1956 in Norway explained

Events in the year 1956 in Norway.

Incumbents

• Monarch – Haakon VII
• Regent – Olav, due to debilitating injury to the King
• Prime Minister – Einar Gerhardsen (Labour Party)

Events

• 7 March – Several avalanches kill 21 people and causing heavy damage in Nordland and Troms.
• 9 April – The Norwegian Humanist Association is founded.
• 10 October – A fire burns down the Dalsenget Depot of Trondheim Sporvei and destroys almost all of the modern tram fleet.
• 12 October – The Norwegian motor vehicle manufacturer Troll Plastik & Bilindustri presents the first Troll car in Telemark.
• 19 October – An explosion occurring underground in the factory in hall 15 of Raufoss Ammunisjonsfabrikker kills 5 people and hospitalises at least 21 people.
• 7 November – Braathens SAFE Flight 253 crashes into Hummelfjell mountain in Tolga, killing 2 people onboard.
• 21 December – The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Children and Families is established.

Popular culture

Sports

• Roald Aas, speed skater and Olympic gold medallist and cyclist, is awarded the Egebergs Ærespris for his achievements as both a speed skater and a cyclist.

Music

See main article: 1956 in Norwegian music.

Literature

• The Song of the Red Ruby (original title Sangen om den røde rubin), novel by Agnar Mykle

