Home > Allied campaign in Norway

The British campaign was coincidentally commenced simultaneously with Nazi Germany's invasion of Denmark and Norway in Operation Weserübung of April 9.

In central Norway, the campaign was centered on Åndalsnes and Namsos. British bases were established at those two ports very soon after the German invasion. However, in the face of German air superiority, it proved impossible to maintain forces there. After penetrating into the valley of Gudbrandsdalen, British forces were withdrawn from central Norway in early May.

Iron ore is extracted in Kiruna and Malmberget, and brought by rail to the harbours of Luleå and Narvik.
(Borders as of 1920–1940.) The focus of the campaign then shifted northwards. Around Narvik, greater success was gained by British forces in cooperation with Polish, French and Norwegian troops. In the First and Second Battle of Narvik British naval forces had devastated German naval power in the area, and land forces later captured Narvik itself. Also, unlike central Norway, land-based airpower was established at a reasonable level, and the Luftwaffe did not have undisputed control of the air.

However, eventually, German success in the Low Countries and FranceThe French Republic or France ( French: Republique francaise or France is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. with the invasion commenced on May 10May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). There are 235 days remaining. Events 1291 Scottish nobles recognize the authority of King Edward I of England. 1497 Amerigo Vespucci allegedly leaves Cadiz for his first meant that larger concerns overtook the British and French governments, and German forces pressing up towards Narvik by land from central Norway began to threaten the Allied position at Narvik. Allied troops were evacuated from Narvik in Operation AlphabetOperation Alphabet was the evacuation, authorized on May 24, 1940, of British troops from the harbour of Narvik in northernmost Norway marking the success of Nazi Germany's Operation Weserubung of April 6 and the end of the British campaign in Norway duri by June 8June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. Events 536 St. Silverius becomes Pope (probable date). 1776 American Revolutionary War: Battle of Trois-Rivieres American invaders are driven bac, 1940.

The fiasco of the British campaign - with its missed opportunities and squandered victories - might reasonably be said to be the responsibility of Winston ChurchillChurchill" redirects here. For other meanings, see Churchill (disambiguation). The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill KG, OM, CH, FRS ( November 30, 1874 January 24, 1965) was a British politician, best known as Prime Minister of the U, the British First Lord of the AdmiraltyThe First Lord of the Admiralty was a British government position in charge of the Admiralty. The post evolved from that of Lord High Admiral and existed in its own right from 1709 until 1964 when it was subsumed into the position of Secretary of State fo. But, in fact, the ' Norway Debate' in the British House of Commons, which saw large numbers of Conservative Party MPs refuse to back the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, led directly to Chamberlain's resignation and Churchill's appointment as Prime Minister on the afternoon of 10 May.