Norwegian Home Guard

Norwegian Home Guard
Heimevernet
Emblem
Emblem
FoundedDecember 6, 1946; 77 years ago (1946-12-06)
Country Norway
Allegiance King of Norway
BranchNorwegian Armed Forces
TypeLight infantry
Size45,000
HeadquartersTerningmoen
Motto(s)Overalt – alltid
(Everywhere – always)
Commanders
Chief of DefenceGeneral Eirik Kristoffersen
Chief of the Home GuardMajor General Frode Ommundsen[1]

The Norwegian Home Guard (Norwegian: Heimevernet – "HV") is the rapid mobilization force within the Norwegian armed forces. Its main focus is local defense and civil support, but it can also detach volunteers for international operations. Its main tasks are safeguarding territorial integrity, strengthening military presence, and protecting important infrastructure.

It has land defense units, and has volunteers and conscript personnel with backgrounds from all branches. Founded 6 December 1946, it is the second youngest branch in the Norwegian armed forces after the Norwegian Cyber Defence Force (Cyberforsvaret).

  1. ^ "Sjef Heimevernet". Forsvaret (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-03.