The leader of Norways National Socialist party, Vidkun Quisling, is nominated by Hitler to form a puppet regime. With its 50,000 members it made life more difficult for the Nazi occupiers in Norway, while many Norwegians joined British or American forces to fight the Germans. The Norwegian merchant fleet played a vital role in aiding the Allies. Although it lost half of its fleet, the country recovered quickly after the war. 1945 Germany surrenders to the Allies and the Nazi-occupation ends in Norway.
Large oil finds in the North Sea make Norway prosperous.
On Olav's death in January, his son Harald V succeeded him as the king of Norway. A referendum about joining the EU will was held November 27-28th.