By Ourselves ETO (id:#56440)

Multi-Man Publishing (ASL Journal # 3 ID: J41)   [next]   [previous]

Finneid, Norway 1940-05-11 (35 others)

Overview:

In 1940, the Norwegian army was a force completely unable to resist the Nazi war machine. Its equipment and training were mediocre. Furthermore, the German aggression took its High Command by complete surprise; such was the case of Colonel Sundlo, Commanding Officer in Narvik, who surrendered to General Dietl’s troops without even one shot fired! Nevertheless, throughout the campaign, numerous Norwegians fought the invaders despite an obvious lack of weapons, their arms depots having been captured early on. Their knowledge of the terrain and their ability to move great distances on skis made them very useful, although British Commanders did not hesitate to criticize the lack of soldierly skills of their Nordic allies. On 11 May, after they had vainly defended together the village of Hemnesberget on the previous day, the Anglo-Norwegian troops installed in front of Finneid went their separate ways. The British retreated north while the Norwegians attacked Hemnesberget on their own.

Defender: German (1.Kompanie, 138th Gebirgsjäger Regiment)  

Errata (source)