answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Immediately after the outbreak of war in September 1939, Norway, jointly with Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, announced its neutrality. In that action the Scandinavian states were following a policy they had adhered to consistently, if not always with complete success, since the middle of the nineteenth century. Germany, for its part, on 2 September 1939 presented a note in Oslo in which it declared its intention to respect the territorial integrity of Norway under all circumstances but warned that it expected the Norwegian Government to maintain an irreproachable neutrality and that it would not tolerate an infringement of that neutrality by a third power. A month later, on 9 October, in a secret memorandum on the conduct of the war, Hitler stated that the neutrality of the "Nordic States" was to be assumed for the future and that a continuation of German trade with those countries appeared possible even in a war of long duration. [2]

With due allowance for Hitler's tendency to play by ear, it can be said that the German interest in Norwegian neutrality at the beginning of the war was sincere. For Germany the advantages were substantial. Of the approximately six million tons of Swedish magnetite iron ore which Germany imported annually, about half passed through the Norwegian ice-free port of Narvik. (See Map 1.) From Narvik, as long as Norway remained neutral, ore ships could travel safely in the Leads, the passage inside the numberless islands fringing the Norwegian west coast. The Leads also made it much more costly and difficult to blockade Germany since blockade runners could steam up the long Norwegian coast and break out above the Arctic Circle in waters difficult to patrol. Consequently, in wartime the neutrality of Norway was a significant German asset, one which the British could be trusted not to overlook.

Passive exploitation of Norway's neutrality did not exhaust the German strategic interests in the Norwegian area. After World War I an opinion had developed in the German naval command which held that if the German Fleet had had bases in Norway and had not been bottled up in the North Sea that war might have gone differently for the Navy. It was a return to this line of thought which brought forward a proposal for a shift to more aggressive action in Norway.

In the last week of September 1939, with the campaign against Poland drawing rapidly to a successful conclusion, Hitler and the Commander in Chief, Navy, Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, began casting about for measures to be adopted in case the war against Great.

So yes, I think that is why.

For the minerals - iron and ports for their ships. Also to prevent the British obtaining them.

User Avatar

Wiki User

7y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Yes, the Red Army did enter Norway in the northern most region of Finnmark during October of 1944. The Soviets were relieved of command in Finnmark during November of 44 by the Norwegian Army.

Before you or anyone else asks the obvious question of how did Norway field troops while occupied? They trained exiled Norwegians in both neutral Sweden and Great Britain for this scenario.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

Denmark: The invasion of Denmark would create a staging area for operations in Norway. Furthermore, having control of Denmark would secure the Baltic Sea for Germany and the Soviet Union (Germany had an alliance with the Soviet Union). Plus, Denmark was a Nordic country and was meant to show the benefits of being a German protectorate.

Norway: Hitler was worried that Britain would intrude on Norwegian neutrality to mine the North Sea and control of Norway would create an easy route for Swedish iron ore.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

Norway was invaded in April 1940. Fighting continued till June 1940.
Yes.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Germany invaded both Denmark and Norway on April 9th 1940.

Denmark surrendered immediately, while Norway fought for two months, finally having to give in for Germany's superior force.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Yes in 1940

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Did Germany attack Norway in World War 2?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

When did Germany attack Norway and denmark in world war 2?

April 9, 1940.


Was Norway occupied in Germany?

Yes. Norway was occupied by Germany in World War II.


Did Germany occupy Norway World War 2?

Yes. But not all of it.no it wasnt.Yes Norway was occupied by Germany in World War 2. Trust me this is real, I had to do a report on Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Poland, and Germany.


Was Norway occupied by by Germany in world war 2?

Yes


Did Germany defeat Norway in world war 2?

Yes.


Was Norway annexed by Germany?

Yes, in World War II.


Why was Norway at war in World War 2?

Because Germany invaded(not kidding).


Has Norway ever declared war on Russia?

Norway was invaded April 9th 1940 (in World War 2) by Nazi Germany. Neutral in first world war.


Who took over Norway in World War 2?

I think it was Germany...


WAS Norway 0ccupiud in World War 2?

Yes it was occupied by Germany


Who declared war in Germany before world war two?

The prime minister of Britain declared war in Germany. The world war 2 started by Germany in a unprovoked attack on poland.


What countries did Germany attack in ww1 and World War 2?

in world war 2 Germany attacked japan in hiroshima and nagasaki