Today in History: A Government in Exile

On this day in 1940 Norway formed a Government in Exile in London. However the story really begins almost a month earlier on the afternoon of April 9, 1940. Following the initial Nazi invasion of Norway the Storting knew that it would be pursued, oppressed and possibly dissolved, so it convened and unanimously enacted the Elverumsfullmakten (Elverum Authorization). This authorization granted the Norwegian Cabinet full powers to protect the country until such time as the Storting could meet again. This effectively gave full governmental control to King Haakon VII and his cabinet while they were in London.