NAZIS DEFEND INVASION OF NORWAY; MERELY BEAT BRITISH IN, THEY SAY (4/28/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, Cabrillo College Library | 4/28/40 | Otto D. Tolischus, Guesta Persson, Robert P. Post, Raymond Daniell

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
Norway, 1940 – Operations in Southern and Central Norway, April-May 1940
Evolution of Plan Yellow, October 1939-January 1940
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Homer started a new job last week. That is probably a good thing for the Simpson household, but it will hamper the war effort for a while until he gets back in a groove. So the quality of these posts may be a bit uneven for a spell. We appreciate your patience.

‘Documents’ Bared – 2
Rail Link in Peril – 3-5
Reich Fliers Bomb 3 British Cruisers – 6
The International Situation – 6
British Challenge Berlin’s Charges – 7-8
Admiral Keyes Demands A Bold Policy in Norway – 8
Carnera’s Arrest Ordered As French Army Deserter – 8
New Strategy Set by Allied Leaders – 9
Twenty News Questions (from News of the Week in Review) – 10
Answers to Twenty News Questions - 11

[henkster]

Homer

It’s all a matter of priorities :-)

Some random thoughts:

From 20 questions: Indiana no longer allows the “two percent club” for either party. We have some pretty strict limitations on political activity for government employees. In fact, a state employee cannot put a political candidate sign in their yard, unless they are the candidate.

Also from 20 questions: I did not know the Italian navy had 120 submarines. I thought of it as primarily a surface battlefleet. Even Germany did not have 120 submarines when the war began.

Hitler has justified his invasion of Norway as being part of his “Hit back first” policy. One wonders, though, just what the Norwegians would have done had the British mined Norwegian waters and occupied Narvik.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/apr40/f28apr40.htm

French reinforcements in Norway

Sunday, April 28, 1940 www.onwar.com

In Norway... A further detachment of French mountain troops arrives at Harstad.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

Day 241 April 28, 1940

British War Cabinet orders the evacuation of Paget’s and de Wiart’s troops around Trondheim, fuelled by Brigadier Hogg’s gloomy assessment of the situation at Åndalsnes. At 5 AM, Paget informs Norwegian General Ruge who is expecting landings at Trondheim instead of evacuation. Ruge, who has not been told of Operation Hammer’s cancellation, flies into a fit of rage. Calming himself, Ruge agrees to assist with the British retreat if Norwegian troops are withdrawn too, although he too believes 15th Brigade can hold out.

Justifying the faith in their abilities voiced by Ruge and Paget, 15th Brigade again holds German 196th Division all day at Otta & destroys 3 more light tanks. They then withdraw overnight 25 miles North to Dombås, blowing road & rail bridges to delay the German advance during the evacuation.

At Namsos, General de Wiart’s 146th Brigade retreats into a defensive perimeter. They are not pursued by German ground forces who allow Luftwaffe bombing to take its toll.

[BroJoeK]

"Hitler has justified his invasion of Norway as being part of his “Hit back first” policy. One wonders, though, just what the Norwegians would have done had the British mined Norwegian waters and occupied Narvik."

I've seen no evidence that Norwegians were any more confused about who their friends and enemies were than, say, Americans.
Their sympathies were overwhelmingly with the western allies.

But if the question were asked: "do you want to go to war to defend France & Britain?", then of course the answer was -- "oh no, we want to be 'neutral.' "

Threatened with attack and forced to chose sides, they, like Americans, chose the allies.