Events in the year 1956 in Norway.
Incumbents Monarch – Haakon VII. Regent – Olav, due to debilitating injury to the King Prime Minister – Einar Gerhardsen (Labour Party)
Events
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 on board. 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
Film
Literature The Song of the Red Ruby (original title Sangen om den røde rubin), novel by Agnar Mykle
Notable births
5 January – Bente Irene Aaland, politician 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. 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. 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. 10 April – Torhild Bransdal, politician (died 2022). 11 April – Kristin Mile, jurist and civil servant 11 April – Reidar Sørensen, stage actor, film actor and theatre director. 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. 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. 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 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 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). 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. 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. 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. 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. 14 November – Bjørgulv Braanen, newspaper editor 15 November – Maj Britt Andersen, singer. 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
5 January – Caroline Boman Hansen, Swedish–Norwegian hotelier (b. 1860). 15 January – Bertram Dybwad Brochmann, businessperson, writer and politician (b. 1881). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 8 December – Finn Lambrechts, lieutenant general of the Royal Norwegian Air Force (b. 1900). 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). 20 December – Hildur Andersen, pianist and music pedagogue (b. 1864) .