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British marines involved in Norway and Denmark invasion?

Discussion in 'Western Europe 1939 - 1942' started by TomSmothers, Apr 19, 2010.

  1. TomSmothers

    TomSmothers recruit

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    I am curious as to what British services were involved in the German invasion of Norway and Denmark? I know the Navy was but were any army or marine troops able to help out there?

    Thanks very much.
     
  2. tali-ihantala

    tali-ihantala Member

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    So far I've found the 49th Infantry Division was involved aka The Polar Bears. They were involved in Narvik and Trondheim landings
    I also found this

    http://wwarii.com/db/time.php?item=625

    hope this helps a little
     
  3. TomSmothers

    TomSmothers recruit

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    Did some more digging and found this below. Looks like they were first in at Namsos back in April 1940 and did not give up. Operation Archery, as below, was 20 days after Pearl Harbor, December 27th 1941.

    I think it is important to remember the earliest Brit sacrifices for other countries. Most people think of Dunkirk.

    Any British marines out there?

    Thanks,


    [​IMG]
    Commandos in action during Operation Archery, Norway.

    During the early parts of World War II, a small party of Royal Marines were first ashore at Namsos in April 1940, seizing the approaches to the Norwegian town preparatory to a landing by the British Army two days later. The Royal Marines formed the Royal Marine Division as an amphibious warfare trained division, parts of which served at Dakar and in the capture of Madagascar. In addition the Royal Marines formed Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisations (MNBDOs) similar to the US Marine Corps Defense Battalions. One of these took part in the defence of Crete. Royal Marines also served in Malaya and in Singapore, where due to losses they were joined with remnants of the 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to form the "Plymouth Argylls" (as there is a football club called Plymouth Argyle F.C., and the Royal Marines were associated with Plymouth). The Royal Marines formed one Commando (A Commando) which served at Dieppe. One month after Dieppe, most of the 11th Royal Marine Battalion was killed or captured in an amphibious landing at Tobruk in Operation Daffodil, again the Marines were involved with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders this time the 1st Battalion. In 1943 the Infantry Battalions of the Royal Marine Division were re-organised as Commandos, joining the Army Commandos. The Division command structure became a Special Service Brigade command. The support troops became landing craft crew.
    [​IMG]
    Men of No 4 Commando engaged in house to house fighting with the Germans at Riva Bella, near Ouistreham.
     
  4. Spaniard

    Spaniard New Member

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    First the invasion of Denmark only lasted 6hrs.:eek:

    In February, the British destroyer HMS Cossack boarded the German transport ship Altmark while in Norwegian waters, thereby violating Norwegian neutrality, rescuing POWs held also in violation of Norwegian neutrality (the Altmark was obliged to release them as soon as she entered neutral territory). Hitler regarded this as a clear sign that the UK was willing to violate Norwegian neutrality, and so became even more strongly committed to the invasion.

    On 12 March, the UK decided to send an expeditionary force to Norway just as the Winter War was winding down. The expeditionary force began boarding on 13 March, but it was recalled - and the operation cancelled - with the end of the Winter War. Instead the British cabinet voted to proceed with the mining operation in Norwegian waters, followed by troop landings.

    The first German ships set sail for the invasion on 3 April. Two days later, the long-planned Operation Wilfred was put into action and the Royal Navy detachment led by HMS Renown left Scapa Flow in order to mine Norwegian waters. The mine fields were laid in Vestfjord in the early morning of 8 April, Operation Wilfred was over.

    On 9 April, the German invasion was under way and the execution of Plan R 4 was promptly started.


    The UK invasion plan
    The Allied invasion plan had 2 parts. Operation Wilfred, and Plan R 4.
    In operation Wilfred, to take place on April 5 (but delayed to April 8), the Norwegian territorial waters were to be mined, violating Norwegian neutrality. This would force the ships carrying ore to Germany to travel outside the protection of Norwegian territorial waters and thus accessible to the British navy.

    Combat operations
    Although "Plan R 4" could not be executed as planned, Allied troops were swiftly sent to Norway and were able to fight alongside the Norwegians quite successfully against the Germans, bringing them close to surrender in the Narvik area. See the Allied campaign in Norway. However, the successful German campaign against France and the low countries led to an Allied troop re-deployment. Allied troops were evacuated from Norway by June 8, 1940.

    Wapedia - Wiki: Plan R 4


    April 1940


    [​IMG][​IMG]


    14th-16th - The first Allied landings took place between the 14th and 16th. In the north, British troops occupied Harstad in preparation for an attack on Narvik. They were reinforced by French and Polish units through into May. Royal Marines led British and French troops into Namsos ready for an attack south towards Trondheim. The British went ashore in the Andalsnes area to try to hold central Norway with the Norwegian Army. Neither of these operations proved possible and on the 27th April the decision was taken to pull out of central Norway.


    http://www.naval-history.net/WW2RN04-194004.htm
     

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