German U-boat bases in occupied Norway
Encyclopedia
German U-boat bases in occupied Norway existed between 1940 and 1945, when the German Navy, the Kriegsmarine
, converted several naval base
s in Norway
into Submarine base
s. Norwegian coastal cities became available to the German Navy after the invasion of Denmark and Norway
in April 1940. Following the conclusion of the Norwegian Campaign, the occupying German forces began to transfer U-boats stationed in Germany to many Norwegian port cities such as Bergen
, Narvik
, Trondheim
, Hammerfest
and Kirkenes
. Initial planning for many U-boat bunkers began in late 1940 and starting in 1941, the Todt Organisation
began the construction of bunkers in Bergen and Trondheim. These bunkers were completed between 1942 and 1943.
U-boats stationed in Norway were generally used to extend the German Navy's range of operation in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean
s. These naval bases were used to house U-boats that would take part in the interception of Allied
convoys crossing the Arctic Ocean to the Soviet Union
. It was not until the liberation of France by the Western Allies that U-boat activity in many Norwegian ports increased. With the loss of the French ports, many German U-boats were re-located to Norwegian port cities.
During the extent of the German occupation of Norway, over 240 U-boats were stationed in the Nordic country at one time or another, most of which were members of the 11th U-boat Flotilla which had 190 U-boats in its fleet during the flotilla's entire career. Other well known flotillas in Norway were the 13th and 14th Flotillas.
Germany invaded both Norway and Denmark
on 9 April 1940. Norway was very important to Germany for two reasons: firstly as a base for naval units to harass Allied shipping in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, and secondly to secure shipments of iron ore coming in from Sweden
through the port of Narvik. During Operation Weserübung
, Denmark fell
in less than a day, becoming the briefest invasion in recorded military history. The Norwegians put up a stiffer resistance to the invading German forces. Nonetheless, by May the southern half of Norway was under German control. Following the German invasion of France and the Low Countries
, the Allies were forced to evacuate Narvik, leaving the country to the Germans who would occupy it until the end of the war. After the invasion, Vidkun Quisling
led the collaborationist government of Norway, known as the Nasjonal Samling ("National Gathering")
Bergen was the first Norwegian port to be established as a U-boat base. From July 1940 to the end of the war in May 1945, 270 U-boat patrols originated in Bergen. Bergen was also the site where the only type XXI submarine
left for a patrol in the war; U-2511 left the port on 3 May 1945.
Planning for the first U-boat bunker in Bergen began in late 1940 and was undertaken by the German military engineering group, the Todt Organisation. It coordinated the building of the first U-boat bunker in Bergen, codenamed Bruno, as well as several other U-boat bunkers along the Norwegian coast. The construction of Bruno began in 1941. When it was completed it had seven pens, three of which were "dry" docks and three of which were "wet" docks. The seventh pen was used for storing fuel, torpedoes and other essentials. The bunker itself had a roof up to 6 metres (19.7 ft) thick and was 131 metres (429.8 ft) by 143 metres (469.2 ft) in area. Once Bruno was completed, it could hold up to 9 U-boats.
Bergen remained a quiet base during the first few years of the occupation, experiencing only one large Allied air attack. In 1943, the U-boat base added two new bunkers, U-Stützpunkt Prien and U-Stützpunkt Weddingen along with a shipyard named Danziger Werft.
The U-boat base at Bergen grew exponentially after the liberation of France by the Western Allies
, when the senior commanding officer of U-boat operations in the west ("FdU West
") was moved from Angers
, France
to the city. A large expansion program was conducted at the base and several new anti-aircraft guns were set up to protect the U-boat bunkers. More engineers and technicians were moved to Bergen to accommodate the increased technical requirements of the base as well. Two more bunkers named Werft Gemeinschaftslager 1 and Gemeinschaftslager 2 were also built during this time.
In late 1944 several British air attacks damaged the U-boat bases in Bergen. During one of these attacks, a 'Tallboy' bomb went straight through the roof of pen 3, damaging it beyond repair and putting it out of action for the remainder of the war. The base was handed over to the Allies, along with the rest of occupied Norway, on 8 May 1945 when all German forces in Europe surrendered. As a result of the intensive bombing of the city in late 1944 and 1945, the Allies found that the area around Bergen was one of the worst affected regions in Norway at the conclusion of the war.
was an important U-boat base in Norway during the war. It was the home of the 13th flotilla and sent out around 55 U-boat patrols between June 1940 and the end of the war in May 1945.
