Background
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, the matter was put on hold for some time. But after a visit by the 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.
Read more about this topic: Independent Norwegian Brigade Group In Germany
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