Timeline of the Norwegian Campaign
Encyclopedia
The Norwegian Campaign
, lasting from 9 April to 10 June 1940, led to the first direct land confrontation between the military forces of the Allies
— United Kingdom
and France
— against Nazi Germany
in World War II
.
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...
, lasting from 9 April to 10 June 1940, led to the first direct land confrontation between the military forces of the Allies
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...
— United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and 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...
— against Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
January 1940
- 27: German planners assign the code name WeserübungOperation WeserübungOperation 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...
to the operation.
February 1940
- 5: Using assistance to FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
as rationale, the Allied Supreme War Council decides on intervention in Norway. Initial plans are for a landing at NarvikNarvikis 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...
, and success would rely on the acquiescence of Norway and Sweden. It is clear that despite the stated rationale, cutting supplies of iron ore to Germany is a prime motivation for the plan. - 16: The British destroyer HMS CossackHMS Cossack (F03)HMS Cossack was a Tribal-class destroyer which became famous for the boarding of the German supply ship Altmark in Norwegian waters, and the associated rescue of sailors originally captured by the Admiral Graf Spee....
intercepts the German transport AltmarkGerman tanker AltmarkAltmark was a German oil tanker and supply vessel, one of five of a class built between 1937 and 1939. She is best known for her support of the German commerce raider, the "pocket battleship" and her subsequent involvement in the "Altmark Incident"....
in Norwegian waters, recovering 299 British prisoners of war. The Altmark IncidentAltmark IncidentThe Altmark Incident was a naval skirmish of World War II between the United Kingdom and Nazi Germany, which happened on 16 February 1940. It took place in what were, at that time, neutral Norwegian waters...
makes public the attitude of the Allies toward intervention in Norway, and provides impetus to German planners to accelerate their plans. - 21: General Nikolaus von FalkenhorstNikolaus von FalkenhorstNikolaus von Falkenhorst was a German General who planned Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Denmark and Norway in 1940...
is appointed to command the invasion of Norway. He will command German forces in Norway until 1944.
March 1940
- 1: A final order is given for the German attack on Norway and Denmark
- 3: The date for invasion is set for 17 March 1940, although this is later delayed to April.
- 28: The Allies decide to begin mining Norwegian waters (Operation WilfredOperation WilfredOperation Wilfred was a British naval operation during World War II that involved the mining of the channel between Norway and her offshore islands in order to prevent the transport of swedish iron ore through neutral Norwegian waters to be used to sustain the German war effort...
), and to send a military force to Norway to pre-empt German aggression. The end of the Winter WarWinter WarThe Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
deprives the Allies of their primary excuse for the operation. Mining operations are set to start on 5 April 1940, but this is moved back to 8 April 1940 due to disagreements with FranceFranceThe 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...
about the associated Operation Royal Marine.
April 1940
- 1: Hitler approves final plans for the attacks on Norway and Denmark.
- 2: Germany sets 9 April 1940 as the date for Weserübung.
- 3: Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
becomes the chair of the British Ministerial Defence Committee. One of his first actions is to get consent for mining operations in Norwegian territorial waters. - 5: France and the United Kingdom notify Norway of their reservation of the right to deny Germany access to Norwegian resources.
- 6: British Admiralty receives a report from Copenhagen stating ten German destroyers are headed towards Narvik, but considers the possibility of such an event doubtful.
- 7: German vessels begin to set to sea for Operation Weserübung, some are seen by RAF reconnaissance and later attacked without effect by bombers. Home Fleet moves NNE in search of the enemy, they are joined by the 2nd Cruiser Squadron.
- 8: HMS GlowwormHMS Glowworm (H92)HMS Glowworm was a G-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1930s. During the Spanish Civil War the ship spent part of 1936 and 1937 in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict...
is sunk by the German cruiser Admiral HipperGerman cruiser Admiral HipperAdmiral Hipper, the first of five ships of her class, was the lead ship of the Admiral Hipper–class of heavy cruisers which served with the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. The ship was laid down at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg in July 1935 and launched February 1937; Admiral Hipper...
after giving chase to the German destroyer Bernd von Arnim. Polish submarine ORP OrzełORP OrzełThree boats of the Polish Navy have been named ORP Orzeł :* ORP Orzeł was an commissioned in 1939 and lost in 1940.* ORP Orzeł was a commissioned in 1962 and decommissioned in 1983....
sinks the German transport Rio de Janeiro at the southern Norwegian coast. - 9: Denmark is captured by the German 170th Infantry Division and German 198th Infantry Division under command of General Kaupitsch. Landings in Norway begin. German heavy cruiser BlücherGerman cruiser BlücherBlücher was the second of five heavy cruisers of the German Kriegsmarine, built after the rise of the Nazi Party and the repudiation of the Treaty of Versailles. Named for Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, the victor of the Battle of Waterloo, the ship was laid down in August 1936 and launched in...
is sunk by shore batteries along OslofjordOslofjordThe Oslofjord is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the Torbjørnskjær and Færder lighthouses and down to Langesund in the south to Oslo in the north....
