Norwegian Campaign

Overview

The Norwegian campaign involved the attempt by Allied forces to defend northern Norway coupled with the Norwegian military's resistance to the country's invasion by Nazi Germany in World War II.

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

Significance

The Norwegian Campaign centered on the Allied effort to defend northern Norway and the Norwegian military's resistance to the German invasion launched in April 1940. Germany committed approximately 100,000 troops against a Norwegian force of around 55,000. The campaign resulted in combined casualties on both sides, with Germany sustaining over 5,000 and Norway over 6,600. The invasion secured Germany's strategic position in Scandinavia, including access to vital supply routes and Norwegian ports, while knocking Norway out of Allied control early in the war. Norwegian resistance, sustained despite the disparity in forces, prolonged the campaign and inflicted meaningful losses on the invading power.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (5)