military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (04/14/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Sunday, 14 April, 1940 Elements of the British North Western Expeditionary Force land at Harstad, near Narvik, and Namsos, near Trondheim. French troops, originally readied for deployment to Finland, are included in the force. German forces near Oslo advance, capturing Fredrickstad, Sarpsborg, and Halden. 3000 Norwegian troops are driven into Sweden, where they are disarmed and interned. Swedish and Finnish volunteers are rushed into the fight in an attempt to block the advance of the Germans. Two German aircraft overfly Sweden; one is shot down by AA fire. Norway claims the German bombers have attempted to kill King Haakon for his refusal to surrender. The King had been staying in Nyborgsund. A small force of soldiers and civilians earlier halted a German attack near Elverum, buying time for the King's escape from that city. The battle is hailed as Norway's version of the American Revolutionary battle of Lexington. References: J. Keegan, ed., _The Times Atlas of the Second World War_ C.Argyle, _Chronology of World War II_ J. Piekalkiewicz, _Tank War 1939-1940_ R.Dupuy and T.Dupuy, _The Encyclopedia of Military History_ C.Salmaggi and A.Pallavisini, _2194 Days of War_ C.Messenger, _Atlas of World War Two_ The New York Times, daily editions Time magazine Newsweek -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "The fate of Norway and Denmark is their reward for trying up to the last minute to maintain a policy of neutrality between a cynically aggressive power and the powers fighting to end aggression." - Premier Paul Reynaud