Operation Regenbogen (Arctic) facts for kids
Operation Regenbogen (which means "Operation Rainbow" in German) was a special mission by German warships in 1942. It took place in the Arctic Ocean during World War II. This operation led to a big naval fight known as the Battle of the Barents Sea.
Why the Operation Happened
After some tough battles in 1942, the Allied ships had stopped sending supplies to the Soviet Union. These supply trips were called Arctic convoys. In December 1942, the convoys started again. The German navy, called the Kriegsmarine, gathered many warships and submarines (called U-boats). They also had planes from the German air force, the Luftwaffe, to help them.
Germany's Plan
The plan for Operation Regenbogen was to stop the next Allied convoy heading to Murmansk. Four German U-boats waited near Bear Island. A group of surface ships, including the cruisers Hipper and Lützow, and six destroyers, gathered at Altafjord.
If a convoy was spotted, the German fleet would split into two groups. One group would fight the convoy's escort ships. The other group would attack the supply ships in the convoy. However, Adolf Hitler gave strict orders not to risk the big warships too much. This made the German commanders less willing to attack boldly. Also, the Lützow was supposed to go into the Atlantic Ocean after this mission. This made them even more careful.
The Battle Begins
On December 22, 1942, Convoy JW 51B sailed towards Murmansk. A German U-boat, U-354, found the convoy on December 30. The German warships then sailed from Altafjord to meet them.
In the Battle of the Barents Sea, Operation Regenbogen had some early success. The Hipper managed to draw away the convoy's escort ships. This allowed the Lützow to get close to the supply convoy. But the captain of the Lützow was too cautious. He stopped his attack even though he had caused very little damage.
What Happened Next
The operation failed because the convoy's escort ships fought very bravely. Also, Hitler's orders were too strict and confusing for the German commanders. Hitler was very angry when he heard about the navy's poor performance. He yelled at Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, who was the head of the Kriegsmarine. Hitler said the German surface fleet was useless. He even wanted to scrap all their ships and use their guns and men for shore defenses.
Admiral Raeder felt he could not continue leading the navy without Hitler's trust. So, he resigned from his job, and Hitler accepted it. Admiral Raeder was replaced by Admiral Karl Dönitz, who was the commander of the U-boat fleet.
