1956 in Norway

Events in the year 1956 in Norway.

← 1955 1954 1953 1956 in Norway → 1957 1958 1959
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s
See also:	List of years in Norway

Incumbents

• Monarch – Haakon VII.^[1]
• Regent – Olav, due to debilitating injury to the King
• Prime Minister – Einar Gerhardsen (Labour Party)

Events

The Norwegian motor vehicle manufacturer Troll Plastik & Bilindustri presents the first Troll car in Telemark

• 7 March – Several avalanche 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 Municipality, 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

Main article: 1956 in Norwegian music

Film

Main article: Norwegian films of the 1950s § 1956

Literature

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

Notable births

Hanne Krogh

Eldar Sætre

Rune Belsvik

Knut N. Kjær

Anne Helene Gjelstad

Ingvar Ambjørnsen

Stein Erik Hagen

Anette S. Olsen

Mari Boine

Bjørgulv Braanen in 2016

Maj Britt Andersen

Bjarne Berntsen

• 5 January – Bente Irene Aaland, politician^[2]
• 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.^[3]
• 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.^[4]
• 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.^[5]
• 10 April – Torhild Bransdal, politician (died 2022).^[6]
• 11 April – Kristin Mile, jurist and civil servant
• 11 April – Reidar Sørensen, stage actor, film actor and theatre director.^[7]
• 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.^[8]
• 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.^[9]
• 20 May – Ingvar Ambjørnsen, writer (d. 2025)
• 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.^[10]
• 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 (died 2024).^[11]
• 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).^[12]
• 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.^[13]
• 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.^[14]
• 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.^[15]
• 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.^[16]
• 14 November – Bjørgulv Braanen, newspaper editor
• 15 November – Maj Britt Andersen, singer.^[17]
• 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

Anders Todal

Halvor Floden

Hildur Andersen is regarded to be the model for the character "Hilde Wangel" in Ibsen's play The Master Builder.

• 5 January – Caroline Boman Hansen, Swedish–Norwegian hotelier (b. 1860).^[18]
• 15 January – Bertram Dybwad Brochmann, businessperson, writer and politician (b. 1881).^[19]
• 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).^[20]
• 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).^[21]
• 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).^[22]
• 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).^[23]
• 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).^[24]
• 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).^[25]
• 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).^[26]
• 8 December – Finn Lambrechts, lieutenant general of the Royal Norwegian Air Force (b. 1900).^[27]
• 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).^[28]
• 20 December – Hildur Andersen, pianist and music pedagogue (b. 1864) .^[29]
• 21 December – Aksel Refstad, Nordic combined skier (b. 1873)
• 28 December – Oskar Olsen, speed skater and Olympic silver medallist (born 1897).^[30]

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)

See also