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Operation Weserübung (German: Unternehmen Weserübung [ˈveːzɐˌʔyːbʊŋ], transl. Operation Weser Exercise, 9 April – 10 June 1940) was the invasion of Denmark and Norway by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign.
The German operation for the invasion of Denmark and Norway in April 1940 was code-named Weserübung, or "Weser Exercise." Opposing the invasion were the partially mobilized Norwegian military, and an allied expeditionary force composed of British, French, and Free Polish formations.
7: German vessels begin to set to sea for Operation Weserübung, some are seen by RAF reconnaissance and later attacked without effect by bombers. Home Fleet moves NNE in search of the enemy, they are joined by the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. 8: HMS Glowworm is sunk by the German cruiser Admiral Hipper after chasing the German destroyer Bernd von Arnim.
The attack was a prelude to the invasion of Norway (German: Weserübung Nord, 9 April – 10 June 1940). Denmark's strategic importance for Germany was limited. The invasion's primary purpose was to use Denmark as a staging ground for operations against Norway, and to secure supply lines to the forces about to be deployed there.
Already in low-priority planning for months, Operation Weserübung [note 1] found a new sense of urgency after the Altmark incident. [1] The goals of the invasion were to secure the port of Narvik and the Leads for ore transport, and to control the country to prevent collaboration with the Allies.
British and German naval movements off Norway between 7 and 9 April 1940. Whitworth's force consisted of the battlecruiser Renown and the nine remaining destroyers.HMS Hotspur, Hardy, Havock, and Hunter were H-class destroyers, HMS Esk was an E-class destroyer and HMS Ivanhoe, Icarus and Impulsive were of the I class.
On 9 April 1940 Nazi Germany launched Operation Weserübung, the codename for the assault and subsequent occupation of Denmark and Norway.. Invading several major Norwegian cities by sea, the Germans planned to capture King Haakon VII and the Norwegian Cabinet, which they believed would then lead to an immediate surrender of all Norwegian forces.
The Allies had sea and air superiority until the very last stage of the operation, but did not take full advantage. The Germans lost the naval battle, but achieved the main goal of their operation: the successful Operation Weserübung and occupation of Norway. Around Narvik, German naval losses were high: they lost 10 destroyers (50 percent of ...