When Nazi Germany invaded Norway on 9 April 1940, initiating the 62-day Norwegian campaign, "Nordnorge" was in dry dock undergoing the final day of her annual maintenance work. During her maintenance period, one of the company's smaller steamers, , stood in for her on the Hurtigruten service. She was supposed to re-enter service on 10 April, an event which was postponed due to the German invasion. Instead "Nordnorge" was mothballed at Nyhavna in Trondheim.