Scandinavia
1940: The Norwegian campaign
April – June 1940 · 2 battles
On 9 April 1940, without declaring war, Germany occupied Denmark and attacked Norway, forestalling Anglo-French plans for Scandinavia by a few days. Landings from the sea and the air gave the Germans the capital and the main ports within a day, but the Norwegians resisted, and the Allies put troops ashore near Trondheim and Narvik. The campaign cost the Kriegsmarine heavy losses that weighed on the rest of its war, and gave Germany bases on the Atlantic and access to Swedish iron ore. In Britain its course brought down Chamberlain’s government.
- 9 April – 8 June 1940Battles of NarvikFrom 9 April to 8 June 1940 Dietl’s Germans fought British, Norwegians, French and Poles for the iron-ore port. The Allies retook Narvik on 28 May.
- 9 April – 10 June 1940Key battleNorwegian CampaignFrom 9 April to 10 June 1940 Germany conquered Norway. Norwegians, British, French and Poles fought at Trondheim and Narvik, but were defeated.