German invasion of Norway facts for kids
The German invasion of Norway occurred during the Second World War. It led to battles between the Allies and Germany. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to help Norway by sending soldiers and warships.
Norway was important to Germany for two primary reasons: as a base for naval units, including U-boats, to weaken Allied shipping in the North Atlantic, and to secure shipments of iron ore from Sweden through the port of Narvik. The long northern coastline was an excellent place to launch U-boat operations into the North Atlantic to attack British commerce. Germany was dependent on iron ore from Sweden and was worried that the Allies would attempt to disrupt those shipments, 90% of which originating from Narvik.
The invasion of Norway was given to the XXI Army Corps under General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst and consisted of the following main units:
- 69th Infantry Division
- 163rd Infantry Division
- 181st Infantry Division
- 196th Infantry Division
- 214th Infantry Division
- 3rd Mountain Division
The Allies had to withdraw and the Norwegian government had to escape from Norway and seek exile in London. Even though the Germans occupied Norway, some Norwegians formed the Norwegian resistance and kept fighting the Germans. Norway held off the Germans for 62 days, making Norway the nation that withstood a German invasion for the longest period of time, after the Soviet Union.
Images for kids
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German dead being brought ashore from the German naval tanker Altmark.
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The heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper landing troops in Norway in 1940.
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German Pz.Kpfw. I tanks in Aabenraa, Denmark, 9 April 1940
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German Leichter Panzerspähwagen armoured car in Jutland.
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Iron ore is extracted in Kiruna and Malmberget and brought by rail to the harbours of Luleå and Narvik. (Borders 1920–1940)
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See also
In Spanish: Campaña de Noruega para niños
