Visiting the Narvik WWII Museum
The Narvik WWII Museum is a must-see for anyone travelling around the region. When you ask most non-Norwegians about Norway’s involvement during the war, they have typically heard of either the heavy water sabotage or the Battle of Narvik. The Battle of Narvik was the first Allied victory of World War II and took place in this small town about the Arctic Circle. The battle is so well-known that it was turned into a Netflix movie a couple of years ago!
So, if you’re travelling near Narvik, I encourage you to take a detour and visit this museum. Here’s my practical guide to the museum in Narvik, explaining why it exists, what happened here during the war, and what you can see.
In this article...
The Battle of Narvik
Narvik’s ice-free port made it crucial to both sides: it was the main outlet for high-grade Swedish iron ore needed by German industry. In April 1940 Germany invaded neutral Norway to seize Narvik, landing mountain troops on 9 April. Allied ships counter-attacked in the fjords on 10–13 April, sinking or damaging many German destroyers. The port was a scene of intense naval battles and ground fighting in freezing conditions. In late May 1940 Norwegian, British, French and Polish forces launched a coordinated assault and recaptured Narvik on 28 May – the first Allied land victory of WWII.
However, the German invasion of France forced the Allies to withdraw: between 4–8 June the garrison was evacuated back to Britain, and Narvik was re-occupied by German troops on 8 June (Norway surrendered on 10 June).
Development of the Museum
A local war museum was first opened in Narvik in 1964 (as the Nordland Red Cross War Memorial Museum). For decades, it preserved artefacts and stories of the Narvik battles. In 2014 a new foundation – the Narvik War and Peace Centre – took over its operation.
In August 2016, the museum moved into a modern new building (the Narvik War and Peace Centre), with state-of-the-art exhibits. Today, the museum (often called Narvik Krigsmuseum) is run as part of this War and Peace Centre, supported by the Norwegian government and local authorities.
What You Can See Inside
On the main floor are items from the early days of the occupation as well as items from the Battle of Narvik. As you enter, one of the first exhibitions is a screen that displays the Battle of Narvik on the Ofotfjord, highlighting the locations where naval battles took place and where ships were sunk. It’s fascinating to watch, and I encourage you to watch the whole thing. There are also items from around Northern Norway during the early days of the war, including fragments of a bomb that landed in nearby Bodø.
Heading to the next room, this documents life in Norway during the occupation. Items focus on occupation, everyday life, resistance, propaganda, and Jewish deportation. There’s money, ration carts, identification cards, newspaper articles, and even a waffle iron from the war time. There’s a large collection of uniforms form both the Nazis and the Norwegians, as well as various guns used during the war.
As you head downstairs, you come to this room full of huge war machinery. Notable large exhibits include a Hotchkiss H35 tank (from the period of the campaign) and several captured German mountain guns. These heavy weapons (for example, a 7.5 cm mountain gun) are depicted as they were used on the Arctic battlefields.
Practical Information
Opening Hours
The Narvik WWII Museum is open all year round, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. During the summer months, extended hours are available until 6 pm.
Admission Prices
Please visit their website directly for the most up-to-date admission prices.
Parking
You can park in the parking garage “Parkhallen”, which is under the Scandic Hotel and only a few minutes walk from the museum.
Language
The main exhibitions are in English and Norwegian, but there are also translations for French, German, Polish, and Sami available via a QR code. Free wifi is at the museum.
Accessibility
There is an elevator connecting all the floors.
Shop
The shop is excellent with a ton of books in multiple languages about World War II in Norway. There’s also some general souvenirs and local handicrafts.
Cafe
The café is lovely with good coffee, sandwiches, and cakes.
Website
You can learn more about the museum at their website: https://stiftelsennarviksenteret.no/international/
