1938 in Norway

Incumbents

• Monarch – Haakon VII.
• Prime Minister – Johan Nygaardsvold (Labour Party)

Events

• 14 January – Norway claims Queen Maud Land in Antarctica.
• 24 June – Parliament passes a law making compulsory national unemployment insurance operative for most wage earners.
• 6-15 July – Évian Conference: The Norwegian delegation submitts multiple formal declarations on Jewish refugee and immigration law issues.
• 20 November – Queen Maud of Norway dies

Undated

• Construction starts on Kristiansand Airport, Kjevik

• The Norwegian Mining Museum is established.

Popular culture

Sports

Main article: 1938 in Norwegian football

Music

Main article: 1938 in Norwegian music

Film

Main article: Norwegian films of the 1930s#1938

Literature

d’Aulaires’ Book of Norwegian Folktales - first printed in 1938

Notable births

January

• 2 January – Hans Herbjørnsrud, short story writer.
• 9 January – Agnar Sandmo, economist and professor (died 2019).
• 10 January – Thor Bjarne Bore, newspaper editor and politician (died 2019).
• 13 January – Kåre Rønnes, soccer player and coach
• 16 January – Helga Hernes, political scientist, diplomat and politician.
• 18 January – Rolf Ketil Bjørn, businessperson and politician (died 2008).
• 19 January – Anne Karin Elstad, author (died 2012).
• 23 January – Kari Buen, sculptor (died 2025).

February

• 1 February – Kjell Henriksen, scientist (died 1996)
• 10 February –
  • Raphael Høegh-Krohn, mathematician (died 1988).
  • Per Norvik, journalist and editor.
• 12 February – Tor Obrestad, novelist, poet and documentary writer (died 2020).
• 14 February – Anita Thallaug, actress and singer (died 2023).
• 20 February – Inge Lønning, theologian, educator and politician (died 2013).
• 24 February – Kristian Rambjør, businessman (died 2015).
• 27 February –
  • Marie Brenden, educator and politician (died 2012).
  • Sverre Olaf Lie, pediatrician. (died 2023)

March

• 4 March – Magnar Lundemo, cross-country skier and track and field athlete (died 1987).
• 19 March
  • Egil Lillestøl, physicist. (died 2021)
  • Marit Løvvig, politician.
• 23 March – Berit Kullander, actress, dancer, and singer.
• 25 March – Kaare Aksnes, astrophysicist.
• 29 March –
  • Arne Lanes, weightlifter.
  • Knut Mørkved, diplomat (died 2017).

April

• 4 April – Marit Økern, orienteering competitor.
• 5 April – Åge Storhaug, gymnast (died 2012).
• 6 April –
  • Arne Solli, general (died 2017).
  • Janken Varden, stage director.
• 7 April – Oddbjørn Engvold, astronomer.
• 9 April – Ivar Medaas, musician (died 2005).
• 11 April – Hans Jacob Hansteen, architect.
• 12 April – Rolf Bendiksen, politician.
• 20 April – Tor Richter, sports shooter (died 2010).
• 23 April – Kåre Kivijärvi, photographer (died 1991).
• 27 April – Rolf Olsen, sprint canoer.

May

• 4 May – Birgit Brock-Utne, educator.
• 8 May – Lucie Paus Falck, politician.
• 20 May – Lars Walløe, scientist.
• 22 May – Ulf Sand, civil servant and politician (died 2014).
• 23 May – Ole Herman Fisknes, jurist and civil servant
• 26 May – Inger Lise Gjørv, politician (died 2009).
• 29 May
  • Karsten Alnæs, historian, writer and journalist.
  • Jan Gulbrandsen, hurdler, politician and sports official (died 2007).
  • Ove Liavaag, civil servant (died 2007).

June

• 3 June
  • Turid Dørumsgaard Varsi, politician.
  • Thor Listau, politician (died 2014).
• 15 June – Roger Gudmundseth, politician.
• 16 June – Reidar Nielsen, newspaper editor and politician (died 2018).
• 18 June – Marit Tingelstad, politician.
• 23 June –
  • Unn Aarrestad, politician.
  • Martin Stavrum, politician. (died 2022)

July

• 7 July – Trygve Henrik Hoff, singer, composer, songwriter, and writer (died 1987).
• 10 July – Jostein Nerbøvik, historian (died 2004)
• 13 July – Yngve Hågensen, trade union leader (died 2023)
• 18 July – Bjørn Myhre, archaeologist (died 2015).
• 21 July – Willy Martinussen, sociologist.
• 30 July – Kate Næss, poet (died 1987).

