Operation Weserübung

Operation Weserübung. It was the Wehrmacht's code name for the German assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War, commencing on 9 April 1940. The operation marked the first major amphibious and airborne assault in modern warfare, securing vital strategic positions for Germany. Its successful execution gave the Kriegsmarine access to the Atlantic Ocean and protected shipments of crucial iron ore from neutral Sweden.

Background

Following the outbreak of the Second World War with the Invasion of Poland, both the Allies and Nazi Germany recognized the strategic importance of Scandinavia. German war industry was heavily dependent on iron ore shipped from Sweden via the Norwegian port of Narvik, especially during winter when the Baltic Sea froze. The United Kingdom and France, under Winston Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty, planned their own intervention, code-named Operation Wilfred, to mine Norwegian waters and potentially land troops. This escalating strategic competition, coupled with Germany's desire for Atlantic naval bases to challenge the Royal Navy, set the stage for a preemptive strike.

Planning and forces

Planning was directed by OKW with significant input from Großadmiral Erich Raeder of the Kriegsmarine. Overall command of the ground forces was given to General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst. The plan involved the nearly simultaneous invasion of two sovereign nations, requiring precise coordination between all branches of the Wehrmacht. Naval forces, including the battleships ''Scharnhorst'' and ''Gneisenau'', were tasked with transporting invasion groups and engaging the Royal Navy. The Luftwaffe, under commanders like Hans Geisler, provided critical air support and paratrooper units. Facing them were the small, neutral armies of Denmark and Norway, which were soon reinforced by Allied expeditionary forces from the United Kingdom, France, and Polish units.

Invasion of Denmark

The invasion of Denmark, designated Weserübung Süd, began at 04:15 on 9 April 1940. German forces, under General Leonhard Kaupisch, crossed the land border into Jutland while amphibious landings secured key islands. Simultaneously, paratroopers captured the Aalborg airfields and the Masnedø fort. The Kriegsmarine entered the harbour of Copenhagen, and the Luftwaffe flew low-level sorties over the capital. Facing overwhelming force and the threat of the bombing of Copenhagen, King Christian X and the Danish government, led by Thorvald Stauning, capitulated after a brief resistance lasting only a few hours, making Denmark the first country to fall to the Blitzkrieg.

Invasion of Norway

Concurrently with the Danish operation, Weserübung Nord targeted Norway. German naval groups attacked major ports from Narvik in the north to Oslo in the south. While the sinking of the heavy cruiser ''Blücher'' at Oslofjord delayed the capture of Oslo, other landings at Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, and Kristiansand succeeded. Key objectives included securing Narvik for iron ore transit and the airfield at Stavanger. Norwegian forces, initially led by General Kristian Laake and later General Otto Ruge, mobilized for resistance. Allied counter-landings followed at Åndalsnes, Namsos, and around Narvik, leading to significant battles like the Battle of Narvik and fighting in the Gudbrandsdal. However, the German offensive in France diverted Allied resources, leading to their evacuation by early June and the Norwegian surrender on 10 June 1940.

Aftermath and consequences

The operation was a decisive tactical victory for Nazi Germany, securing its northern flank and vital resource lines. It led to the establishment of the occupation of Norway and the creation of the Quisling regime under Vidkun Quisling. For the Allies, the campaign was a significant failure, exposing weaknesses in inter-service coordination and leading to the political downfall of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who was replaced by Winston Churchill. The heavy losses suffered by the Kriegsmarine, including many destroyers and cruisers, critically weakened its surface fleet for the rest of the war. The exiled governments of Norway and Denmark continued the fight from London, and Norwegian territory became a base for commando raids and the crucial Norwegian heavy water sabotage against the German nuclear program.

Category:World War II Category:Military operations of World War II Category:1940 in Denmark Category:1940 in Norway