Notable births

• 9 January – Thorhild Widvey, politician
• 13 January – Bjørn Stordrange, jurist and politician
• 13 January – Harald Stanghelle, newspaper editor
• 15 January – Torun Lian, playwright, film director and novelist.^[1]
• 22 January – Tomm Kristiansen, journalist
• 24 January – Hanne Krogh, singer and actress
• 24 January – Helge Skaara, civil servant and diplomat
• 29 January – Odd Omland, politician
• 1 February – Bente Stein Mathisen politician.^[2]
• 1 February – Kjell Otto Moe, fencer
• 3 February – Tom Christiansen, ski jumper
• 8 February – Kjersti Holmen, actress
• 8 February – Eldar Sætre, businessman
• 9 February – Solfrid Johansen, sport rower
• 16 February – Stein Kollshaugen, footballer
• 18 February – Frøystein Gjesdal, educator
• 18 February – Jan Haaland, educator
• 18 February – Ivar Kristiansen, politician
• 22 February – Harald Aabrekk, footballer
• 22 February – Ivar Hognestad, politician
• 28 February (in Denmark) – Jens Wendelboe, trombonist, composer, music arranger and orchestra leader
• 1 March – Lars Steinar Ansnes, newspaper editor
• 2 March – Jan Georg Iversen, cyclist
• 2 March – Torgrim Sørnes, physician, historian and writer
• 10 March – Sidsel Ekholdt, artistic gymnast
• 12 March – Ove Aunli, cross-country skier
• 13 March – Geir-Ketil Hansen, politician
• 20 March – Minken Fosheim, actress and children's author
• 21 March – Ingrid Kristiansen, long-distance runner
• 25 March – Bente Grønli, disability athlete (d. 1996)
• 25 March – Tom Holthe, politician
• 8 April – Jan Roger Skyttesæter, archer
• 10 April – Grethe Mathiesen swimmer.^[3]
• 10 April – Torhild Bransdal, politician (died 2022).^[4]
• 11 April – Kristin Mile, jurist and civil servant
• 11 April – Reidar Sørensen, stage actor, film actor and theatre director.^[5]
• 12 April – Tor Olav Blostrupmoen, politician
• 13 April – Knut H. Kallerud, lawyer and judge
• 14 April – Rune Belsvik, novelist, playwright, short story writer and children's writer.^[6]
• 14 April – Knut N. Kjær, economist
• 15 April – Jim Marthinsen, ice hockey player
• 18 April – Olemic Thommessen, politician
• 25 April – Gro Sandberg, artistic gymnast
• 27 April – Magne Rommetveit, politician
• 27 April – Elisabeth Walaas, civil servant, diplomat and politician
• 29 April – Sten Ture Jensen, magazine editor and investor
• 29 April – Morgan Lindstrøm, artist, composer, and synthesizer-performer
• 29 April – Ketil Stokkan, pop artist
• 4 May – Rune Resaland, diplomat
• 7 May – John Ole Aspli, politician
• 9 May – Anne Helene Gjelstad, photographer and fashion designer
• 13 May – Anne Kristin Sydnes, politician (d. 2017)
• 19 May – Geir Digerud, cyclist.^[7]
• 20 May – Ingvar Ambjørnsen, writer
• 20 May – Pål Jacobsen, footballer
• 21 May – Gunnar Gundersen, politician
• 21 May – Kai G. Henriksen, businessman (d. 2016)
• 22 May – Eva Isaksen, film director
• 22 May – May Irene Olsen, sport shooter
• 1 June – Stephan Barratt-Due, violinist
• 9 June – Berit Aunli, cross-country skier
• 13 June – Olav Sigurd Kjesbu, fisheries biologist
• 15 June – Tron Erik Hovind, politician
• 18 June – Christen Sveaas, businessman
• 19 June – Jon Rangfred Hanssen, racing cyclist
• 19 June – Nils Johnson, actor and theatre director
• 24 June – Turid Leirvoll, politician
• 28 June – Per Bergerud, ski jumper
• 28 June – Inger Giskeødegård, illustrator
• 30 June – Olav Gjelsvik, philosopher
• 4 July – Rita H. Roaldsen, politician
• 6 July – Dag Olav Hessen, writer and biologist
• 7 July – Øystein Wiik, actor, singer and novelist
• 9 July – Anne Bøe, poet.^[8]
• 10 July – Anders Heger, publisher and writer
• 16 July – Einar Rasmussen, sprint canoeist
• 19 July – Marit Sandvik, jazz singer
• 21 July – Sverre Quale, civil servant and businessman
• 22 July – Stein Erik Hagen, businessman
• 22 July – Morten Jentoft, journalist
• 29 July – Olav Øygard, Lutheran prelate
• 4 August – Nina Søby, cyclist
• 8 August – Michael Momyr, politician
• 10 August – Lars Martin Myhre, composer, guitarist, pianist, singer and producer
• 11 August – Norunn Tveiten Benestad, politician
• 11 August – Lars Ødegård, organizational leader and politician
• 12 August – Marit Westergaard, linguist
• 15 August – Inge Ryan, politician
• 17 August – Sissel Grottenberg, long-distance runner
• 20 August – Jan Henry T. Olsen, politician (d. 2018)
• 23 August – Valgerd Svarstad Haugland, politician and Minister
• 28 August – Cindy Haug, writer (d. 2018).^[9]
• 29 August – Bernt Rougthvedt, historian, biographer and thriller/crime writer (d. 2019)
• 1 September – Hilde Hefte, jazz singer
• 5 September – Eva Lian, politician
• 7 September – Eilif Nedberg, luger
• 8 September – Eivin One Pedersen, jazz musician (d. 2012)
• 12 September – Dag Otto Lauritzen, cyclist
• 15 September – Otto Gregussen, politician
• 17 September – Bjørn Rune Gjelsten, businessman and Offshore powerboat racing World Champion
• 18 September – Odd Lirhus, biathlete
• 19 September – Eivind Aadland, conductor and violinist
• 20 September – Svein Inge Valvik, discus thrower
• 22 September – Reidar Lorentzen, javelin thrower.^[10]
• 22 September – Hans Henrik Scheel, social economist and civil servant
• 24 September – Anette S. Olsen, businesswoman
• 28 September – Helge Holden, mathematician
• 30 September – Sven-Roald Nystø, politician
• 1 October – Terje Krokstad, biathlete
• 2 October – Jan-Henrik Fredriksen, politician
• 5 October – Tor Erik Jenstad, linguist, dictionary editor, and traditional Norwegian folk musician
• 9 October – Geir Langslet, jazz pianist and band leader
• 10 October – Bjørn Erik Hollevik, politician
• 20 October – Arne O. Holm, journalist and newspaper editor
• 21 October – Arne Sandstø, footballer
• 22 October – Olav Gunnar Ballo, politician
• 23 October – Svein Dag Hauge, jazz musician
• 27 October – Finn Skårderud, psychiatrist
• 1 November – Anne Sender, lecturer and debater.^[11]
• 4 November – Harald Magnus Andreassen, economist
• 5 November – Ketil Gudim, dancer and actor
• 7 November (in the Soviet Union) – Mikhail Alperin, Soviet-Norwegian jazz pianist (d. 2018)
• 8 November – Mari Boine, Sami musician
• 8 November – Jon Gunnes, politician.^[12]
• 14 November – Bjørgulv Braanen, newspaper editor
• 15 November – Maj Britt Andersen, singer.^[13]
• 24 November (in India) – Nita Kapoor, Indian-Norwegian cultural director
• 29 November – Jørgen Sørlie, footballer
• 1 December – Lars Ole Vaagen, civil servant and diplomat
• 3 December – Morten Søgård, curler
• 8 December – Liv Steen, actress
• 9 December – Kari Bremnes, singer and songwriter
• 10 December – Øystein Hauge, writer
• 12 December – Geir Holmsen, jazz musician
• 18 December – Bent Hamer, film director
• 21 December – Bjarne Berntsen, footballer
• 22 December – Arne Gilje, competition rower and twice World Champion
• 22 December – Signe Iversen, Sami language consultant and author of children's literature
• 25 December – Isak Arne Refvik, footballer
• 31 December – Torolf Nordbø, musician and comedian

