Norwegian Campaign order of battle

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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 Polish formations. The following list formed the order of battle for this campaign.

Contents

[edit] Germany

[edit] XXI Gruppe

On 1 March 1940, the German 21st Army Corps was renamed Group XXI and placed in charge of the invasion of Norway. The group was allotted 2 Mountain and 5 Infantry divisions for this task. It was led by the commanding officer of the XXI Korps, General der Infantrie Nikolaus von Falkenhorst. His Chief of Staff was Colonel Erich Buschenhagen.

  • Corps Troops
    • German 730th heavy artillery battalion
  • German 2nd Mountain Division
    • Commanded by Lieutenant General Valentin Feurstein
    • The division fought in the northern part of Norway, the 137th regiment dropped by parachute at Narvik on 15 May.
    • Regiments: 136th & 137th mountain light infantry; 111th mountain artillery
  • German 3rd Mountain Division
    • Commanded by Lieutenant General Eduard Dietl
    • Most of this division was landed at Trondheim and Narvik on April 9.
    • Regiments: 138th & 139th mountain light infantry; 112th mountain artillery
  • German 69th Infantry Division
    • Commanded by Major General Hermann Tittel
    • From 9 April through 15 April, divisional elements were transported to Bergen, Stavanger, and Oslo.
    • Regiments: 159th, 193rd, and 236th infantry; 169th artillery
  • German 163rd Infantry Division
  • German 181st Infantry Division
    • Commanded by Major General Kurt Woytasch
    • By 15 April, this division had arrived at Trondheim, being primarily transported by aircraft.
    • Regiments: 334th, 349th, and 359th infantry; 222nd artillery
  • German 196th Infantry Division
    • Commanded by Major General Richard Pellengahr
    • By 15 April, most of this division had landed at Oslo.
    • Regiments: 340th, 345th, and 362nd infantry; 233rd artillery
  • German 214th Infantry Division
    • Commanded by Major General Max Horn. It landed at Kristiansand and Arendal on 17 and 18 April.
    • Regiments: 355th, 367th, and 388th infantry; 214th artillery
  • German 170th Infantry Division
    • Commanded by Major General Walter Wittke
    • Entered Denmark through the southern end of Jutland peninsula on 9 April.
    • Regiments: 391st, 399th, and 401st infantry; 240th artillery
  • German 198th Infantry Division
    • Commanded by Major General Otto Röttig
    • Occupied Copenhagen, Zealand, and the southern Danish islands on 9 April.
    • Regiments: 305th, 308th, and 326th infantry; 235th artillery
  • German 11th Motorized Rifle Brigade
    • Commanded by Colonel Günther Angern
    • Part of the Denmark invasion force. It was replaced by garrison troops from the 160th Security Division on 13 May, when the brigade was withdrawn for use in the invasion of France.
    • Regiments: 110th and 111th motorized infantry

[edit] Luftwaffe

The Luftwaffe's X Fliegerkorps organization was commanded by Lieutenant-General Hans Ferdinand Geisler, and had operational command of all Luftwaffe units participating in Operation Weserübung.

  • Parachute troops
    • I/German 1st Parachute Regiment
    • Commanded by Major Erich Walter
    • Individual companies were used to occupy key airfields in northern Denmark (Ålborg), near Stavanger (Sola), and Oslo (Fornebu).
  • Aircraft available
    • 102 Fighters.
    • 233 Bombers.
    • 39 Dive-bombers.
    • 165 Reconnaissance aircraft (including floatplanes).
    • 582 Transport aircraft.

[edit] Kriegsmarine

The German fleet commander was Vice-Admiral Gunther Lutjens. The following naval units were deployed for the operation.

[edit] Danish

Due to a non-aggression treaty with Germany, the army of Denmark had not been mobilized and no fortifications had been built. As a result, only a few elements of the Royal Danish Army were able to mount a defense.

[edit] Royal Danish Army

The Commander in chief of the Danish army was General William Wain Prior.

