Europe 1940: Invasion of Denmark and Norway

Political map of Europe & the Mediterranean on 21 Apr 1940 (World War II: Blitzkrieg: Invasion of Denmark and Norway), showing the following events: Moscow Peace Treaty; Norwegian Campaign; Invasion of Denmark.

Mar 1940Finland accepts
Soviet demands

9 Apr 1940Germany occupies
Denmark

9 Apr–10 Jun 1940German invasion
of Norway

Invasion of Denmark and Norway

16 Sep 1939 Invasion of Poland 11 Mar 1940 Winter War 21 Apr 1940 Invasion of Denmark and Norway 25 May 1940 Blitzkrieg in the West 21 Jun 1940 Fall of France 7 Sep 1940 Battle of Britain 3 Nov 1940 Italian Offensives 26 Feb 1941 Italian Fiascos 16 Apr 1941 Germany in the Mediterranean 21 Jun 1941 Eve of Barbarossa 31 Aug 1941 Operation Barbarossa 4 Dec 1941 Battle of Moscow 20 Jan 1942 The War Expands 27 Jun 1942 Western Desert Campaign 16 Sep 1942 Case Blue

For over six months after the invasion of Poland, no major land fighting occurred in the West - leading to claims that this would be a 'Phoney War'. Then in April, Germany suddenly invaded Denmark and Norway. The Allies, who had been preparing to land in Norway themselves to belatedly aid the Finns against Russia, were caught by surprise. It was a feeling they were going to have to get used to.

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Main Events

12 Mar 1940 Moscow Peace Treaty ▲

On 12 March 1940 the Moscow Peace treaty ended the Winter War, with Finland ceding its respective portions of the Karelian Peninsula and Lake Ladoga to the Soviet Union. in wikipedia

9 Apr 1940 Invasion of Denmark ▲

At 04:15 on 9 April 1940 German forces crossed the border into Denmark, while the Kriegsmarine landed troops at Lillebælt. Five minutes later, the 2,430 ton minelayer Hansestadt Danzig entered Copenhagen harbor with a small escort, landing a battalion of German Infantry at 05:18. While other amphibious and airborne landings took place across the country, the battalion quickly captured the Danish Army HQ and royal palace, prompting the Danish government to capitulate at 06:00 in exchange for retaining political independence in domestic matters. in wikipedia

9 Apr–10 Jun 1940 Norwegian Campaign ▲

As part of Operation Weserübung—the invasion of Denmark and Norway—German forces landed along the coast of the Kingdom of Norway on 9 April 1940, capturing the towns of Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Narvik on that same day. The operation was complicated by the arrival of the British in the north and continued Norwegian resistance in the interior, but by 1 June the Allies agreed the situation was hopeless. The Norwegian government evacuated on 7 June, with last resistance ending on 10 June. in wikipedia

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