This year it is 70 years since Norway signed “The North Atlantic Treaty” and NATO was founded. The Norwegian Royal Air Force commemorates the historic event with a celebratory exhibition on Norway and NATO online.
TOGETHER, NOT ALONE.
The second world war shows that Norway and several others are unable to stand alone in case of a new war.
Norways most important ally, Great Britain, has a weakened military. Because of this, Winston Churchill initiates a European and transatlantic cooperation.
IN FROM THE BEGINNING
After the war there is great reluctance to be too tied to the most powerful victors. A Scandinavian defense alliance is considered, but eventually dismissed in Norway. Norway joins “The North Atlantic Treaty” and NATO from the beginning in 1949, as one of twelve countries.
NORWEGIAN INDEPENDENT BRIGADE
In the years following the end of WW2, over 50.000 Norwegian soldiers serve in the “Norwegian Independent Brigade”. The brigade is a part of the allied occupation for the stabilizing of Germany.
But with the emergence of the cold war and the founding of NATO, the brigade takes on a new role as a NATO-force.
FLYING HELP FROM USA
From 1950 to 1966 Norway receives over 600 aircraft from the USA. In the 50´s the help provided from theUSA, make up 40 percent of resources spent by the“The Norwegian Armed Defence”, with the intent to increase the readiness.
1950-årene utgjør hjelpen rundt 40 prosent av Forsvarets ressursbruk, og hensikten er å øke beredskapen.
COLD WAR DEFENCE
Airplane bombers becomes increasingly larger, faster and can attack day and night from great heights. Norway is therefore offered the missile system “NIKE” to protect Oslo and the south from 1960-1991.
THE FALL THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
The fall of the Berlin Wall marks the ending of the cold war. A war that has influenced the world for the last forty years. In Eastern-Europe communist rules falls, one after the other. Two years after the fall of the wall, the Soviet Union collapses.
NATO TAKES BALKAN
When Jugoslavia collapses in 1991, the conflict leads to new wars, genocide and refugee camps in Europe. The UN provides peacekeeping forces, but NATO takes over in in 1995. In 1999 the alliance goes in heavily with the “Kosovo Force”., where Norway participates with its newly war-trained force “The Telemark battalion”.
FIRST LIVE MISSION
25th of march 1999 Norwegian fightersparticipate in the first live mission since the second world war. The mission is part of NATOs Operation Allied Force. The goal is to pressure Serbia in to pulling out their troops from Kosovo.
THE IDYLL IS BROKEN
After a decade without cold war, the US is stricken with a comprehensive terror attack on the september 11 2001. The attack triggers article five of “The Atlantic Treaty” for the very first time. The article states that an attack on one of its members, is an attack on the whole alliance. In the aftermath USA starts its international war on terror.
Foto: Robert J. Fisch [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
THE FIGHT AGAINST TERROR BEGINS
The first NATO-operation in the war against terror is “Operation Active Endeavour” in the Mediterranean. The mission is patrolling the eastern part of the Mediterranean and until 2008, Norway participates with troops, fighter planes and naval vessels.
WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
The attack on the USA in 2001 has great ramifications - especially for Afghanistan. USA invades right after the attack and NATO follows after a time. Since the start over 2000 Norwegian soldiers have served in Afghanistan.
