Narvik, located in the north, became a hot spot during Germany’s invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940. It’s just 110 miles away from Sweden’s important iron ore mines. The Germans wanted to control Narvik to ship the ore back to Germany and improve their access to the Atlantic. Meanwhile, the Allies aimed to support Norway, grab some of that ore for themselves, and capture Narvik to hit the Nazis where it hurt.
What Made Swedish Ore Valuable for Both Sides?
Sweden’s iron ore was top-notch, with a really high iron content and way fewer impurities, making it less brittle after smelting. This meant better quality weapons and military gear. Plus, Germany wasn’t producing enough ore on its own; before 1940, Sweden was supplying about 40% of what they needed.
For both sides, the port in Narvik was always ice-free, which allowed for shipping all year round. While Germany was bringing in the ore, Britain was aware of this reliance. If they took control of Narvik, they’d cut off Germany’s supply and secure that valuable Swedish ore for themselves.
When did the Battle of Narvik Start?
This intense struggle kicked off on April 9, 1940, and dragged on for more than two months. The Germans made the first move by invading Norway with their navy, air force, and ground troops. Narvik was one of four spots where they landed. By April 14, the Allies were scrambling to send in troops, mostly by ship, to join forces with the Norwegians who were already in the fight. The Norwegians gradually beefed up their military as reservists started showing up.
How Did the Germans Attack Narvik?
Germany’s sneak attack, called Operation Weserübung, caught Norway off guard before they even realized the war was at their doorstep. On April 9, in the dead of night, ten German destroyers with 1,900 soldiers quietly entered the fjord near Narvik. They took out two Norwegian defense ships and quickly took control of Narvik and the surrounding area, pushing aside any Norwegian troops. Over the next few weeks, the Luftwaffe brought in reinforcements, mainly elite paratroopers from the 7th Air Division.
- The Phoney War of 1939-1940: The Calm before the Storm
- Shadows Over the Reich Hitler’s Ascent and Descent
- World War II – Background, events, and results
When Did the Allies Counterattack?
On April 10, 1940, the Allies jumped into action as the Royal Navy sent out five destroyers. In the first naval clash in the fjords near Narvik, those British destroyers went after the German ones, managing to hit and sink a few. After a back-and-forth battle, the Brits had to pull back but ended up losing two of their destroyers. More British ships arrived to keep the Germans stuck in the fjords. Before long, the Brits brought in a battleship and an aircraft carrier, which launched biplane bombers to take out the German destroyers first. In a quick skirmish, the British sank most of the German fleet, while the remaining crews scuttled their own ships.
The British hit their main goal by stopping any German vessels from leaving Narvik. Still, the Wehrmacht held onto the town and used the surviving sailors from the Kriegsmarine as ground troops. With ten destroyers down, the German navy took a big hit, losing half of their fleet in one go, which caused issues for them later in World War Two. But for now, it kept the Royal Navy busy.
What Did Both Sides Do Next?
The Battle of Narvik marked a significant moment for the Allies, as it was their first win since 1939. The Germans had around 4,000 troops and sailors, plus another 1,000 soldiers flown in by the Luftwaffe. On the other hand, the Norwegian Army had over 6,000 men, while the Allies were bolstering their forces with French Foreign Legion and Polish units, bringing the total British presence to about 24,500 soldiers, sailors, and airmen.
The fighting spread into the surrounding mountains. On April 14, the Allies transported their troops to land on both sides of the port. They launched quick attacks, but issues with command and communication slowed them down. As the Allies started making progress, German commander Eduard Dietl became worried. With his forces outnumbered, he had limited choices: fight, surrender, or retreat to Sweden and risk being captured. His superiors understood how crucial Narvik was for Germany, especially since they needed iron ore, and they were also gearing up for the invasion of France.
Finally, on May 28, 1940, the Allies managed to retake Narvik, marking Germany’s first defeat. However, due to some communication hiccups on the Allied side, the Germans managed to escape east toward Sweden.
What Did the Allies Hope to Achieve?
Check out this reenactment of the Battle of Narvik! It took place in Øse, and the photo is from Nordisk Film / kampenomnarvik.no, sourced from nordnorge.com. So, the Allies had a game plan: they wanted to take over Narvik and stop Germany from getting Swedish iron ore. The Germans put up a tough fight, even though they were pretty far from their supply lines. They did manage to get some reinforcements through Sweden, thanks to some cooperation there. But even after winning, things got messy elsewhere, leading to an evacuation.
In June 1940, when Germany invaded France, it cut right through Allied defenses, causing a lot of chaos. The troops stationed in Narvik were suddenly needed in France, which really ticked off the Norwegians. By June 8, 1940, the Allies pulled out of Narvik, leaving it in German hands. After that, the Germans mainly used the port for shipping iron ore and supplies. The port stayed under German control until they surrendered on May 7, 1945.