[edit] Royal Danish Navy

The small Royal Danish Navy consisted of a few coastal vessels.

  • 2 Coastal Defense Vessels - Niels Juel, Peder Skram.
  • 6 Torpedo Boats.
  • 7 Submarines.
  • 3 Mine Layers.
  • 9 Mine Sweepers.
  • 4 Inspection Ships.

[edit] Norwegian

Due to the speed and surprise achieved by the German forces, the Norwegian military was only able to partially mobilize their military. Actual unit strengths only achieved a portion of their listed organizations. Some of the Norwegian forces were ad hoc battalions. The commander of the Norwegian army at the time of the invasion was General Kristian Laake. He was replaced by Colonel Otto Ruge on April 11.

[edit] Royal Norwegian Army

  • The Royal Guards battalion - based in Oslo and Elverum, the only unit in Southern Norway that received proper training during the inter-war years.
  • 1st Division - This division was based in Oslo, and was commanded by Major-General Carl J. Erichsen.
    • 1st Infantry Regiment.
    • 2nd Infantry Regiment.
    • 3rd Infantry Regiment.
    • 1st Cavalry Regiment.
    • 1st Artillery Regiment.
  • 2nd Division - This division was based in Oslo, and was commanded by Major-General Jacob Hvinden Haug.
    • 4th Infantry Regiment.
    • 5th Infantry Regiment.
    • 6th Infantry Regiment.
    • 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
    • 2nd Artillery Regiment.
  • 3rd Division - This division was based in Kristiansand and Stavanger, and was commanded by Major-General Einar Liljedahl.
    • 7th Infantry Regiment.
    • 8th Infantry Regiment.
  • 4th Division - This division was based in Bergen, and was commanded by Major-General William Steffens.
    • 9th Infantry Regiment.
    • 10th Infantry Regiment.
  • 5th Division - This division was based in Trondheim and Molde, and was commanded by Major-General Jacob Ager Laurantzon.
    • 11th Infantry Regiment.
    • 12th Infantry Regiment.
    • 13th Infantry Regiment.
    • 3rd Artillery Regiment.

[edit] Royal Norwegian Navy

[edit] Allied

[edit] Mauriceforce

Commanded by Major-General Carton de Wiart V.C., this group began landing at Namsos on April 14.

  • French 5e Demi-Brigade Chasseurs Alpins - Commanded by Général de Brigade Antoine Béthouart.
    • 13ème Bataillon Chasseurs Alpins.
    • 53ème Bataillon Chasseurs Alpins.
    • 67ème Bataillon Chasseurs Alpins.

[edit] Sickleforce

Commanded by Major-General Bernard Charles Tolver Paget, this force landed at Åndalsnes starting April 18.

  • British 148th Infantry (Territorial) Brigade - Commanded by General Harold de Riemer Morgan.
    • 1st/5th Battalion, Royal Leicestershire Regiment .
    • 1st/8th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters .

[edit] Rupertforce

Commanded by Major-General Pierse Joseph Mackesy, this force landed at Harstad, near Narvik, between April 15 and May 5.

  • French 27e Demi-Brigade de Chasseurs Alpins - Commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Valentini.
    • 6ème Bataillon Chasseurs Alpins.
    • 12ème Bataillon Chasseurs Alpins.
    • 14ème Bataillon Chasseurs Alpins.
  • Polish Carpathian "Podhale" Brigade - Commanded by General Zygmunt Bohusz-Szyszko.
    • 1st Demi-Brigade
      • 1 Battalion.
      • 2 Battalion.
    • 2nd Demi-Brigade
      • 3 Battalion.
      • 4 Battalion.
  • Troop, 3rd King's Own Hussars (personnel only, no tanks)
  • 203rd Field Battery/51st Field Regiment.
  • French 342me Independent Tank Company.
  • French 2me Independent Colonial Artillery Group.
  • British 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Independent Companies.

[edit] Royal Navy

[edit] Allied Navies

[edit] See also

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