Chronology of World War II

Monday, April 1, 1940

In Berlin... Hitler approves the plans for the invasion of Norway.

Tuesday, April 2, 1940

In Britain... Luftwaffe aircraft raid the British naval base at Scapa Flow. On the return flight, the planes attack lighthouses at Duncansby Head and Stroma Island.

From Berlin... Hitler fixes the date for the invasions of Denmark and Norway as April 9th. The operation is called Weserubung.

Wednesday, April 3, 1940

In London... There is a cabinet shuffle in the Chamberlain government. Lord Chatfield resigns his post as Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence; Churchill is appointed to chair the Ministerial Defence Committee -- a significant increase in his responsibilities. One of Churchill's first acts in his new post is to obtain final consent for the mining of the Norwegian Leads. Also, Lord Woolton become Minister of Food. Perhaps his most famous initiative in this office is the invention of the "Woolton Pie" -- intended to be a nourishing and appetizing use of ration materials. It will not be widely liked.

Thursday, April 4, 1940

In Norway... The passenger ship Mira reaches its home port after numerous German air strikes during a six day crossing of the North Sea. None of the 107 passengers and crew are seriously injured.

In London... The British Treasury forms a company to trade with the Balkans in an effort to counter German economic penetration in the region.

In Germany... RAF bombers strike at German destroyers off Wilhelmshaven.

From Berlin... Goring broadcasts an appeal aimed at German youth which notes that Germany will defeat Britain and France and create the greatest empire in the world. He notes that German young people must behave with decency and morality.

Friday, April 5, 1940

In Oslo... The government of Norway is given a note from Britain and France announcing that they reserve the right to act to deprive Germany of Norwegian resources.

In Britain... In a major public speech, Prime Minister Chamberlain proclaims that Hitler has "missed the bus."

Saturday, April 6, 1940

In London... RAF Bomber Command ends its leaflet ("Nickel") raids over German occupied Europe. Since September 3, 1939 about 65 million leaflets and "newspapers" have been dropped.

Sunday, April 7, 1940

In the North Sea... The German warships begin to leave their home ports for the invasion of Norway. The British have detected the concentration of shipping in Kiel but because they have no previous information to compare this with they fail to appreciate the significance. Some of the German units are sighted and attacked by British aircraft, however. The whole of the German surface fleet is committed to this operation, sailing at different times in six groups. They plan to land at Narvik, Trondheim, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo and a small detachment at Egersund. The battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sail with the Narvik group but are to go on to operate against shipping in the Arctic. A large part of the U-boat fleet is also involved in the campaign but they achieve very little, partly because they use torpedoes with magnetic exploders which do not function properly in high latitudes. (This error is discovered during the campaign and is later rectified.) The ships carry units of three divisions for the assault. Three more are earmarked for a second wave. Only one, 3rd Mountain Division, is regarded by the Germans as being of best quality. They have air support from 500 transport planes, over 300 bombers and 100 fighters. For this air support to be effective it will be necessary quickly to take airfields in northern Denmark and Norway itself. This difficult task will be achieved. Meanwhile, British units are preparing to sail for their own mining operations. In the evening the main forces of the Home Fleet sail.

Monday, April 8, 1940

In the North Sea... Early in the morning the British destroyer Glowworm meets part of the German force bound for Narvik off Trondheim Fiord. After ramming the heavy cruiser Hipper, Glowworm is sunk. About midday the German transport Rio de Janeiro is sunk by a British submarine in the Skaggerak and many German soldiers are rescued by Norwegian fishing boats. Despite these and other indications the Norwegian authorities only alert the coastal forces in the evening. The British naval forces at sea are of course alerted, but are not kept up to date with all the information available to London and are, therefore, deployed too far out to sea to hope for interceptions of a landing force. Instead they guard against a raid out toward the Atlantic. The Royal Navy lays mines in Norwegian waters during the day.

In Britain... The troops embarking at Rosyth for the Anglo-French expedition to Narvik are sent back onshore and their cruiser transports sail. In fact these troops could easily have reached their objectives before the German landings, or at least have been on hand for an attempt on Narvik early in the campaign.

