I Saw It Happen In Norway

by C.J. Hambro

I Saw It Happen in Norway by Carl J. Hambro is a firsthand account of the German invasion of Norway in 1940, written by a prominent Norwegian politician and former President of the Norwegian Parliament. The book provides Hambro's perspective on the events leading up to the invasion, the lack of vigilance that allowed it to happen, and the initial phase of the occupation. It debunks Nazi claims that the invasion was a preemptive move and defends the Allies' actions, while also discussing the importance of international cooperation.

219 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Ian Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written with a strong sense of immediacy. Interesting details of leading Norwegians fleeing across to Sweden ahead of invading Germans.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carl Joachim "C. J." Hambro (5 January 1885 – 15 December 1964) was a Norwegian journalist, author and leading politician representing the Conservative Party. A ten-term member of the Parliament of Norway, Hambro served as President of the Parliament for 20 of his 38 years in the legislature. He also served as the President of the League of Nations formed after WWI. After the Second World War, he was a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1945 to 1956. Hambro played a crucial role at the time of the German invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940. He was one of the few politicians who really understood Hitler's ambitions toward the country. Learning from what had happened to Czechoslovakia in 1938, Hambro was prepared, and with only six hours advance notice, he helped to organize the escape of King Haakon and his royal family, the government, prominent members of Parliament and the gold reserves of the Bank of Norway. ( Excellent film on these early events: The King's Choice - Original title: Kongens Nei - 2016) Hambro escaped with the King to England and actually published this book in 1940 in order to spread the nature of the Nazi plans for Europe. One of my few problems with the book is that it never says that Crown Prince Olav also escaped with the King. As Crown Prince, Olav had received extensive military training and had participated in most major Norwegian military exercises. Because of this he was perhaps one of the most knowledgeable Norwegian military leaders. He wanted to remain in Norway. During a visit to the United States before the war, he and his wife had established a close relationship with President Roosevelt. ( They also visited St. Olaf College on this 1939 trip - I attended and taught at the college. ) The library book I read was from the 1940 publication. The German occupation began on 9 April 1940. Conventional armed resistance to the German invasion ended on 10 June 1940 and Nazi Germany controlled Norway until the capitulation of German forces in Europe on 8/9 May 1945. ( Aside only partially covered in the book: Crown Princess Märtha contributed greatly in the mobilization work for Norway's self-protection. She made a public announcement on 26 January 1940 in which she encouraged Norwegian women to take part in the mobilization work. Upon the invasion, the Crown Princess and her children were fled across the border to her native Sweden. Her presence in Sweden was problematic and she was considered by some to have put Sweden's neutrality in jeopardy. President Roosevelt offered her a personal invitation to the United States. Her uncle, King Gustav V of Sweden, telegraphed her father-in-law King Haakon and advised against the trip, but Märtha insisted on accepting the invitation. She went to the United States on the United States Army transport American Legion, via the then Finnish port city of Petsamo. In the U.S., she and her children initially stayed in the White House. In August 1941, Crown Princess Märtha traveled with President Roosevelt aboard the presidential yacht, USS Potomac, and sailed to Newfoundland and the Atlantic Charter meetings with Winston Churchill. Hence the Masterpiece Series: Atlantic Crossing. ) Back to the book..... Although the book is a bit boring when it prints the complete Norwegian and Nazi policies, statements and ultimatums, even these details significantly affect the reader's knowledge of the events in Norway. The valiant attempts of the Norwegians to fight off a large scale Nazi invasion are heroic. Some troop transports sailed into harbors in advance flying the French and American flags and markings. It is also amazing to me that this book was written and published so rapidly. I highly recommend this book as a compelling and (I believe since the author was present and in a position of authority ) intimately accurate account of the WWII invasion and conquest of Norway that would last 5 years. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw it Happen in Norway is a rare account of Hitler's early expansion, the story of a nation's downfall told first-hand from a surviving member of its government and published during the war's dark hour of 1940. The account exposes Hitler's war as nothing but naked, brazen aggression from the beginning. Germany had no historical grudge to settle or land to 'redeem' from Norway as it did with France and Czechoslovakia; relations between the two northern powers were nothing but amicable. And yet, in the early spring of 1940, German troops materialized from false-flagged commercial transport ships, and the Luftwaffe began reducing the land's cities and towns to ashes. This was more than war; this was treachery. In I Saw it Happen, a leading member of the Norwegian governments records how he and other officials realized nearly too late that they were being attacked, and records the first weeks of resistance. Coordination at first reduced to shambles by the concentrated Nazi attack on Oslo, the Norwegian army nonetheless managed to re-form enough to fight a rear-guard action, allowing the King, the crown prince, and leading officials to take a government-in-exile out of the country. The Norwegians were not alone in the defense of their nation, aided by British and French troops who crossed the North Sea in early recognition that the phony war was over. Before the first month was over, however, the Wehrmacht's invasion of France forced Allied retreat and Norwegian recognition that overt military defense would not long be practicable; without munitions, resistance sustained by the hope that the tide would turn would be Norway's best option. Brief as it is, I Saw it Happen demonstrates how quickly the brutality of World War 2 began, and how immediate heroic resistance could be.

[Dave Hoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

How lucky can one be at a book sale, Corpus Christi. How Norwegian King Haakon and Crown Prince Olaf escaped the Nazi after the invasion of Norway. Author C.J. Hambro was Pres. of Norwegian Parliament

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, a lot of good information too considering it was written so soon after the invasion. It provides a great look at what happened from a first person view of what happened and how the germans invaded. A little one sided but still good..