Battle of Drøbak Sound

Overview

The Battle of Drøbak Sound took place in Drøbak Sound, the northernmost part of the outer Oslofjord in south-eastern Norway, on 9 April 1940. It marked the end of the "Phoney War" and the beginning of World War II in Western Europe.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Drøbak Sound took place at the narrowest point of the outer Oslofjord on 9 April 1940, when a Norwegian garrison of 293 men engaged a German naval force. German casualties reached approximately 1,000, making it a costly check for the invading force. The engagement is notable as a moment of determined resistance by a small defending force against a substantially larger attacker. According to the overview, the battle marked the end of the 'Phoney War' and the beginning of active World War II combat in Western Europe, placing Drøbak Sound at the opening of the broader German campaign in the West.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (5)