Directives for military officers and military commanders in the event of an armed attack on Norway

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The Directives for military officers and military commanders in the event of an armed attack on Norway, commonly known as “the poster on the wall,” were issued by royal resolution on June 10, 1949. The rules were meant to guide what commanding officers and Ministry officials should do if Norway were attacked, and the poster was traditionally hung in every military office.

Background
During the 1940 German invasion, many Norwegian officers didn’t know what to do because they had no clear orders. Mobilization was slow and muddled, partly because the ministers didn’t have the details and left them to the Defence Ministry. An infamous moment came when a senior commander delayed mobilization, contributing to early German advances. Although the government eventually ordered mobilization, confusion and a coup attempt by Quisling added to the chaos, letting German forces establish a beachhead. Despite this, Norwegian forces, with help from Britain, France and Poland, resisted for about two months in several battles.

Why the directive exists
After the war and during the Cold War, Norwegians wanted to be prepared for any future invasion. The directive was issued to guide how to respond. Legally, Norway’s Constitution requires defense against threats to the country, and conscripts are trained in the directive. In practice, the directive applies to all personnel, regardless of rank.

What the directive says
- The directive has four sections and includes a definition of who is a “military befalingsmann.” This means any officer with rank above sergeant and similar ranks, regardless of whether they are salaried, conscripted, unpaid, or drafted.
- It tells military officers and commanders what they must do during an attack.

When has it been used
The directive has rarely been put into action. In June 1968, the Soviet Union staged a large mobilization along the Norwegian border. The Norwegian border garrison reportedly asked the ministry for instructions (an account that may be apocryphal). The show of force continued for a few days and then ended on June 10.