page_title: Olav V of Norway
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: Olav V of Norway / World War II
caption_attribution_description: Norsk bokmål: Bildet er hentet fra Arkivverket. Kronprinsfamilien samlet utenfor Pook's Hill i Maryland, USA. Trolig fra 1942. Arkivinstitusjon&#160;: Riksarkivet Arkivnavn&#160;: NTBs krigsarkiv Sted&#160;: U S A, 00 Ukjent, 00 Ukjent, Emneord: kongefamilien, kronprinsfamilien, usa, andre verdenskrig, eksil, flukt Avbildet: Kronprins Olav, kronprinsesse Märtha, prinsesse Ragnhild, prinsesse Astrid, prins Harald. English: Crown Prince family gathered outside Pook's Hill in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Crown Prince Olav, Crown Princess Märtha, Princess Ragnhild, Princess Astrid, Prince Harald.
context_page_description: Olav V was King of Norway from 1957 until his death.
  Olav was the only child of King Haakon VII of Norway and Maud of Wales. He became heir apparent to the Norwegian throne when his father was elected King of Norway in 1905. He was the first heir to the Norwegian throne to be brought up in Norway since Olav IV in the fourteenth century, and his parents made sure he was given as Norwegian an upbringing as possible. In preparation for his future role, he attended both civilian and military schools. In 1929, he married his first cousin Princess Märtha of Sweden. During World War II his leadership was much appreciated and he was appointed Norwegian Chief of Defence in 1944. Olav became king following the death of his father in 1957.
  Owing to his considerate, down-to-earth style, King Olav was immensely popular, resulting in the nickname Folkekongen. In a 2005 poll by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, Olav was voted "Norwegian of the Century".
context_section_description: As Crown Prince, Olav had received extensive military training and had participated in most major Norwegian military exercises. Because of this he was perhaps one of the most knowledgeable Norwegian military leaders and was respected by other Allied leaders for his knowledge and leadership skills. During a visit to the United States before the war, he and his wife had established a close relationship with President Roosevelt. These factors would prove to be important for the Norwegian fight against the attacking German forces. In 1939, Crown Prince Olav was appointed an admiral of the Royal Norwegian Navy and a general of the Norwegian Army.
  During World War II, Olav stood by his father's side in resisting the German occupation of Norway. During the campaign he was a valuable advisor both to civilian and military leaders. When the Norwegian government decided to go into exile, he offered to stay behind with the Norwegian people, but this was declined. He reluctantly followed his father to the United Kingdom, where he and his staff and servants and aides continued to be a key advisor to the government-in-exile and his father. It is a popular legend among his countrymen that he did not allow himself any dessert or sweets for the duration of the Norwegian occupation.
  Olav made several visits to Norwegian and Allied troops in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. In 1944, he was appointed to the post of Norwegian Chief of Defence and after the war he led the Norwegian disarmament of the German occupying forces.  On 13 May, 1945 Crown Prince Olav and five government ministers returned to a liberated Norway. His war decorations from other nations, including the War Crosses of Norway, France, Greece and the Netherlands, the US Legion of Merit and the French Médaille Militaire, are testament to the international recognition of his contribution to the war against Hitler.
caption: Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha with their children Princess Astrid, Princess Ragnhild and Prince Harald at their exile home, Pook's Hill, in Bethesda, Maryland
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