, and troops land further south than intended. German air-landed soldiers land at and capture the airport at Oslo. Weather slows but does not prevent successful landings at KristiansandKristiansand-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
, while surprise paratrooper landings at Stavanger quickly secure the airfield there. Bergen and TrondheimTrondheimTrondheim , 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...
are captured quickly. The NarvikNarvikis 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...
landing force evades British naval forces and defeats the Norwegian vessels in the fjord. - 10: The First Battle of NarvikBattles of NarvikThe Battles of Narvik were fought from 9 April-8 June 1940 as a naval battle in the Ofotfjord and as a land battle in the mountains surrounding the north Norwegian city of Narvik as part of the Norwegian Campaign of the Second World War....
occurs when a British force of five destroyers enters OfotfjordOfotfjordOfotfjord or Narvik Fjord, an inlet of the Norwegian sea north of the Arctic circle, is Norway's 12th longest fjord, long, and the 18th deepest, with a maximum depth of . Along the shores of this fjord is the major town of Narvik...
. The Germans have ten destroyers defending and both sides lose two ships, with the German force suffering greater damage beyond that to other vessels. At Bergen, the German cruiser KönigsbergGerman cruiser KönigsbergKönigsberg was a light cruiser of the in the German Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Her sisterships were Köln and Karlsruhe.After a number of foreign visits in the 1930s, the ship operated along the Spanish coast from November 1936 to January 1937 during the Spanish Civil War...
is sunk by air attack. In Oslo, the Norwegian government has left, and Vidkun QuislingVidkun QuislingVidkun 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...
becomes the head of the new government. - 12: KongsbergKongsbergis a town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is located at the southern end of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kongsberg....
falls to German forces without a fight. - 13: The Second Battle of NarvikBattles of NarvikThe Battles of Narvik were fought from 9 April-8 June 1940 as a naval battle in the Ofotfjord and as a land battle in the mountains surrounding the north Norwegian city of Narvik as part of the Norwegian Campaign of the Second World War....
occurs when a British force of nine destroyers and the battleship HMS Warspite enter OfotfjordOfotfjordOfotfjord or Narvik Fjord, an inlet of the Norwegian sea north of the Arctic circle, is Norway's 12th longest fjord, long, and the 18th deepest, with a maximum depth of . Along the shores of this fjord is the major town of Narvik...
and destroy all eight defending German destroyers. - 14: British forces land at NamsosNamsosis a town and municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Namsos. Other villages in the municipality include Bangsund, Klinga, Ramsvika, Skomsvoll, and Spillum....
and HarstadHarstadis the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
as Anglo-French forces prepare to launch operations against German forces at Trondheim and Narvik. - 14: German Fallschirmjäger paratroopers make a combat jump at DombåsBattle of DombåsThe Battle of Dombås was fought between Norwegian Army infantry forces and German Fallschirmjäger paratroops in mid-April 1940. As part of their conquest of Norway south of Trondheim, and as a countermeasure against reported allied landings in the Romsdal area of south western Norway, the Germans...
and block the rail and road network in southern Norway for five days before being forced to surrender by the Norwegian ArmyNorwegian ArmyNorway achieved full independence in 1905, and in the first century of its short life has contributed to two major conflicts, the Cold War and the War on Terror. The Norwegian Army currently operates in the north of Norway and in Afghanistan as well as in Eastern Europe. The Army is the oldest of...
on 19 April. - 15: Vidkun Quisling resigns. His replacement is Ingolf Christensen. The 24th British Guards Brigade lands at Harstad.
- 16: The British 146th Brigade146th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)The 146th Infantry Brigade was a formation active during the First World War, the Second World War, and with the Territorial Army during the early part of the Cold War.-Second World War :...
lands at Namsos. - 17: British forces land at ÅndalsnesÅndalsnesis a town in the municipality of Rauma in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Åndalsnes is the administrative center of Rauma. The town has a population of 2,207...
. - 18: The British 148th Brigade lands at Åndalsnes and the French 5th Alpine Chasseurs Demi-Brigade lands at Namsos.
- 19: The British 146th Brigade is forced to withdraw from SteinkjerSteinkjeris a town and a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Innherad region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Steinkjer, which is also the seat of the county government...
by German forces. - 20: German air raids ruin Namsos harbour for landing purposes. German forces moving north from Oslo reach LillehammerLillehammeris a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
and capture the town the next day. - 22: German forces engage the British 148th Brigade north of Lillehammer.
- 23: The British 15th Brigade lands at Åndalsnes and moves to relieve the 148th Brigade.
- 24: German forces are besieged at Narvik, with landings planned to facilitate the capitulation of the garrison.
