Norway
Description
Norway had an Army of conscripts, who served for a period of only 84 days.
During peacetime the Army comprised 6 Divisions, and at time of general mobilization it was capable of raising a Force of up to 106,000 persons.
The Norwegian Navy comprised about 5,000 persons and a number of new Vessels alongside old ones, as well as around 20 Airplanes in the Naval Air Service, of which 6 were new.
The Air-Force comprised approximately 40 Airplanes, of which 16 were new.
The Army was not prepared for war.
The Campaign in Norway lasted about two months, beginning in April, 1940. Following the completion of the German takeover of northern Norway, in June, 1940, the Air and Naval Forces were ordered to leave the Country and the Ground Force was disbanded.
During the Nazi Rule, several thousand Norwegians enlisted in the German Army and took part in the Battles on the Russian Front.
In Britain, the Government-in-Exile established Armed Forces on their three Arms, on the basis of manpower that had fled Norway after its occupation and volunteers.
By war’s end, the Norwegian Navy was operating about 50 Vessels that have taken part in Allied Naval warfare; either in escorting convoys or in the Normandy Landings.
Norwegian Pilots were trained in Canada and later operated out of Bases in Britain, Iceland and also France after its liberation.
Ground Forces and Special Forces were trained and then took part in various Operations – in Dieppe and in the takeover of the Dutch Island, Walcheren, in 1944.
The Norwegians’ greatest contribution to the Allied Forces was with their Commercial Fleet, which transported relatively large quantities of equipment and war materials to the various Battlefronts.
A Force numbering approximately 13,000 persons was raised in Sweden, disguised as a Police Force, and entered Norway immediately after the German surrender.
(See also “Partisans” Section.)