Independent Norwegian Brigade Group in Germany
| Independent Norwegian Brigade Group in Germany Tysklandsbrigaden |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1947–1953 |
| Country | Norway |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 4,200 |
| Part of |
Norwegian Army Command Germany, 5th Infantry Division (UK) |
The Independent Norwegian Brigade Group in Germany (Norwegian: Tysklandsbrigaden) was a Norwegian expeditionary force stationed in the British Zone of Occupation in Germany, from 1946 to 1953. At first it was set in the Hanover area and from 1948 to 1953 in the Schleswig Holstein area of Germany as part of the British occupying force after World War II.
British authorities and the Norwegian government-in-exile in London during World War II initiated discussions about contributing a Norwegian force to the occupation of Germany after the war. In a letter to the European Advisory Commission dated September 2, 1944 the government expressed its intention but with several reservations, including political approval by the Norwegian parliament once it reconvened, as well as financial resources and staff availability.
The British government initially asked for a "small division" of about 12,000 soldiers. But estimates of the available conscription classes meant this would be far more than the manpower available at the time, and the Brigade contingents were, for all brigades, around 4200 men all told. In total about 50,000 Norwegians served in the brigades.
After the Social Democrat Norwegian government returned to Norway after the German capitulation in 1945, the matter was put on hold for some time. But after a visit by Lieutenant General Ole Berg to the United Kingdom in January 1946, there was a renewed effort to live up to the earlier commitment. The planning process was further complicated by the 1945 parliamentary elections that resulted in a Labour government that reorganized the military leadership of Norwegian defense forces.
In May 1946 the government published its three-year plan that sought to both build a homeland defense force and provide a force for the occupation of Germany.
Each Brigade served for approximately 6 months in Germany (though discrepancies exist, particularly after the start of the Korean War when the service time was extended), starting with Brigade 471. The numbering of the Brigades was derived from the year (first two digits) and the contingent for that year (third digit), so Bde. 471 means 1st contingent of 1947.
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