07 May 2020
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Norway have issued a single stamp to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The NOK 17.00 value shows King Haakon and Crown Prince Märtha with their children returning from exile in 1945.
When war broke out, Norway declared itself neutral, but on 9 April 1940, German troops attacked the country. King Haakon and the Government refused to surrender and within two months, the Germans had occupied the entire country. On 7 June, King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav were forced to flee Norway and go into exile in the UK.
At the beginning of the war, the Norwegian merchant fleet was the fourth largest in the world.
This fleet came under Allied control and transported munitions, fuel and supplies. More than 30,000 sailors were part of the Norwegian merchant fleet during the war. North Sea Traffic, the transport of people and equipment between Norway and the UK, utilised everything from open rowing boats and fishing boats to modern submarine destroyers.
Most of the transports went to the Shetland Islands, the Orkney Islands or Scotland. Around 300 boats participated in the North Sea traffic.
On 13 May 1945, only five days after the German troops capitulated, Crown Prince Olav returned to Oslo. The rest of the royal family came home on 7 June 1945, five years to the day that the King and Crown Prince were forced to leave Norway.
This return is reflected on the stamp, designed by Martin Mörck, whilst a miniature sheet features images of wartime ships and aircraft in the background.
Stamp details
NK 2030 - 75 YEARS OF PEACE
- Value and subcject: Domestic 20g (NOK 17.00): King Haakon and Crown Prince Märtha with the children return from exile to Norway 7 June 1945
- Miniature sheet: The North Sea traffic, the war sailors (convoy) and the resistance movement (radio-telegraphist and airdrop)
- Artist and engraver: Martin Mörck
- Photo: NTB scanpix
- Issued in: Sheet of 50 stamps + miniature sheet
- Print: Recess / offset from Joh. Enschedé Security Print
- Print run: 150 000 stamps in sheets, 70 000 miniature sheets
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