Full date missing

• Eivind Aadland, conductor and violinist
• Iulie Aslaksen, economist
• Kate Augestad, singer
• Ivar Braut, theologian and priest
• Laila Brenden, writer
• Olav Rune Ekeland Bastrup, writer and historian
• Leif-Arne Langøy, businessman
• Per Roger Lauritzen, non-fiction writer
• Arne Tovik, journalist (d. 2009)
• Elsbeth Tronstad, businesswoman and politician

Notable deaths

• 5 January – Caroline Boman Hansen, Swedish–Norwegian hotelier (b. 1860).^[14]
• 15 January – Bertram Dybwad Brochmann, businessperson, writer and politician (b. 1881).^[15]
• 18 January – Frantz Rosenberg, sport shooter (b. 1883)
• 25 January – Schak Bull, architect (born 1858)
• 27 January – Harald Heide, violinist, conductor, and composer (b. 1876)
• 29 January – Ole Holm, rifle shooter (b. 1870)
• 31 January – Sigvald Svendsen, politician (born 1895)
• 1 February – Carl Platou, civil servant and politician (b. 1885)
• 19 February – Marit Aarum, economist, liberal politician, civil servant and feminist (b. 1903)
• 21 February – Paul Christian Frank, barrister, politician, organizer and non-fiction writer (b. 1879).^[16]
• 21 February – August Nielsen, architect (b. 1877)
• 24 February – Ivar Jørgensen, civil servant and politician (b. 1877)
• 6 March – Harald Hansen, gymnast (b. 1884)
• 6 March – Anders Todal, teacher, politician and farmer (b. 1883).^[17]
• 12 March – Reidar Tønsberg, gymnast and Olympic silver medallist (born 1893)
• 18 March – Ivar Jacobsen Norevik, politician (born 1900)
• 20 March – Helga Ramstad, politician (b. 1875)
• 28 March – Erik Colban, diplomat (born 1876)
• 29 March – Endre Kristian Vestvik, politician (born 1894)
• 31 March – Robert Sæther, schoolteacher, newspaper editor and politician (b. 1875)
• 2 April – Ivar Alnæs, teacher and linguist (b. 1868)
• 23 April – Anna Bøe, journalist and magazine editor (b. 1864).^[18]
• 25 April – Mikal Grøvan, politician (born 1899)
• 28 April – Amund Rasmussen Skarholt, politician (born 1892)
• 2 May – Ingebjørg Øisang, politician (born 1892)
• 16 May – Christian Staib, sailor and Olympic gold medallist (born 1892)
• 18 May – Einar Meidell Hopp, broadcasting personality (b. 1899).^[19]
• 31 May – Svend Foyn Bruun Sr., naval officer, ship-owner and whaler, and politician (b. 1883)
• 1 June – Jens Bull, jurist and diplomat (born 1886)
• 5 June – Mathias Glomnes, sport shooter (b. 1869)
• 9 June – Hans Bergsland, fencer, sports official and businessman (b. 1878)
• 18 June – Niels Christian Ditleff, diplomat (born 1881)
• 20 June – Willy Gilbert, sailor and Olympic gold medalist (b. 1881)
• 28 June – Oliver Møystad, engineer, farmer and forest owner (b. 1892)
• 30 June – Thorleif Lund, stage and film actor (b. 1880)
• 30 June – Erling Sandberg, banker and politician (b. 1879)
• 7 July – Andreas Moe, merchant and politician (b. 1883)
• 9 July – Lul Krag, painter (b. 1878).^[20]
• 27 July – Arnold Holmboe, politician and Minister (born 1873)
• 28 August – Johan Nordhagen, artist (born 1856)
• 7 September – Gudmund Hoel, architect (b. 1877)
• 22 September – Ewald Bosse, sociologist and economist (b. 1880)
• 29 September – Herman Scheel, judge and politician (b. 1859)
• 13 October – Otto Tangen, Nordic skier (b. 1886)
• 28 October – Øyvind Alfred Stensrud, politician (born 1887)
• 12 November – Olaf Skramstad, politician (b. 1894)
• 14 November – Olaf Stang, engineer (b. 1871)
• 14 November – Johan Nicolai Støren, bishop (b. 1871)
• 17 November – Dina Aschehoug, painter (b. 1861)
• 18 November – Christian Arnesen, wrestler (b. 1890)
• 3 December – Halvor Floden, schoolteacher, children's writer, novelist, poet and playwright (b. 1884).^[21]
• 8 December – Finn Lambrechts, lieutenant general of the Royal Norwegian Air Force (b. 1900).^[22]
• 12 December – Jakob Friis, politician (born 1883)
• 16 December – Frithjof Olstad, rower and Olympic bronze medallist (born 1890)
• 17 December – Lauritz Sand, resistance fighter (born 1879)
• 18 December – Erik Vangberg, carpenter, trade unionist and politician (b. 1874).^[23]
• 20 December – Hildur Andersen, pianist and music pedagogue (b. 1864) .^[24]
• 21 December – Aksel Refstad, Nordic combined skier (b. 1873)
• 28 December – Oskar Olsen, speed skater and Olympic silver medallist (born 1897).^[25]

