Home Guard units conduct major urban military exercises in Norway and Denmark

Large-scale military exercises are being conducted by Home Guard units in Norway and Denmark, involving significant urban presence.

In Norway, the Home Guard is conducting ‘Exercise Capital 2026’ from September 14 to 18. Nearly 5,000 soldiers from the Oslo and Akershus districts will participate in training. The exercise aims to prepare forces to protect the population and critical societal functions. Residents may observe patrols on foot and soldiers using public transportation, such as buses and trams. Authorities noted that while the exercise is planned to minimize civilian impact, blank ammunition will be used during certain activities.

In Denmark, the Home Guard is launching ‘Activation Exercise Blåtand’ from October 1 to 4. This represents the largest exercise for the organization since 2016. Thousands of volunteer soldiers will deploy to 40 cities across Jutland and Funen, including Aarhus. The training focuses on guarding critical infrastructure, patrolling, and ground-based defense. Citizens may encounter armed soldiers and military vehicles within urban environments during the maneuvers.