- 25: German forces successfully continue to push back Allied forces in the GudbrandsdalGudbrandsdalThe Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county of Oppland. The valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer at Mjøsa, extending 230 km toward Romsdal...
north of Lillehammer. Norwegian forces conduct attacks on the Germans at Narvik. - 27: Allied forces decide to withdraw from Namsos and Åndalsnes, abandoning the effort against German forces at Trondheim.
- 28: French mountain troops arrive at Harstad.
- 29: King HaakonHaakon VII of NorwayHaakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
and the Norwegian government evacuate MoldeMoldeis a city and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Romsdal region. The municipality is located on the Romsdal Peninsula, surrounding the Fannefjord and Moldefjord...
and travel to TromsøTromsøTromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
. German forces from the south link up with the Trondheim force. - 30: Allied evacuations begin at Åndalsnes.
May 1940
- 1: Allied evacuations are completed at Åndalsnes after 4,400 troops are evacuated.
- 2: German forces enter Åndalsnes. Allied evacuations take place at Namsos, evacuating 5,400 troops. Anglo-French forces land at MosjøenMosjøen-History:Mosjøen was founded in the 17th century as local farmers met here to trade, and has been growing since then. Sawmills were built here in 1866 by a British company, and Mosjøen got township rights in 1875. It is the oldest town in the Helgeland region and the second oldest town in Nordland...
to block German advances to Narvik. - 3: Evacuation force, Mauriceforce, delayed by thick fog is attacked by Junkers Ju 87 divebombers, the French destroyer Bison and the British destroyer Afridi are sunk.
- 5: French Foreign LegionFrench Foreign LegionThe French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
and Polish forces land at Tromsø and Harstad. - 10: Engagements take place at Mosjoen as British forces are sent south to reinforce the blockage.
- 13: Norwegian forces begin the advance on Narvik from Harstad led by gen. Carl Gustav FleischerCarl Gustav FleischerCarl Gustav Fleischer KCB was a Norwegian general and the first land commander to win a major victory against the Germans in the Second World War...
with the support of allied and French forces land at BjerkvikBjerkvikBjerkvik is a village in the municipality of Narvik, Norway. Its population is 1,220. Bjerkvik is located at the head of Herjangsfjorden, an arm of Ofotfjord in the northeastern corner of Nordland county. There is less than 20 km to the border with Troms...
. - 14: The 24th Guards Brigade loses significant equipment in transit to holding positions south of Narvik.
- 17: The British cruiser HMS EffinghamHMS Effingham (D98)HMS Effingham was a Hawkins-class heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was commissioned at Portsmouth in 1925, having had her construction halted for several years following the end of the First World War in 1918...
is run aground and lost south of Narvik. - 21: Allied forces advancing on Narvik gain important positions to the north.
- 26: The British anti-aircraft cruiser HMS CurlewHMS Curlew (D42)HMS Curlew was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was part of the Ceres group of the C class of cruisers.She was laid down by Vickers Limited on 21 August 1916, and launched on 5 July 1917, being commissioned into the navy on 14 December 1917. In common with most of her...
is sunk by air attack near Harstad. - 27: The Norwegian and Allied assault on Narvik commences and the town is entered after a short fight.
- 27: German Luftwaffe destroys BodøBodøis a city and a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Salten region.The city of Bodø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Bodin was merged with Bodø on 1 January 1968. Skjerstad was merged with Bodø on 1 January 2005...
, but only two British soldiers are killed. - 31: The British force at Bodø is evacuated.
June 1940
- 1: France and the United Kingdom inform Norway of their plans to evacuate the country.
- 4: Allied evacuations begin at Harstad.
- 7: The Norwegian government goes into exile aboard the British cruiser HMS DevonshireHMS Devonshire (39)HMS Devonshire was a County-class heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was part of the London subgroup of the County class, and saw service in the Second World War.-Early career:...
. - 8: German Naval force launch Operation JunoOperation JunoOperation Juno was a German naval offensive late in the Norwegian Campaign. The German ships involved were the battlecruisers and , the heavy cruiser and the destroyers Karl Galster, Hans Lody, Erich Steinbrinck and Hermann Schoemann....
to relieve pressure on the Narvik garrison and, after discovering the evacuation, shift the mission to a hunt and sink the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious and two escorting destroyers. However Scharnhorst, damaged by a torpedo, returns to Trondheim with Gneisenau, leaving the way clear for the main evacuation. - 9: Norwegian military forces are ordered to cease resistance and demobilise.
- 10: The surrender is complete and resistance is ended.
See also
- Norwegian CampaignNorwegian CampaignThe 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...
- Main article - Operation WeserübungOperation WeserübungOperation 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...
- Main article on the German invasion of Norway - Allied campaign in Norway - Main article on Allied operations in Norway
- Norwegian Campaign order of battleNorwegian Campaign order of battleThe German operation for the invasion of Denmark and Norway in April 1940 was code-named Weserübung, or "Weser Exercise." Opposing the invasion were the partially mobilized Norwegian military, and an allied expeditionary force composed of British, French, and Free Polish formations...
- World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...