08-Kristiansand 1940 > WW2 Weapons

Kristiansand in 1940.

These pictures were taken from a soldier of the German 214th Infantry Division in Kristiansand, Norway, in 1940.

Please click to enlarge or to watch a slide show on one of the pictures.

A postcard from the bay of Kristiansand, probably just before WW2, which the grandfather of the author added to his collection of photographes.

Now there are the German transport vessels and patrol boats in the bay at Kristiansand.

This picture from August 1940 shows German He 111 bombers of Air fleet 5, based in Norway, on their way to targets in northern England or Scotland during the Battle of Britain.

The fighting in southern Norway was soon over and some soldiers are watching now transport vessels leaving the port in the summer of 1940.

The soldiers of the unit in July 1940.

The ‘victorious captains Engel and Kummler on the ‘generals hill’ at Kristiansand.

Verification of a bombarded ship in the port of Kristiansand.

Working at the seafront with the biggest sailing ship from Finland in the background.

This motor boat is pictured at the workshop.

The first snow and soldiers of the workshop company at their working place at Kristiansand.

Captain Engel with his driver Hans Reichmann at the port of Kristiansand in winter.

The beds of the soldiers.

Wehrmacht members K. Beisenherz, H. Döring, H. Krug, R. Rühl, E. Schwesinger, W. Helmas, E. Grösch

‘Norge oil’ drinking in the quarters.

Kristiansand, a city in southern Norway, was significantly affected by the German occupation during World War II. Here are some key events and facts related to Kristiansand during this period:

Invasion: German forces invaded Norway on April 9, 1940, and quickly occupied Kristiansand due to its strategic location and harbor.

Resistance: The city was a center for Norwegian resistance activities, with various groups operating in and around Kristiansand, including Milorg (the main Norwegian resistance organization).

Deportation of Jews: In 1942, Jewish residents of Kristiansand were arrested and deported to concentration camps as part of the Nazi’s Final Solution. Most did not survive the Holocaust.

Sinking of the SS Voorbode: In 1940, the Dutch cargo ship SS Voorbode was sunk by a British submarine near Kristiansand, resulting in the deaths of 42 crew members.

Bombing raids: Kristiansand was targeted by several Allied bombing raids during the war, causing damage to the city’s infrastructure and civilian casualties.

Liberation: On May 8, 1945, following Germany’s surrender, British forces liberated Kristiansand, ending five years of occupation.

Post-war reconstruction: After the war, Kristiansand underwent significant reconstruction efforts to repair damage caused by the occupation and bombing raids.

The German occupation left a lasting impact on Kristiansand and its inhabitants, with the city’s history during this period being an important part of Norway’s collective memory of World War II.