Two U-boat bunkers, codenamed "Dora I" and "Dora II", were planned to be built in Trondheim to provide additional repair facilities outside of Germany itself. Like the bunkers in Bergen, the two bunkers in Trondheim came under the control of the Todt Organisation. Only "Dora I", which the Kriegsmarine took charge of in 1943, was completed before the end of the war. At 153 feet (46.6 m) long and 105 feet (32 m) wide it had five pens with space to hold seven U-boats. Construction of "Dora II" began in 1942 but was never completed. If finished it would have been 168 feet (51.2 m) long by 102 feet (31.1 m) wide, with four pens capable of holding six U-boats.
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
, converted several naval base
Naval base
A naval base is a military base, where warships and naval ships are deployed when they have no mission at sea or want to restock. Usually ships may also perform some minor repairs. Some naval bases are temporary homes to aircraft that usually stay on the ships but are undergoing maintenance while...
s in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
into Submarine base
Submarine base
A submarine base is a military base that shelters submarines and their personnel.Examples of present-day submarine bases include HMNB Clyde, Île Longue , Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Naval Submarine Base New London, and Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base .The Israeli navy bases its growing submarine...
s. Norwegian coastal cities became available to the German Navy after the invasion of Denmark and Norway
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
in April 1940. Following the conclusion of the Norwegian Campaign, the occupying German forces began to transfer U-boats stationed in Germany to many Norwegian port cities such as Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Narvik
Narvik
is the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle...
, Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, Hammerfest
Hammerfest
is a city and municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The municipality encompasses parts of three islands: Kvaløya, Sørøya, and Seiland. Hammerfest was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
and Kirkenes
Kirkenes
is a town in the municipality of Sør-Varanger in the county of Finnmark in the far northeast of Norway...
. Initial planning for many U-boat bunkers began in late 1940 and starting in 1941, the Todt Organisation
Organisation Todt
The Todt Organisation, was a Third Reich civil and military engineering group in Germany named after its founder, Fritz Todt, an engineer and senior Nazi figure...
began the construction of bunkers in Bergen and Trondheim. These bunkers were completed between 1942 and 1943.
U-boats stationed in Norway were generally used to extend the German Navy's range of operation in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
s. These naval bases were used to house U-boats that would take part in the interception of Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
convoys crossing the Arctic Ocean to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. It was not until the liberation of France by the Western Allies that U-boat activity in many Norwegian ports increased. With the loss of the French ports, many German U-boats were re-located to Norwegian port cities.
During the extent of the German occupation of Norway, over 240 U-boats were stationed in the Nordic country at one time or another, most of which were members of the 11th U-boat Flotilla which had 190 U-boats in its fleet during the flotilla's entire career. Other well known flotillas in Norway were the 13th and 14th Flotillas.
German invasion of Norway
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
on 9 April 1940. Norway was very important to Germany for two reasons: firstly as a base for naval units to harass Allied shipping in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, and secondly to secure shipments of iron ore coming in from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
through the port of Narvik. During Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
, Denmark fell
Battle of Denmark
The Battle of Denmark was the fighting that followed the German army crossing the Danish border on 9 April 1940 by land, sea and air. The German ground campaign against Denmark was the briefest on record in military history.-Motivation for invading Denmark:...
