The museum is a non political foundation emphasising enlightenment and education concerning 2.w.war showcases an extensive collection focusing on the events that took place in Lofoten and North Norway.

The Lofoten World War Memorial Museum first opened 15.th June 1996. It was a realization of a lifetime achievement and interest by it's founder William Hakvaag.

The idea to make a museum about the events that took place in Lofoten and North Norway has surfaced on several occasions. What triggered the Lofoten W.W.M.Museum was the Lofoten-raid 4th Mars 1941. It is considered to be the first raid of some extent during 2.w.war and it was also the first allied victory over the "Wehrmacht".

Although the Germans were driven out of Narvik earlier in May 1940, they were not defeated and taken to prison.

Back in England the Lofoten raid was considered good news, and hit the front page in every major news paper. It was the 2.w.war first real and total victory. Adolf Hitler was not happy with this and began the construction of strongholds, bunkers and forts in a grand scale in Lofoten and North Norway. Svolvær, for instance, was the most fortified city in Norway. And most of these constructions still stand.

Museum possesses a large library with an extensive collection of literature, original pamphlets and posters from that period. A large number of never before published photographs, mostly from North-Norway, has been collected. This dedicated work has resulted in Norway's biggest display of complete uniforms and smaller artefacts from world war 2.