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Invasion of Denmark, Norway & the Low Countries

Invasion of Denmark, Norway & the Low Countries. LTC Oakland McCulloch. Outline. German Invasion of Denmark & Norway The Invasion of the Low Countries Consequences of these victories. Invasion of Denmark and Norway. Operation WESERUBUNG began on 09 April 1940

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Invasion of Denmark, Norway & the Low Countries

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  1. Invasion of Denmark, Norway & the Low Countries LTC Oakland McCulloch

  2. Outline • German Invasion of Denmark & Norway • The Invasion of the Low Countries • Consequences of these victories

  3. Invasion of Denmark and Norway • Operation WESERUBUNG began on 09 April 1940 • Germans were concerned about a Franco-British • occupation of both Denmark and Norway • Sold as protecting these countries’ neutrality • Naval engagements between British and German • warships along the Norwegian Coast • Very little danger with invasion of Denmark • Huge danger for German Navy while invading • Norway

  4. The Fall of Denmark • German Ambassador to Denmark asked for a meeting with • the Danish Foreign Minister • 3 German Infantry Divisions & 1 Motorized Rifle Brigade drive • across the border into Denmark (with air support) • Flat terrain was perfect for the German operation • small, poorly equipped & poorly trained Danish Army had • no chance of stopping the invasion • 1000 Infantry, who where hiding in a Merchant ship in the • Copenhagen harbor, disembarked to seize the King and • Government • Denmark fell almost without bloodshed in one day • Control of naval & shipping access to major German & • Russian ports

  5. The Invasion of Norway • German Navy takes a beating but successfully escorts all the troop transports to Kristiansand, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondeheim and Narvik • First use of Airborne landings in combat at Oslo and Kristiansand • Germans used 6 plus Divisions (81,000 soldiers) plus huge amounts of air support • Norwegian Army, about 12,000 strong, was better trained than the Danes and had some warning

  6. The Invasion of Norway

  7. The Battle for Norway 9-13 April 1940 • The Capture of Oslo • despite stubborn resistance the Germans landed by sea • and air to quickly capture the capital • Oslo was the communications hub in southern Norway • Germans are successful at landing troops at all • ports - some do suffer casualties • Disaster at Narvik for German Navy • Germans begin exploitation by fanning out from • captured cities • Germany flies in reinforcements • Luftwaffe attacks British warships off the coast

  8. The Battle for Norway • Allied Landings 14-19 April 1940 • 10,000 French & British troops land in Norway • had been assembled to land in Finland • Allied force eventually grows to 25,000 men • Germans react very quickly establishing hasty • defenses and using the Luftwaffe to strike Allied • troops, landing areas and support ships • Only Allied success was at Narvik • Allied evacuation of Norway 8-9 June 1940 • Things not going so well on the Continent!

  9. The Capture Norway Consequences of the Battle • Prime Minister Chamberlain resigns and Winston • Churchill becomes the Prime Minister • Germany gains access to ports into the North • Atlantic for its warships and u-boats • Loosening of the British Naval blockade • Safe passage for Germany’s iron ore from Sweden • German Navy crippled for several months to come

  10. The Fall of The Low Countries • Predawn bombardment of all major Dutch and • Belgian airfields • Army Groups A and B crossed the Belgian and • Dutch frontiers • Initially the main effort was against Holland • Paratroop drops in the vicinity of Rotterdam, The Hague • and other major cities • Glider troops attack and capture Fort Eban Emael which • opens the door for German troops to cross the Albert • Canal • Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain

  11. The Fall of The Low Countries • Dutch flood much of the country side to slow • German advance • German ground forces begin to force their way into the • interior thanks to the airborne forces holding key bridges • The Luftwaffe destroys the business district of • Rotterdam in terror bombing killing 30,000 civilians • Holland surrenders on 14 May - just four days after • the war begins

  12. The Fall of The Low Countries • Once Fort Eban Emael fell the Germans poured • across the Albert Canal into Belgium • The Belgium Army retired to the Dyle Line, to be • reinforced by elements of the BEF and 1st French Army • By the 15th of May some 35 Allied Divisions, • including most of the BEF were on the Dyle Line. • The King of Belgium surrenders on 15 May - just five • days after the war began • The Germans now have the Allies exactly where • they want them – more to follow next week

  13. The Fall of Denmark, Norway and the Low Countries Questions ?

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