The Role of Germans with Regard to the Occupation: Denmark and Norway

After your pre-requisite reading it is time to read the segment of the Second Great War entitled:  “The Role of the Germans as to the Occupation of:  Denmark and Norway” thus my article begins:

It was on March 8th that the Soviets finally called it quits as to their war efforts with the country of Finland.  The price the Finnish people paid was overwhelming; however, they were still successfully able to remain an independent state.  (Note:  If you involve yourself to some degree in the History of Finland, you will find independence for the Finns is very important.)

The British and French suffice it to say needed to find a new strategy as to the attainment of Narvik and Kiruna.  They eventually concluded that they would place mines on the outskirts of the Harbor of Narvik.

The idea behind their thinking was to motivate a reaction of outrage on the part of Germany.  They then would appear to Norway as the Norwegian savior as most assuredly the Germans outburst at the planned set of events would greatly disturb the inhabitants of Norway.  This would give the French and British an idealized entry into Narvik.

The German Chancellor said okay to the plans for invasion of the countries of Denmark on the Second of April and Germany’s battleships thus sailed on April 7th.

The British in the meantime were laying their mines outside of Narvik, and passed the German warships heading for Denmark without even noticing them.  (This has been determined historically by timelines recorded in regard to both plans of action.)  How the two missed each other is somewhat of a mystery, but it did occur.  Could it be the British were so intent in gaining access to Narvik that they missed the Germans?

By the same token, the Germans also passed the British without seeming to notice.

The British laid the mines on the eighth of April and afterwards headed home.

The Germans made their landings on April 9th and the country of Denmark for the most part offered them no resistance:  The German landings were successful at each port, except for Oslo.  In fact, Denmark offered the Germans immediate surrender.

In Oslo, a fortification provided some trouble for the German troops.  Additionally, the (weather condition of) fog kept the Germans from making an adequate landing from the air.

However, the German troops were eventually able to occupy Oslo by noon of that day.  In the interim, the government of Norway had made the decision to engage the Germans in battle.  They subsequently had moved to Elverum.

Norway, in its decision was assisted by approximately twelve thousand French and British troops.  They bravely fought the Germans within an area between Trondheim and Oslo.  This engagement of battle continued up and until the date of May 3rd.  Those who knew of the fighting never thought for one minute the Norwegians would attain the advantage.

Narvik was a vastly different circumstance:  Therein an approximate number of four thousand, six hundred Germans faced off with a proportionately high number of French, British and Norwegian troops:  Around twenty four thousand, six hundred to be precise.  Additionally, this number was further aided by the British Naval forces.

However, the German troops made use of the rustic and rocky landscape.  They also took the opportunity to out-maneuver their opponent, as the opposition’s movements were a bit too precise and deliberate:  Two characteristics not advisable with regard to the engagement of battle.  The result was the Norwegians were able to offer resistance as to Narvik up to May 28.  

Suffice it to say the Germans by the first week of June were “trapped” next to the border-line of Sweden.  At this juncture, they were very close to choosing between two options:

1. They could surrender to the French, British and Norwegian forces; or,
2. They could risk being massacred!

However they “lucked out” as militaristic devastations in the country of France were causing both the French and British to remove their troops from the area of Narvik.