Johan Nygaardsvold's government continued the pattern of frequent changes at the defence ministry. Five of his six defence ministers served in 1940 or earlier, and the post had briefly been shared by two officials in 1935. Birger Ljungberg, a Conservative in a Labour government, took over in December 1939. The criticism of Nygaardsvold and Ljungberg pairs a wait-and-see approach with fear that mobilizing to prevent an invasion would instead provide a reason for one. That fear discouraged defensive action while war was already under way around Norway.
Chapter · 52:08-54:04
Ministerial turnover and fear of mobilization in 1940
Frequent ministerial changes continued under Nygaardsvold, whose government hesitated over mobilization for fear of provoking invasion.