Plans of both sides in the battle of Narvik

The British law considered sending some allied forces [in the name of volunteers] into Finland via Narvik and northern Sweden to rescue Finland, which was being invaded by the Soviet Union at that time. At the same time, it was more important to control the Yeliwale iron mine and occupy Norway and Sweden if necessary.

The British originally planned to land in Narvik on March 20th. However, due to Finland's surrender to the Soviet Union on March 13, the landing plan was cancelled, which led to the loss of a good opportunity. On March 28th, Britain and France held the highest military meeting in London, and decided to mine in Norwegian waters on April 5th, landing troops in Narvik, [Trondheim], [Bergen] and [Stavanger], and laying mines on the Rhine River to stop the Germans from advancing westward. However, because France is worried about German retaliation, it opposes laying mines in the Rhine. After some disputes between the two countries, the plan was postponed for three days and was scheduled to be implemented on April 8, 1940. This delay led the Germans to land before the British.

On the German side, 1 April 19401day, Hitler decided to launch a military operation to occupy Denmark and Norway at 5: 00 a.m. on April 9, codenamed "򟀬weserübung". In the Norwegian direction, Lieutenant General nicolas von Falkenhorst, commander of the 2nd1Army, commanded the navy, army and air force to jointly fight and carry out a surprise attack. From south to north, he landed at six major Norwegian ports, namely [Oslo], [kristiansand], Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim and Narvik. Except for the port of Stavanger, which was occupied by paratroopers, the other five ports were attacked by the navy. Ten thousand Germans divided into five groups and attacked five ports. In the first stage, we will seize the port and airport. In the second stage, we will attack the inland, and we will all occupy Norway. In the second stage, prepare for anti-landing and counterattack operations against possible British and French Coalition forces.

Responsible for the most difficult and dangerous task of occupying the port of Narvik is the first formation of the German navy. Led by Major General Frederick Bontai, commander of the German naval destroyer team. General Bontai was born in Potsdam, Germany, on 1896 10/9. He was a veteran who participated in the First World War. 1939 1 October 26th, he was promoted to the command of the German navy destroyer and Major General 19391month1day. This time, he led ten destroyers to carry out escort missions.

The 2000 soldiers on board were soldiers of the 3rd Mountain Infantry Division139th Mountain Infantry Regiment, led by eduard dietl, commander of the 3rd Mountain Infantry Division. General Dieter was born on1June 2, 8901day. He was also a veteran of World War I, and was just promoted to Lieutenant General in April 1940. None of this matters. The important thing is that Dieter is a veteran of the Nazi Party, and his party member certificate number is 24! Joined the Nazi party before Hitler.

192 1 year, soldiers were forced to quit the Nazi party because they were ordered not to participate in politics. But he kept close contact with Hitler and the Nazis. Dieter led his company to participate in the "Beer Hall Uprising" organized by Hitler in June1923+065438+1October. He defined himself as a "political soldier", and all his actions fully met the needs of Nazi ideology. After the merger of Germany, 1 May 19381served as the commander of the third mountain infantry division adapted from the Austrian mountain forces.

According to General Dieter's diary, at 3: 00 on April 6th, 1940, he led the division headquarters, 139 regiment headquarters and some air defense personnel to set off by train and arrived at Wesham nde at 3: 00 on the same day. 17, 139 regiment 1 2 battalion arrived. That night, the Germans set foot on the Weixi River, aiming at 1200 miles away in Narvik. Each destroyer carries 200 mountain soldiers or coastal guns. Along with the first destroyers, there were two battle cruisers [Gnesenau] and [scharnhorst], a transport ship, the Raunfels, and other auxiliary ships. On the same day, the tanker Jan Wellem also set out from Murmansk (a port city near Kola Bay in the northwest of the Soviet Union) to support the German occupation of Narvik port.

At the same time, or earlier, time can only be distinguished by hours, and the British also boarded the ship to the north. The goal is the same. On the evening of April 7, the weather began to change, with strong winds mixed with snowstorms. At this time, both sides sailing at sea have to fight against bad weather.