Operation Weserübung (ves-sir-uh-bung)

May 13, 2014

ThesisThe success of Operation Weserubung secured Germany’s control of Scandinavia and effectively surrounded Britain on the continent, yet simultaneously drained German military resources to maintain the nationalistic resistance movements of the Norwegian people.

Timeline

Germans’ Perspective● Hitler decided to invade Scandinavia but was ultimately

worried that Norway and Denmark would turn to the Allies for assistance

● Hitler was initially reluctant to invade Denmark and Norway as he supported the countries neutrality in the war

● Control of Norway’s coastline would have provided an advantage during the inevitable battle for the North Sea

● Air support was crucial to the success of German operations in Norway

What Hitler wanted, why he did it● The supply of Swedish iron ore to Germany, which is threatened by the

British, is made safe by this. ● Churchill was aware of this however and so he made efforts to mine

Norwegian waters, forcing German ore ships out● wanted North Sea ports to feed Germany in the face of Anglo-French naval

blockade of German ports.● Invasion seemed like a response to the British mining, but they were

actually not reacting because the operation had been developed 2 months before.

● Norway's proximity to England across the North Sea made its fj ports an attractive potential base for Germany from which to attack British shipping.

Why didn’t Germany invade Sweden?

Strategic objectivesAt the outset of the war, however, Hitler supported neutrality in Scandinavia. This would ensure a

continued flow of Swedish iron ore to Germany.

In short, Sweden has iron ore, and Hitler likes iron ore. :)

Map

Britain’s responseChurchill jumped at the opportunity and, withcharacteristic aggressiveness, proposed an immediate assault on Norway to dislodge the Germans there.

The Norwegian Defense● The Norwegian military was woefully small due to both the

size of the country and it’s pacifist nature ● Germany’s poor aptitude for sea battles prolonged the

Norwegian defense ● When Germany finally began to occupy them, Denmark and

Norway were two of the few occupied countries that actively resisted German oppression

● Because resistance movements were successful, both countries continued to resist Germany until June 9, even after France had withdrawn.

CasualtiesNorwegians -853 Englishmen -4,400 France and Poland -500 Germany -6,100 Denmark- 17

Short Term Effects of the battle● END RESULT: Denmark surrenders and becomes an occupied country…. ● An unforeseen result of the Norwegian fiasco was the resignation of British

Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain on May 10 following the debacle in central Norway. Winston L. S. Churchill became prime minister.

● Danish government continued to function normally until fall of 1942 when German military administration was imposed.

● Guerilla movement: Denmark officials in exile in London tried to sabotage the Germans.

How do Jews fit into this mess? ● Unlike most German occupied nations, Denmark

actively resisted the German’s attempts to impose laws against Jews.

● The Danes put so much pressure on the Germans that none of the Danish Jews were sent to Auschwitz.

Why the Germans won?The German Army and Luftwaffe demonstrated the unstoppable tactics they had perfected in Poland.

Norway during occupation● in WWII Norway declared neutrality, just as in WWI. However, the country

was still caught in warfare between Britain and Germany.● April 1940, British forces laid mines in Norwegian waters● April 9, German troops invaded Norway and occupied major cities● German attack operation, Weserubung, also called for the occupation of

Denmark on the same day● Norway attempted to help British forces by using their merchant fleets, a

fleet of ships second only to British and American nautical forces.● Forced occupation of Norway ended May 8, 1945, the day Germany

surrendered to the Allies

Why Operation Weserubung mattered?● Norway represented a considerable strategic prize for the German armed

forces in the spring of 1940. When France fell to the German army in June 1940, the earlier conquest of Norway meant that England was effectively surrounded on the European continent.

● However, the distance from Germany, the rugged terrain, and the determined efforts of the Norwegian underground resistance movement throughout the entire German occupation required Germany to maintain a very large military presence in Norway

● This deployment, a ratio of one German soldier for every eight Norwegian citizens, represented a significant drain on German military resources.

Recap● German invasion of Norway● Operation Weserubung signalled the end of the Phoney

War and the beginning of the war in Western-Europe● Flitted over into Denmark● Fighting mainly took place between the German and

British navies though land battle also played a role● Campaign badly damaged German Naval forces● First major battle of WWII

Works CitedA BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE ON OCCUPIED DENMARK, 1940-1943 Jerry L. Voorhis Scandinavian Studies, Vol. 52, No. 3 (SUMMER 1980), pp. 289-

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