Norway cycled through Christian Fredrik Monsen, Adolf Indrebø, Oscar Torp, and Monsen again as defence minister after Labour entered government in 1935. Birger Ljungberg took the portfolio in late 1939 with an army background and deep concern about the Soviet Union during the Winter War, yet this did not make him an effective minister. Only four cabinet members had remained in the same posts since Labour came to power, including Prime Minister Johan Nygaardsvold and Foreign Minister Halvdan Koht. Foreign and defence policy became concentrated around Nygaardsvold, Koht, and Ljungberg. Frequent turnover and weak internal pressure help explain why formal authority and available manpower did not produce timely readiness.
Chapter · 18:23-23:17
Cabinet turnover weakened Norwegian defence policy
Frequent changes in the defence ministry and a cabinet divided over security left Norway without coherent preparation as the European crisis deepened.