Full date missing

• Anton Ludvig Alvestad, politician and Minister (born 1883)
• Carl Severin Bentzen, tailor and politician (b. 1882)
• Sigval Bergesen, ship-owner and politician (born 1863)
• Sigurd Christian Brinch, manager and politician (b. 1874)
• Eyvind Getz, barrister (b. 1888)
• Helmer Hanssen, polar explorer (born 1870)
• Halvor Hansson, military officer (b. 1886)
• Nikolai Nissen Paus, surgeon (born 1877)
• Harald Smedvik, gymnast and Olympic silver medallist (born 1888)

Notes and References

1. Encyclopedia: Torun Lian . . Erik . Bolstad . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 20 June 2024.
2. Encyclopedia: Bente Stein Mathisen . Knut Are . Tvedt . . Erik . Bolstad . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 21 June 2024.
3. Encyclopedia: Grethe Mathisen . Rolf . Bryhn . . Erik . Bolstad . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 22 June 2024.
4. Web site: Bransdal, Torhild . stortinget.no . no . 11 December 2020 .
5. Encyclopedia: Reidar Sørensen . Svend Erik Løken . Larsen . Lillian . Bikset . . Erik . Bolstad . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 22 June 2024.
6. Encyclopedia: Rune Belsvik . Vibeke . Lauritsen . . Erik . Bolstad . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 22 June 2024.
7. Encyclopedia: Geir Digerud . Rolf . Bryhn . Store norske leksikon. Erik . Bolstad . no . 28 April 2024.
8. Encyclopedia: Anne Bøe . Hadle Oftedal . Andersen . . Erik . Bolstad . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 22 June 2024.
9. Encyclopedia: Cindy Haug . . Kunnskapsforlaget . Oslo . no . 4 September 2018 .
10. Encyclopedia: Reidar Lorentzen . Rolf . Bryhn . . Erik . Bolstad . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 18 June 2024.
11. Encyclopedia: Anne Sender . Olav . Garvik . . Erik . Bolstad . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 22 June 2024.
12. Encyclopedia: Jon Gunnes . Knut Are . Tvedt . . Erik . Bolstad . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 22 June 2024.
13. Encyclopedia: Maj Britt Andersen . Anne Marit . Godal . . Erik . Bolstad . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 22 June 2024.
14. Encyclopedia: Caroline Boman Hansen . . Sverre . Thon . Knut. Helle. Knut Helle . Kunnskapsforlaget . Oslo. no. 1 December 2019.
15. Encyclopedia: B Dybwad Brochmann . . Even . Lorch-Falch . Knut. Helle. Knut Helle . Kunnskapsforlaget . Oslo. no. 1 December 2019.
16. Encyclopedia: Paul Frank . . Fritz . Hodne . Knut. Helle. Knut Helle . Kunnskapsforlaget . Oslo. no. 1 December 2019.
17. Web site: Anders Arnson Todal . nsd.no . no . 1 December 2019.
18. Encyclopedia: Anna Bøe . . Inger Elisabeth . Haavet . Knut. Helle. Knut Helle . Kunnskapsforlaget . Oslo. no. 1 December 2019.
19. Encyclopedia: Einar Meidell Hopp . . Hans Fredrik . Dahl . Hans Fredrik Dahl . Knut. Helle. Knut Helle . Kunnskapsforlaget . Oslo. no. 1 December 2019.
20. Encyclopedia: Lul Krag . . Glenny . Alfsen . Knut. Helle. Knut Helle . Kunnskapsforlaget . Oslo. no. 1 December 2019.
21. Encyclopedia: Halvor Floden . . Åsmund L. . Strømnes . Knut. Helle. Knut Helle . Kunnskapsforlaget . Oslo. no. 1 December 2019.
22. Encyclopedia: Finn Lambrechts . . Bolstad . Erik . no. 1 December 2019.
23. Web site: Johan Erik Vangberg . nsd.no . no . 1 December 2019.
24. Encyclopedia: Hildur Andersen . . Knut. Helle. Knut Helle . Kunnskapsforlaget . Oslo. no. 1 December 2019.
25. Web site: Oskar Olsen . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418033143/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ol/oskar-olsen-1.html . dead . 18 April 2020 . Sports Reference LLC . SR/Olympic Sports . 12 November 2012.