August

• 6 August – Tone Vigeland, goldsmith.
• 10 August – Erling Steineide, cross-country skier (died 2019).
• 18 August – Arvid Torgeir Lie, writer (died 2020).
• 25 August – Ruth Lilian Brekke, politician

September

• 8 September – Olav Dalsøren, ice hockey player.
• 10 September – Eva Birkeland, civil servant.
• 11 September – Sondre Bratland, folk singer.
• 13 September – Guttorm Guttormsgaard, visual artist (died 2019).
• 18 September – Lars Gunnar Lie, politician

October

• 2 October – Kjell Bartholdsen, jazz musician (died 2009).
• 11 October – Arvid Jacobsen, newspaper editor (died 2014)
• 12 October – Kari Rolfsen, sculptor and illustrator (died 2020).
• 12 October – Bjørn Hansen, news presenter and correspondent
• 14 October – Terje Bergstad, painter and printmaker (died 2014).
• 27 October – Jan Martin Larsen, cartographer, orienteer and politician
• 31 October –
  • Egil Ly, sailor.
  • Magnar Mangersnes, organist and choral conductor. (died 2023)

November

• 2 November – Oddvar Torsheim, visual artist, poet and musician.
• 9 November –
  • Tove Stang Dahl, legal scholar (died 1993).
  • Dag Østerberg, sociologist, philosopher and musicologist (died 2017).
• 11 November – Fredrik Heffermehl, jurist, writer and translator
• 15 November – Aril Edvardsen, evangelical preacher and missionary (died 2008)
• 23 November – Arvid Vatle, physician
• 27 November – Ragnar Tveiten, biathlete and double World Champion.
• 29 November – Kjartan Rødland, journalist, newspaper editor and author (died 2025).

December

• 2 December – Reidar Grønhaug, social anthropologist (died 2005)
• 5 December – Aud Dalseg, interior architect.
• 9 December – Astrid Marie Nistad, politician
• 11 December – Asbjørn Bjørnset, politician
• 15 December – Fred Anton Maier, speed skater (died 2015).
• 16 December – Liv Ullmann, actress.
• 25 December – Finn Graff, illustrator.
• 27 December – Oddvar Nes, linguist (died 2016)

Full date unknown

• Geir Grung, diplomat (died 2005)

Notable deaths

• 3 January – Ludvig Meyer, barrister, newspaper editor and politician (born 1861)
• 7 January – Oluf Christian Müller, politician (born 1876)
• 8 January – Nils Riddervold Jensen, politician and Minister (born 1863)
• 9 February – Axel Paulsen, speed skater and figure skater (born 1855)
• 21 March – Jacob Opdahl, gymnast and Olympic gold medallist (born 1894)
• 25 March – Edvard Hagerup Bull, judge and politician (born 1855)
• 16 June – Torolf Prytz, architect, goldsmith and politician (born 1858)
• 28 July – Johan Fahlstrøm, actor and theatre manager (born 1867)
• 15 September – Adolph Gundersen, Norwegian American medical doctor (born 1865)
• 18 September – Erik Rotheim, chemical engineer and inventor of the aerosol spray can (born 1898)
• 25 September – Paul Olaf Bodding, missionary, linguist and folklorist (born 1865)
• 16 October – Nils Yngvar Ustvedt, medical doctor and politician (born 1868)
• 23 November – Erik Werenskiold, painter and illustrator (born 1855)
• 4 December – Borghild Holmsen, pianist, composer and music critic (born 1865)
• 11 December – Christian Lous Lange, historian, political scientist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate (born 1869)
• 12 December – Holger Sinding-Larsen, architect (born 1869)
• 14 December – Sven Moren, writer (born 1871).

Full date unknown

• Gunnar Olavsson Helland, Hardanger fiddle maker (born 1852)
• Jakob Sverdrup, philologist and lexicographer (born 1881)

References

References

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