Sjøslaget i Ofotfjorden 9. - 10. og 13. april 1940 = The naval battles of Narvik, 9th - 10th and 13th of April 1940

A gripping account of the disastrous first significant land encounter of WWII, focusing on the areas of Narvik and Bodö-Mosjöen, Namsos and Aandalsnes.In the early hours of 9 April 1940, the Germans invaded Denmark and Norway. Within twenty-four hours, Denmark was overwhelmed and the main Norwegian airfields and seaports were under German control. Thus started the first confrontation in modern war in which combined operations on land, sea, and in the air were fully involved.Reluctantly the Allies launched Anglo-French landings in the Lofoten Islands and in Central Norway. At the outset, serious liaison, command and, above all, communication problems arose.The urgent military needs of the Norwegians, with their King and government pursued by the Germans, were tragically misrepresented and never fully understood by the Allied politicians. On another level, personality clashes between senior commanders further confused conditions in the field, where lack of air cover, supporting arms, and equipment made the task of the comparatively few combatants almost impossible to perform. Heroic battles and humiliating retreats led to the inevitable evacuation of an Allied expedition doomed from the start. 3 September 1939 To 8 April 1940 : Scandinavian Prelude -- 9 To 15 April 1940 : The German Invasion ; Norwegian Resistance And Allied Countermeasures -- 14 April To 31 May 1940 : Operations In The Areas Of Narvik, Bodo, Mo And Mosjoen -- 14 April To 3 May 1940 : Operations Based On Namsos -- 17 April To 3 May 1940 : Operations Based On Aandalsnes -- 12 May To 8 June 1940 : The Recapture Of Narvik ; Final Evacuation -- Comments And Conclusions -- Appendix A. Land Forces Taking Part In The Campaign -- Appendix B. List Of Sources. Jack Adams. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 185-187). Maurice Harvey. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 315-317. Peter Dickens. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 172.