Home Forums Blogs Articles Photos Videos Contact FAQ

Molde - History

Molde - History: Encyclopedia II - Molde - History

Originating from the two farms Reknes and Molde (later renamed Moldegård), a small port called Molde fjære originated in the Middle Ages, based on trade with timber and herring. In 1614 the town gained formal trading rights, and in 1742 it was finally incorporated through a royal charter. One third of the city, mostly wooden buildings and rose gardens, was destroyed in a fire on 21 and January 22, 1916. A second fire, or series of fire, struck from the German air-raids in April 1940, destroying about two thirds of the city. T ...

Molde: Encyclopedia II - Molde - History

Molde - History

Originating from the two farms Reknes and Molde (later renamed Moldegård), a small port called Molde fjære originated in the Middle Ages, based on trade with timber and herring. In 1614 the town gained formal trading rights, and in 1742 it was finally incorporated through a royal charter. One third of the city, mostly wooden buildings and rose gardens, was destroyed in a fire on 21 and January 22, 1916.

A second fire, or series of fire, struck from the German air-raids in April 1940, destroying about two thirds of the city. The Germans were chasing the king, the cabinet and national gold reserves, evacuated from Oslo. From 22 to April 29 Molde was de facto capital of Norway, until the advancing German forces, combined with a failed British counter-attack, forced the Norwegian commander-in-chief, General Otto Ruge, to abandon Southern Norway and continue the fight from Tromsø.