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Osprey Campaign #183
Denmark and Norway 1940: Hitler’s boldest operation
On 9 April 1940, German forces invaded Denmark, and then Norway, in an attempt to secure the vital mineral resources of Scandinavia for their war industry. This assault, Operation Weserübung, represents the first joint air-land-and-sea campaign in the history of warfare, and was the only such campaign planned, launched, and completed by the three services of the Wehrmacht. It also included the use of the rarest of German armoured vehicles, the Naubaufahrzeug NbFz.A/B (PzKw V/VI) experimental 'land battleship'.
This book describes the events of this tumultuous campaign of World War II (1939-1945) that not only led to Winston Churchill's appointment as British Prime Minister, but also saw the crippling of the German Kriegsmarine as a fighting force, as it was reduced to a fleet of submarines and a handful of heavy warships used as commerce raiders.
This book describes the events of this tumultuous campaign of World War II (1939-1945) that not only led to Winston Churchill's appointment as British Prime Minister, but also saw the crippling of the German Kriegsmarine as a fighting force, as it was reduced to a fleet of submarines and a handful of heavy warships used as commerce raiders.
96 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2007
About the author
Douglas C. Dildy
18 books1 followerDouglas C. Dildy is a US Air Force Academy graduate and retired US Air Force colonel with a degree in history. He attended the US Armed Forces Staff College and USAF Air War College and holds a Master's Degree in Political Science.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 2, 2024
The impressive thing about this booklet is how much information and detail that Dildy manages to cram into it and still give one a coherent narrative. Having just read a modern account of Finland's "Winter War" one has to respect the Finns for their wisdom in not inviting London & Paris to intervene in their fight, as the Anglo-French execution of the Norwegian campaign was not impressive; particularly once the Germans achieved air superiority.
Originally written: December 24, 2019.
Originally written: December 24, 2019.
May 25, 2021
This is an excellent overview of 1940's Operation Weserübung and the disastrous allied response.
Douglas Dildy provides just the right level of detail for an account of this length. While the early pages are more or less an information dump (in keeping with the series format), once the campaign summary begins the narrative is smoothly delivered and frequently thrilling. Unlike some of the Osprey campaign titles, the images and maps match up perfectly with the surrounding text, with the 3D maps being especially helpful for making sense of the unit movements in and around the complex arrangement of fjords that make up the theatre of action around Narvik.
The bibliography is very good, albeit a tad dated since a whole slew of titles about this campaign have appeared in the last 15 years or so.
Warmly recommended.
Douglas Dildy provides just the right level of detail for an account of this length. While the early pages are more or less an information dump (in keeping with the series format), once the campaign summary begins the narrative is smoothly delivered and frequently thrilling. Unlike some of the Osprey campaign titles, the images and maps match up perfectly with the surrounding text, with the 3D maps being especially helpful for making sense of the unit movements in and around the complex arrangement of fjords that make up the theatre of action around Narvik.
The bibliography is very good, albeit a tad dated since a whole slew of titles about this campaign have appeared in the last 15 years or so.
Warmly recommended.
June 24, 2018
I like the Osprey series.
It gives good overviews of what went on and they also pick (like here) the battles that were more in the “forgotten” category.
Good maps , good order of battle all around good source for history buffs and gamers alike - thumbs up.
It gives good overviews of what went on and they also pick (like here) the battles that were more in the “forgotten” category.
Good maps , good order of battle all around good source for history buffs and gamers alike - thumbs up.
November 6, 2014
Contains several excellent detailed maps, including topographical. Covers a part of WWII that is unjustly pretty much ignored by documentaries and historians. Yes, Denmark capitulated immediately but Norway fought on valiantly for two months. The heavy class cruiser Blucher was sunk by coastal defenses upon entering the Oslo fjord resulting in the loss of hundreds of sailors and soldiers. This event delayed the occupancy of the capital Oslo so that the royals and heads of the government were able to escape north and eventually made their way to England where they operated a government in exile.
I have a special interest because my own father took part in the defense of central Norway. British forces assisted in that area. In the North, the Norwegian army was assisted by the British, French and Poles and the strategic port of Narvik was recaptured. The Germans had the great advantage of using their air force to assist their ground operations. They also had tanks. The distance was too far for Allied aircraft to reach most of Norway from British bases. Britain arbitrarily threw in the towel after two months, evacuating twenty-five thousand troops. This upset the Norwegians, French and Poles but they were dependent on the British logistically.
This operation was the first and perhaps only invasion by the Germans in which their army, navy and air force attacked in a jointly coordinated operation. Historians have pretty much overlooked that because Germany lost half of their ships in the Norway operation Hitler was unable to launch his invasion of England by sea with his navy having been crippled. Subsequently, for the rest of the war, the German navy was most successful with their submarines not heir surface ships.
This little book documents all the facts very well for both the German and Allied forces.
I have a special interest because my own father took part in the defense of central Norway. British forces assisted in that area. In the North, the Norwegian army was assisted by the British, French and Poles and the strategic port of Narvik was recaptured. The Germans had the great advantage of using their air force to assist their ground operations. They also had tanks. The distance was too far for Allied aircraft to reach most of Norway from British bases. Britain arbitrarily threw in the towel after two months, evacuating twenty-five thousand troops. This upset the Norwegians, French and Poles but they were dependent on the British logistically.
This operation was the first and perhaps only invasion by the Germans in which their army, navy and air force attacked in a jointly coordinated operation. Historians have pretty much overlooked that because Germany lost half of their ships in the Norway operation Hitler was unable to launch his invasion of England by sea with his navy having been crippled. Subsequently, for the rest of the war, the German navy was most successful with their submarines not heir surface ships.
This little book documents all the facts very well for both the German and Allied forces.
November 30, 2013
Fascinating brief history of a little explored campaign. I think the Norway battles would a great WWII movie.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews