Julia Hong, Kaytlin Melvin, Julia Mitchell, Erin Shea Mr. Myers and Mrs. Curd 3/4 April 26, 2016
Thesis Germany’s control over the neutral countries of Denmark and Norway after Operation Weserübung gave Germans greater mobility in seaports, allowing them to gain more military power in WWII.
Goal and Background -Denmark to Germany is a strategic area used to conduct operations in Norway -Germany is extremely paranoid about managing its border nation, Norway -Germany is motivated to take control because: -Denmark is directly next to the Baltic Sea, which would allow Germany to have control of naval and shipping to major Soviet ports -In Germany’s mindset, Denmark army is weak and small enough to beat
Battle Events in Denmark April 9th, 1940: Germany invades Denmark and Norway -Forces advance by ferry to southernmost town of Denmark (Gedeser) -Units land and take over two airfields of Denmark -move to Amalienborg Palace to capture Danish royal family: King Christian X -Germany attacks ground by low aircraft and automatic machinery -Neutralized the Danish Army Air Service -They used cannons and machine guns
Battle Events in Denmark -King Christian X and the entire Danish government surrender -an exchange for political independence in domestic matters -Invasion of Denmark lasted less than 6 hours -shortest military campaign by Germans during WWII
Battle Events in Norway Goal: Seize major cities and fan the attack out throughout the country Oslo (capital)- attacked by both sea and air Sola (major air base in the south)- attacked by air landing Nearby cities attacked via parachutes and coastal cities attacked via the sea Strategy: FIVE major groups Group 1- battle cruisers (‘Gneisenau’ and the ‘Scharnhorst’) attack Narvik Group 2- ‘Hipper’ attack Trondheim Group 3- attack Bergen Group 4- attack Kristiansand Group 5- attack Oslo
Battle Events in Norway -Group 1 took out Norwegian and British coastal defenses (only 8 out of 182 crew members survived) fast enough that Norwegian forces thought that they were international aid. Upon approach, Narvik surrendered to German forces. -All other targeted cities quickly surrendered.
Who Was Involved Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, chief of the German navy Major Vidkun Quisling, Minister of Defence in Norway, allowed German forces to land unopposed General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst, planner of invasion of Norway
Impact -Germany keeps Denmark in a neutral government until soon arrests and deports Danish Jews to refuge in Sweden -approx. 477 Danish Jews deported -around 70 Danish Jews killed -Norway provided Germany strategic naval and air bases in order to attack Britain - Protected iron ore supply to Germany from Sweden -German military occupation in governments of Denmark and Norway -Occupation in Norway allowed easier access to the Atlantic -Marked the start of the real war
Impact Maps After the Operation
Fun Facts -Operation Weserübung was the first use of paratroopers in actual combat -First operation in history to have air land and sea attacks -The invasion of Denmark lasted less than six hours and was the shortest military campaign conducted by the Germans during the war -Falkenhorst purchased a traveler's guide to Norway and used it to design a general invasion plan since he had little time to prepare, and knew nothing about the subject
Discussion Questions Why does it matter that Germany has gained northern territory? Why was Germany so obsessed with border nations and nearby territory? Was it strategical of Norway to keep Denmark with its small and inexperienced army?
Works Cited Bird, Keith W. "German Navy: World War II." World at War ABC-CLIO, Web. 20 Apr C N Trueman "The Invasion Of Norway 1940" historylearningsite.co.uk. The History Learning Site, 20 Apr Mar 2016 Chen, Peter C. "Invasion of Denmark and Norway." WWII Database. N.p., Web. 20 Apr Cordier, Sherwood S. "German Conquest of Norway: World War II." World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society.ABC-CLIO, Web. 20 Apr "World War II." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Web. 21 Apr