Comprehensive Study Guide: World War II and the Occupation of Norway

The Allied Powers and the Strategy of Total War

The Allied Powers, known in Norwegian as De allierte, formed the primary international coalition that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War. This group initially included nations such as Great Britain and France, later expanding to include the Soviet Union and the United States. A central challenge for the Axis, particularly Germany, was the reality of a Two-front war, or Tofrontskrig. This necessitated splitting military resources between the Western Front, or Vestfronten, which involved combat in France and the Low Countries, and the Eastern Front, known as Østfronten, where some of the bloodiest engagements occurred against the Soviet Union.

In the early stages of the conflict, Germany utilized a military strategy known as Blitzkrieg, or lightning war. This method prioritized speed, surprise, and overwhelming force, using coordinated attacks between motorized infantry, tanks, and air support to break through enemy lines before a cohesive defense could be established. While highly effective in the initial invasions of Poland and France, the strategy eventually faced limitations as the war elongated and expanded into the vast territories of the Soviet Union.

Major Turning Points and Global Shifts

The trajectory of the war was altered significantly by several key events. The Attack on Pearl Harbor, or Angrepet på Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941, brought the United States into the conflict, shifting the balance of industrial and military power toward the Allies. On the Eastern Front, the Slaget om Stalingrad, or Battle of Stalingrad, served as a definitive turning point. Following the encirclement and eventual surrender of the German Sixth Army, the initiative shifted to the Soviet Union, marking the start of a long German retreat.

In the West, D-Day, known as D-dagen, occurred on June 6, 1944. This massive amphibious invasion of Normandy opened a significant second front in Europe, allowing Allied forces to liberate France and push toward the German border. The combination of pressure from the East and the West eventually led to the total collapse of the Third Reich. The war in Europe concluded with Germany's unconditional surrender, while the conflict in the Pacific ended following the deployment of Atombomber over Japan, the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which led to Japan's final Kapitulasjon, or capitulation.

The Invasion and Occupation of Norway

Norway was drawn into the conflict on April 9, 1940, during Operation Weserübung. Germany's desire to occupy Norway was fueled by the need to secure the transport of iron ore from Sweden via the port of Narvik and to establish naval and air bases for attacks on Great Britain. During the invasion of Oslo, the German heavy cruiser Blücher was sunk by the Oscarsborg Fortress in the Oslofjord. This event was critical because it delayed the German arrival in the capital, providing enough time for King Haakon VII, the Royal Family, and the Norwegian government to escape.

Recognizing that they could not remain in Norway under German control, the authorities established a Regjeringen i eksil, or government in exile, in London. Before leaving, the Norwegian Parliament granted the government the Elverumsfullmakten, or Elverum Authorization. This document provided the legal basis for the government to act on behalf of the nation while the parliament was unable to meet, ensuring that Norway remained a sovereign belligerent power throughout the war. Meanwhile, in the north, fierce fighting took place in Narvik, where Norwegian and Allied forces initially regained the town before being forced to evacuate due to the collapse of the front in France.

Collaboration, Resistance, and Life Under Occupation

During the occupation, Vidkun Quisling, the leader of the Nasjonal Samling party, attempted a Statskupp, or coup d'état, by announcing himself as the head of government via a radio broadcast. His name eventually became a global synonym for "traitor." Under the occupation, the Norwegian population faced significant hardships, including Rasjonering, or rationing of food and fuel, and strict Sensur, or censorship of the press. A Radioforbud, or radio ban, was implemented to prevent citizens from listening to broadcasts from London, though many secretly kept radios to stay informed.

Resistance efforts were divided between the Hjemmefronten, or Home Front, and the Utestyrkene, or External Forces. The domestic resistance included Milorg, the military branch of the resistance, which focused on intelligence and preparing for liberation. Sabotasje, or sabotage, was a key tactic used to disrupt German production and supply lines. These activities were high-risk, as the Gestapo, the German secret police, worked ruthlessly to dismantle resistance cells through torture and execution. Those seen as collaborating with the enemy were labeled Landssvikere, or traitors, and faced legal retribution after the war.

The Role of the War Sailors and National Liberation

A vital contribution to the Allied victory was made by the Krigsseilere, or war sailors. These individuals served on Norwegian merchant vessels, which were requisitioned into the state shipowner Nortraship. They transported essential supplies, fuel, and ammunition across the Atlantic under constant threat from German U-boats. The strategic importance of the Norwegian merchant fleet cannot be overstated, as it was perhaps Norway's most significant contribution to the overall Allied war effort.

Libertion finally arrived on May 8, 1945, known in Norway as 8. mai 1945. This date marked the end of five years of German occupation. Following the liberation, the process of documenting the consequences of the war began, including addressing the human loss, the destruction of infrastructure in Northern Norway due to the scorched-earth policy, and the legal settlement against those who had collaborated with the occupying power.

Questions & Discussion

1. Hva er årsakene til andre verdenskrig? (What are the causes of World War II?) The causes are multifaceted, rooted in the dissatisfaction following the Treaty of Versailles after WWI, the rise of totalitarian regimes in Germany, Italy, and Japan, and the policy of appeasement. Germany's expansionist ideology of Lebensraum and the invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, served as the immediate trigger for the declaration of war by Britain and France.

2. Forklar to viktige vendepunkter under krigen. (Explain two important turning points during the war.) Two critical turning points include the Battle of Stalingrad and the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Stalingrad marked the first major territorial defeat for the German army and shifted the momentum to the Soviet Union. Pearl Harbor brought the immense economic and military resources of the United States into the war, ensuring the Allies had the industrial capacity to outlast the Axis.

3. Hvordan klarte de allierte å vinne krigen? (How did the Allies manage to win the war?) The victory was achieved through superior industrial production, a successful two-front pressure on Germany, and the control of vital supply lines. The cooperation between the "Big Three" (USA, UK, and USSR) allowed for coordinated massive offensives like D-Day, while the merchant marine kept the flow of resources steady despite heavy losses.

4. Hva ble de allierte enige om at de skulle gjøre med Tyskland etter krigen? (What did the Allies agree they should do with Germany after the war?) The Allies agreed to the unconditional surrender of Germany and its subsequent division into four occupation zones (administered by the USA, UK, USSR, and France). They also committed to the processes of denazification, demilitarization, and the prosecution of war criminals through international tribunals like the Nuremberg Trials.

5. Hva var konsekvensene av krigen? (What were the consequences of the war?) The consequences included a massive loss of life (both civilian and military), the redrawing of national borders, and the beginning of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. It also led to the creation of the United Nations to prevent future global conflicts and initiated the decolonization process worldwide.