09-Warships in Norway

Heavy Cruiser Admiral Hipper and other warships in Norway.

German warships in Norway

During World War II, Norway was of significant strategic importance to both the Allies and the Axis powers, particularly Germany. The German invasion of Norway, known as Operation Weser Crossing (Weserübung), began on April 9, 1940. This operation was intended to secure vital resources and establish bases for naval and air operations against the Allies. As a result, numerous German warships were deployed to Norwegian waters throughout the conflict.

Key German Warships and Operations in Norway:

Operation Weserübung (April 1940):
Battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst: These ships provided cover for the invasion forces and engaged British forces during the campaign. They were involved in the sinking of the British aircraft carrier HMS Glorious.
Heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper: Played a key role in the initial assault on Trondheim and participated in various naval engagements in the area.
Light Cruisers: Königsberg and Karlsruhe were part of the invasion fleet. Königsberg was damaged by Norwegian coastal artillery and later sunk by British aircraft in Bergen. Karlsruhe was torpedoed and sunk by the British submarine HMS Truant.
Destroyers: Several German destroyers were involved, including the infamous engagement in Narvik, where ten German destroyers fought British forces. Many were lost in the Battle of Narvik.

Naval Bases and Operations:
Following the successful invasion, Germany established several important naval bases in Norway, including in Trondheim, Bergen, and Narvik. These bases served as key points for operations in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions.
Norway became a crucial location for U-boat operations against Allied shipping. Bases such as Bergen, Trondheim, and Narvik were heavily fortified and supported submarine operations.

Battleship Tirpitz:
The battleship Tirpitz, sister ship to the Bismarck, was stationed in Norwegian fjords for much of the war. Its presence posed a significant threat to Allied convoys heading to the Soviet Union. Despite several attacks, including British midget submarine operations and air raids, Tirpitz remained a formidable presence until it was finally sunk by RAF bombers in Tromsø in November 1944.

Strategic Importance:
Norwegian waters provided the German Kriegsmarine with critical access to the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The control of Norway also enabled Germany to secure the iron ore shipments from Sweden, which were crucial for its war industry. The fjords and coastal geography of Norway offered natural protection and concealment for German naval assets, complicating Allied countermeasures.

Notable Engagements:
First and Second Battles of Narvik (April 1940): Intense naval battles between German and British forces in the fjords of Narvik. These battles saw significant losses on both sides and showcased the strategic importance of controlling Norwegian ports.
Operation Source (September 1943): A daring British operation involving midget submarines (X-craft) targeting the battleship Tirpitz. The attack resulted in damage that put Tirpitz out of action for several months.

In summary, the presence of German warships in Norway during World War II played a critical role in the overall naval strategy of the Axis powers. The fjords and coastal regions of Norway served as both a sanctuary and a launching point for various naval operations, significantly influencing the maritime dynamics of the conflict.

Pictures from German warships in Norway

Pictures from the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper and other warships and ships in Norway. These pictures were taken from a soldier of the 214th Infantry Division of the Wehrmacht at Kristiansand in 1940-41.

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

A German patrol ship (ex-Norwegian torpedo boat Lyn class) at Kristiansand, 1940.

The German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper in the port of Kristiansand in September 1940. On the side is a old Norwegian torpedo-boat of the Lyn class, now in German use.

The cruiser Admiral Hipper is loading a seaplane of type Arado Ar 196 on board.

The maritime reconnaissance seaplane is nearly on board of Admiral Hipper.

A damaged Type M35 minesweeper in a dock.

February 1941: Type M35 Minesweeper ready for action in the port of Kristiansand.

Frozen ships in the harbor during winter.

German minesweeper in the ice, 1941.

On a freezed minesweeper in winter 1940-41.

This was the world’s largest sailing ship in the times of WW2, pictured in a fjord at Kri in 1940.

An unknown German soldier with a small warship in the background.

Just close to a warship: work on a rowboat in August 1940.

The rowboat is launching.

Ready for action

The workshop unit had set a float a rowboat for 16 men of them.

Previous page: Kristiansand 1940

Next page: Occupation duties in Norway 1941

References and literature

Seemacht – eine Seekriegsgeschichte von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart (Elmar B. Potter, Admiral Chester W.Nimitz)
Flotten des 2. Weltkrieges (Antony Preston)
Atlas zur Seefahrts-Geschichte (Christopher Loyd)
Kriegsschiffe 1939-45 (Heyne-Bildpaperback)
Die Schlacht im Atlantik (Andrew Kershaw)