Liaison Bodies in the Home Guard

When the Storting created the Home Guard in 1946, it decided that various boards and committees should be established for this institution. A special feature of these liaison bodies is the inclusion of representatives of important civilian organizations. Through cooperation in the National Home Guard Council, the Local District HG Advisory Boards, the Local Area HG Advisory Boards and the Municipal HG Committees, the Home Guard functions is an important link between the civilian population and the Armed Forces.

The National Home Guard Council

The National Home Guard Council is appointed by the Ministry of Defence for a term of four years. It has 33 members, of whom 18 are chosen by HG personnel in the districts. The civilian representatives are appointed by the

following organizations: The National Rifle Association of Norway, the Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions, the Norwegian Farmers Union, the Norwegian Fishermens Association, the Norwegian Confederation of Sport, the Norwegian Womens Defence League, the Norwegian Red Cross, the Norwegian Farmers and Smallholders Union, the Norwegian Peoples Relief Association, the Norwegian Womens Public Health Association, the Directorate for Civil Defence and Emergency Planning, the Sami Reindeer Herders Association in Norway, the Norwegian Child and Youth Council (2 members) and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry.

The National HG Council shall through statements and proposals provide advice on all imporant matters relevant to the Home Guard, including the appointment of the Chief of the Home Guard Staff.

The District Advisory Boards:

The District Advisory Boards include representatives from civilian organizations, in addition to one representative from each Home Guard sector in the district. The District Advisory Boards normally meet once a year, when they review the annual report of the Home Guard District Commander.

The Local Area Advisory Boards:

Each Home Guard Area has a Area Advisory Board consisting of from 3 to 10 members. The Area Advisory Board represents all Home Guard personnel in the area, and advises on all important matters relevant to the Home Guard in the area. The tasks of the Advisory Board, represented by the Executive Committee, include making sure that the area has adequately qualified officers and specialists. The Advisory Board also deals with disciplinary matters submitted by the Area Commander.

The Municipal Home Guard Committees:

A Municipal Home Guard Committee is established in all municipalities. The Committee is part of the Home Guard organization, and is an advisory body to the Home Guard Area Commander. The Committee has three members, two of whom are appointed by the municipality and one by the local police authority. The Committees most important task is to examine all personnel to be transferred or who have applied to the Home Guard. The Area Commander takes part in the meetings of the Committee in accordance with the provisions of these committees.

Military Missions Abroad

The Attaches are accredited to (secondary accreditation in brackets): Washington (Canada), Bonn (Switzerland), Helsinki, London (Ireland and The Netherlands), Warsaw, Moscow (White Russia and Ukraine), Paris (Spain), Riga (Estonia and Lithuania) Stockholm and Prague (Hungary, Slovakia and Austria). There is one Assistant Military Attaches in Moscow and one in London. In Washington the Ministry of Defence is represented by a Special Adviser on Defence Matters. In addition to the Special Adviser and the Attaché, there are two Assistant Military Attachés and one Logistic Attaché accredited in Washington.

The Attache in Washington is also the national representative of the Chief of Defence in relation to the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT).

The Norwegian delegation to NATO (NORDEL) and to WEU (WEUDEL) in Brussels handles Norway's interests in the North Atlantic Council (NAC), the Defence Planning Committee (DPC) and WEU's Council. The Norwegian delegation includes five representatives from the Ministry of Defence including an adviser on matters of defence and four assistant advisers. The latter represent Norway on the NATO Committees dealing with matters within the area of responsiblity of the Minister of Defence.

Within the military organization at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, the Chief of Defence has a staff which handles Norwegian military interests on the International Military Staff (IMS) and advises the delegation on matters dealt with by NAC, DPC and their sub-committees. Norway also has Military Advisors at the Norwegian delegations to the UN and the OCSE.

The Civil Defence

Peacetime Force:

Permanent staff of about 450.

Force after mobilization:

Approx. 50 000 plus approx. 33 000 in industrial defence.

Principal task:

To reduce injuries in a crises or war situation.

Organization:

The Directorate for Civil Defence and Emergency Planning is subordinate to the Ministry of Justice. Regionally, the Civil Defence is subordinate to the County Governor. The Chief of Police is the District Chief of the Civil Defence.

Air raid shelters:

As of 1 January 1997, there were air-raid shelters to accommodate approx. 2.7 million persons, about 2,4 million persons in private air-raid shelters and about 320 000 in public shelters.

Warning:

In order to alert the civilian population about important announcements or an air attack, more than 1 200 sirens have been installed to sound three different signals. They are:

1. "Important announcement - listen to the radio"

(In places without a siren, this signal will be given by ringing the church bells)

2. "Air raid alarm"

3. "Danger over"

Information:

More information on this matter may be obtained on request at the nearest civil defence office or at the Directorate for Civil Defence and Emergency Planning.

Civil emergency planning