Tuesday, April 9, 1940

In Denmark... Two German divisions under the command of General Kaupitsch invade Denmark as part of Operation Weserübung. Copenhagen is taken within 12 hours.

In Norway... The German landings in Norway begin as part of Operation Weserubung. The group of ships intended for Oslo meet increasing resistance as they sail up the Oslo Fiord. At the Oscarsborg Narrows the brand-new heavy cruiser Blucher is sunk. The troops are compelled to land below this point but are, however soon in the town. Airborne units take some casualties in a simultaneous landing at Oslo airport. Fog disrupts the German landings at Kristiansand but eventually the troops get ashore. At Stavanger the vital airfield is quickly taken by airborne attack but much of the airborne force's equipment is sunk offshore by a Norwegian destroyer. At Bergen surprise is also achieved but the cruiser Konigsberg is damaged by a coastal battery. To the north, Trondheim is taken practically without a shot. The most questionable part of the German plan is the move on Narvik. By a combination of luck and bad weather they pass the British patrols en route and once up the fiord quickly sink the two old coast-defense ships. Offshore there is an engagement between the battlecruiser Renown and Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in which, despite the disparity of force, Gneisenau is damaged before the German ships break off the action. A British destroyer force is on the way to Narvik. Off Kristiansand the cruiser Karlsruhe is sunk by a British submarine. Overall the Germans have succeeded in getting their forces ashore and their established control of Stavanger airport will prove crucial. German airpower is already restricting British operations, having sunk one destroyer and damaged the battleship Rodney.

Wednesday, April 10, 1940

In the Norwegian Sea... The First Battle of Narvik. Captain Warburton-Lee leads five destroyers in a surprise attack up Narvik Fiord. There are 10 German destroyers in various inlets off the main fiord but in a series of quick, confused actions both sides lose two ships. The British have one more seriously damaged while the Germans have four vessels hit -- two very badly. The German pocket battleship Lützow is badly damaged by submarine attack while homeward bound. Other German merchant ships from a convoy for Oslo are also sunk. The German cruiser Königsberg is dive bombed by land-based British naval aircraft while in Bergen harbor and sinks. This is the first major warship to be sunk by this method of attack. This is very much an isolated success for the British air forces in this campaign since only one carrier is with the Home Fleet at this stage, the others being in the Mediterranean.

In Norway... With their seizure of so many of the country's large towns the Germans have taken most of the stocks of arms at the Norwegian mobilization centers. The Norwegians, therefore, have even less chance for resistance than might have been expected.

In Oslo... The Norwegian government and Royal Family have left Oslo and Quisling has been installed to lead a new government.

Thursday, April 11, 1940

In Norway... The King and government appeal to all Norwegians to fight. A new Commander in Chief, General Ruge, is appointed for the Norwegian Army. He replaces General Laake, who has resigned.

In Belgium... The Belgian army cancels all leaves.

Friday, April 12, 1940

In Norway... German forces are pushing out from Oslo in all directions. They take Kongsberg to the southwest of the capital.

In the Norwegian Sea... Gneisenau, Scharnhorst and Admiral Hipper are located by air reconnaissance southwest of Stavanger on their way home. Attacks by British land-based and carrier aircraft fail. Despite this escape the German navy has lost heavily in the campaign so far.

Saturday, April 13, 1940

In the Norwegian Sea... The Second Battle of Narvik. All eight German destroyers remaining in the fiord are sunk by a British force which includes the battleship Warspite as well as nine destroyers. A U-boat is also sunk by the Warspite's scout plane. The German commander, Captain Bey, has missed several opportunities to get at least some of his ships away during the previous few days.

In Berlin... Hitler is very worried by the situation in Norway and is only just prevented by his staff from issuing a series of very rash orders, particularly to the troops in Narvik.

Sunday, April 14, 1940

In Norway... The Norwegian forces are fighting a series of delaying actions in the Glomma Valley and around Lake Mjösa against the German forces advancing north from Oslo. There are small British landings at Namsos and Harstad. The British and French are considering a number of possible strategies with the object of freeing Trondheim and Narvik. During the next few days, however, direct assaults on these places will be ruled out. Instead the chosen plan for the Trondheim are will involve a buildup at Namsos and Andalsnes and for Narvik preparations at Harstad.

