The article should consider the fact that Norway, at the outbreak of war in 1914, found itself militarily unprepared for war. Since its independence in 1905, Norway had pursued a course of non-alignment and neutrality. Despite this, the country was a part of a British sphere of influence, which might explain a lack of political focus on defence issues. Neither the defence leadership nor the political authorities had any experience of dealing with an international crisis, and the armed forces had not fired a shot in anger since 1814. However, geography and economic ties made Norway a potential target for the belligerent nations from the outbreak of war, and created the framework in which the government would have to operate.
The article should also examine how Norway and its military forces defend the country’s neutrality throughout the war. For example, how the country dealt with the offensive strategy of belligerent nations, such as the British blockade of Germany or Germany’s submarine warfare in the North Sea. As a result, Norwegian forces would have to deal with both British and German naval ships who entered Norwegian territorial waters in search for enemy vessels and were undoubtedly in breach of international law.
Like many other neutral countries, Norway also reorganized and expanded its defence organization during the war. These changes included an expansion of coastal defence installation, but also attempts to modernize and upgrade its navy. The prime force behind this re-armament was General Christian Th. Holtfodt, who was appointed as minister of defence in August 1914. He was a controversial and unpopular person, even within the government, and he threatened to resign several times during the war if his demands for funds to the military was not met by parliament.
Northern Norway and the border with Finland, a grand duchy of Russia until 1918, had been a focal point for Norwegian authorities even before the outbreak of war in 1914. A fear of Russia and revolutionary influence from across the border remained throughout the war and were further strengthened after the Russian revolution in 1917. The situation was complicated by allied attempts to send supplies to Russia by both sea and land; some of this was done on Norwegian territory, with silent acceptances from the government and in breach of the country’s neutrality. These allied activities attracted the attention of German spies and saboteurs, who attempted to stop the supplies reaching Russia.
Finally, the article should consider what lessons Norwegian authorities and military leaders learned from the First World War and neutrality and how these experiences influenced Norway’s approach to defence and neutrality in the interwar period.