in less than a day, becoming the briefest invasion in recorded military history. The Norwegians put up a stiffer resistance to the invading German forces. Nonetheless, by May the southern half of Norway was under German control. Following the German invasion of France and the Low Countries
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, the Allies were forced to evacuate Narvik, leaving the country to the Germans who would occupy it until the end of the war. After the invasion, Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
led the collaborationist government of Norway, known as the Nasjonal Samling ("National Gathering")
German use of Norwegian ports
During the occupation, several of the nation's naval ports were turned into U-boat bases that were used to harass Allied shipping in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. These included Bergen, Narvik, Trondheim, Hammerfest and Kirkenes. Over 240 U-boats were stationed in Norway at various times during the war, most of them were members of the 11th U-boat Flotilla which had 190 U-boats in its fleet during the flotilla's career. Other well known flotillas in Norway included the 13th and 14th flotillas.Bergen
The southern port of Bergen was captured by the Germans on 9 April 1940, on the first day of the invasion. The Germans immediately saw the potential for several Norwegian harbours and ports to function as bases of operation for the Kriegsmarines U-boats patrolling the North Sea and the Arctic Ocean.Bergen was the first Norwegian port to be established as a U-boat base. From July 1940 to the end of the war in May 1945, 270 U-boat patrols originated in Bergen. Bergen was also the site where the only type XXI submarine
German Type XXI submarine
Type XXI U-boats, also known as "Elektroboote", were the first submarines designed to operate primarily submerged, rather than as surface ships that could submerge as a means to escape detection or launch an attack.-Description:...
left for a patrol in the war; U-2511 left the port on 3 May 1945.
Planning for the first U-boat bunker in Bergen began in late 1940 and was undertaken by the German military engineering group, the Todt Organisation. It coordinated the building of the first U-boat bunker in Bergen, codenamed Bruno, as well as several other U-boat bunkers along the Norwegian coast. The construction of Bruno began in 1941. When it was completed it had seven pens, three of which were "dry" docks and three of which were "wet" docks. The seventh pen was used for storing fuel, torpedoes and other essentials. The bunker itself had a roof up to 6 metres (19.7 ft) thick and was 131 metres (429.8 ft) by 143 metres (469.2 ft) in area. Once Bruno was completed, it could hold up to 9 U-boats.
Bergen remained a quiet base during the first few years of the occupation, experiencing only one large Allied air attack. In 1943, the U-boat base added two new bunkers, U-Stützpunkt Prien and U-Stützpunkt Weddingen along with a shipyard named Danziger Werft.
The U-boat base at Bergen grew exponentially after the liberation of France by the Western Allies
Western Allies
The Western Allies were a political and geographic grouping among the Allied Powers of the Second World War. It generally includes the United Kingdom and British Commonwealth, the United States, France and various other European and Latin American countries, but excludes China, the Soviet Union,...
, when the senior commanding officer of U-boat operations in the west ("FdU West
Führer der U-Boote
The post of Führer der U-Boote was the senior commanding officer of the submarine service in the pre-World War II German Kriegsmarine, and the title of several senior commands during the war. From January 1936 and until 17 October 1939, Karl Dönitz served in this position...
") was moved from Angers
Angers
Angers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to the city. A large expansion program was conducted at the base and several new anti-aircraft guns were set up to protect the U-boat bunkers. More engineers and technicians were moved to Bergen to accommodate the increased technical requirements of the base as well. Two more bunkers named Werft Gemeinschaftslager 1 and Gemeinschaftslager 2 were also built during this time.
In late 1944 several British air attacks damaged the U-boat bases in Bergen. During one of these attacks, a 'Tallboy' bomb went straight through the roof of pen 3, damaging it beyond repair and putting it out of action for the remainder of the war. The base was handed over to the Allies, along with the rest of occupied Norway, on 8 May 1945 when all German forces in Europe surrendered. As a result of the intensive bombing of the city in late 1944 and 1945, the Allies found that the area around Bergen was one of the worst affected regions in Norway at the conclusion of the war.
Trondheim
TrondheimTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
was an important U-boat base in Norway during the war. It was the home of the 13th flotilla and sent out around 55 U-boat patrols between June 1940 and the end of the war in May 1945.
Two U-boat bunkers, codenamed "Dora I" and "Dora II", were planned to be built in Trondheim to provide additional repair facilities outside of Germany itself. Like the bunkers in Bergen, the two bunkers in Trondheim came under the control of the Todt Organisation. Only "Dora I", which the Kriegsmarine took charge of in 1943, was completed before the end of the war. At 153 feet (46.6 m) long and 105 feet (32 m) wide it had five pens with space to hold seven U-boats. Construction of "Dora II" began in 1942 but was never completed. If finished it would have been 168 feet (51.2 m) long by 102 feet (31.1 m) wide, with four pens capable of holding six U-boats.