilling fra Undersøkelseskommisjonen av 1945. Bilag (in Norwegian). Vol. 1. Oslo: Aschehoug / Parliament of Norway. pp. 107–108.
  5. ^ Breidlid, Olav; Oppegaard, Tore Hiorth; Torblå, Per (1990). Hæren etter Annen verdenskrig : 1945-1990 [Army after the Second world War : 1945-1990] (in Norwegian). Oslo: Fabritius. ISBN 8290545169.
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