Monday, April 15, 1940

In Norway... The main body of the 24th British Guards Brigade arrives in Harstad.

In Oslo... Quisling resigns and is replaced for the moment by Ingolf Christensen as the head of the German-sponsored government.

Tuesday, April 16, 1940

In Norway... The British 146th Brigade lands at Namsos during the night and is immediately moved inland to Steinkjer. British troops also occupy the Faeroe Islands.

Wednesday, April 17, 1940

In Norway... The British heavy cruiser Suffolk carries out a fairly effective bombardment of the German-held Stavanger airfield but is severely damaged by air attacks while retiring. Late in the day the first British forces land at Andalnses.

Thursday, April 18, 1940

In Norway... The British 148th Brigade lands at Andalsnes. General Paget is in command. Other British troops land at Molde. During the night part of the 5th Demi-brigade Chasseurs Alpins land at Namsos. There has, however, been a mistake made with the equipment for this force and they lack some of the bindings necessary for their skis.

Friday, April 19, 1940

In Norway... The units of the British 146th Brigade which have advanced from Namsos to Steinkjer are forced to retreat by German troops who have support from the warships in Trondheim Fiord.

Saturday, April 20, 1940

In Norway... Namsos is heavily bombed by the Germans and the harbor installations, such as they are, are severely damaged. The port is ruined as a landing place. There is no natural cover from air attacks and, of course, the Germans have complete air superiority. The German forces advancing from Oslo reach the Norwegian positions at Lillehammer and Rena.

In Denmark... The Danish army is demobilized.

Sunday, April 21, 1940

In Norway... The Norwegian forces are pushed out of Lillehammer by German attacks on both sides of Lake Mjösa. There is fighting near Namsos, Trondheim, and Narvik.

Monday, April 22, 1940

In Norway... The British 148th Brigade is attacked north of Lillehammer by the superior German force advancing up the Gudbrandsdal and forced to retreat.

Tuesday, April 23, 1940

In Norway... On the night of April 23rd the British 15th Brigade lands at Molde and Andalsnes and is soon moving forward to relieve the 148th Brigade.

Wednesday, April 24, 1940

In Norway... German forces in the Osterdal reach Rendal. In the north Narvik is bombarded in an attempt to bring about the surrender of the German garrison. If this looks likely a landing is to be made. The British battleship Warspite, a heavy cruiser and three light cruisers are used but despite this concentration of force the commanding general decides that the naval guns will not have sufficiently disrupted the German positions because of their unsuitable, flat trajectory of fire. The naval commander is Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cork. This officer has been brought back to active service at Churchill's request. He is senior in the service to even the commander of the Home Fleet. His seniority poses problems in his relations with the military commanders who are at times reluctant to insist on measures which their military knowledge makes them believe essential.

Thursday, April 25, 1940

In Norway... The fighting in the Gudbrandsdal continues. The British 15th Brigade and the Norwegian units put up a fierce resistance but are repeatedly forced back. The Germans advance even more rapidly in the Osterdal. In the north Norwegian forces begin attacks toward Narvik.

Friday, April 26, 1940

In Norway... The fighting north of Lillehammer continues; Allied forces retreat.

In Bern... An Anglo-Swiss trade agreement is achieved.

Saturday, April 27, 1940

In Norway... The British decide to evacuate their forces from Namsos and Andalsnes, giving up any attempt to reach Trondheim. Andalsnes is heavily attacked from the air.

From Berlin... Himmler orders the construction of Auschwitz concentration camp.

Sunday, April 28, 1940

In Norway... A further detachment of French mountain troops arrives at Harstad.

Monday, April 29, 1940

In Norway... King Hakkon and his government are evacuated from Molde on the British cruiser Glasgow and taken to Tromso. The Norwegian gold reserves go with them.

Tuesday, April 30, 1940

In Norway... German units which have moved up the Osterdal link with their Trondheim force at Dragset. The British and French forces in the Gudbrandsdal are fighting south of Dombas when the order to retire reaches them. The Norwegian troops in this area will be forced to surrender when their allies leave. During the night the British begin to evacuate their troops from Andalsnses.