Nazi Conspiracy & Aggression D. Operational Planning
The information available on the events of January 1940 is
not full. but it is clear that the agitation of Raeder and
Rosenberg bore fruit. An order signed by Keitel, dated 27
January 1940, marked "Most Secret, five copies; reference,
Study 'N' ", (an earlier code name for the Weseruebung
preparations) and classified "Access only through an
officer," stated:
"C-in-C of the Navy [Raeder] has a report on this ***
"The Fuehrer and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
wishes that Study 'N' should be further worked on under
my direct and personal guidance, and in the closest
conjunction with the general war policy. For these
reasons the Fuehrer has commissioned me to take over
the direction of further preparations.
"A working staff has been formed at the Supreme Command
of the Armed Forces Headquarters for this purpose, and
this represents at the same time the nucleus of a
future operational staff."
*******
"All further plans will be made under the cover name
'Weseruebung.' "(C-63)
The importance of that document, to the signature of Keitel
upon it, and to the date of this important decision, is
this: Prior
[Page 744]
to this date, 27 January 1940, the planning of the various
aspects of the invasion of Norway and Denmark had been
confined to a relatively small group, whose aim had been to
persuade Hitler of the desirability of undertaking the
operation. The issuance of this directive of Keitel's on 27
January 1940, was the signal that the Supreme Command of the
German Armed Forces, the OKW, had accepted the proposition
of the group that was pressing for the Norwegian adventure,
and had turned the combined resources of the German military
machine to the task of producing practical and coordinated
plans for the Norwegian operation. From January onward the
operational planning for the invasion of Norway and Denmark
was started through the normal channels.
Certain entries in the diary of Jodl reveal how the
preparations progressed (1809-PS). The entry for 6 February
commences:
"New idea: Carry out 'H' [Hartmundt, another code word
for the Norwegian and Danish invasion] and Weser
Exercise only and guarantee Belgium's neutrality for
the duration of the war." (1809-PS)
The entry for 21 February reads:
"Fuehrer has talked with General von Falkenhorst, and
charges him with preparation of 'Weser Exercise.'
Falkenhorst accepts gladly. Instructions issued to the
three branches of the armed forces." (1809-PS)
The entry for 28 February reads:
"I propose, first to the Chief of OKW and then to the
Fuehrer, that Case Yellow [the code name for the
invasion of the Netherlands] and Weser Exercise [the
invasion of Norway and Denmark] must be prepared in
such a way that they will be independent of one another
as regards both time and forces employed. The Fuehrer
completely agrees, if this is in any way possible."
(1809-PS)
It will be observed that the new idea of 6 February, that
the neutrality of Belgium might be preserved, had been
abandoned by 28 February.
The entry for 29 February reads:
"Fuehrer also wishes to have a strong task force in
Copenhagen and a plan, elaborated in detail, showing
how individual coastal batteries are to be captured by
shock troops Warlimont, Chef Landesverteidigung,
instructed to make out immediately the order of the
Army, Navy, and Air Force, and Director of Armed Forces
to make out a similar order regarding the strengthening
of the staff." (1809-PS)
[Page 745]
Then came Hitler's order to complete the preparations for
the invasion of Norway and Denmark (C-174). It bears the
date of 1 March 1940, and reads as follows:
"The Fuehrer and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces,
Most Secret.
"Directive for Fall Weserebung.
"The development of the situation in Scandinavia
requires the making of all preparations for the
occupation of Denmark and Norway by a part of the
German Armed Forces Fall Weserebung. This operation
should prevent British ' encroachment on Scandinavia
and the Baltic; further, it should guarantee our ore
base in Sweden and give our Navy and Air Force a wider
start line against Britain.
"In view of our military and political power in
comparison with that of the Scandinavian States, the
force to be employed in the Fall Weserebung will be
kept as small as possible. The numerical weakness will
be balanced by daring actions and surprise execution.
On principle we will do our utmost to make the
operation appear as a peaceful occupation, the object
of which is the military protection of the neutrality
of the Scandinavian States. Corresponding demands will
be transmitted to the Governments at the beginning of
the occupation. If necessary, demonstrations by the
Navy and the Air Force will provide the necessary
emphasis. If, in spite of this, resistance should be
met with, all military means will be used to crush it."
*******
"I put in charge of the preparations and the conduct of
the operation against Denmark and Norway the Commanding
General of the 21st Army Corps, General von
Falkenhorst. ***"
"The crossing of the Danish border and the landings in
Norway must take place simultaneously. I emphasize that
the operations must be prepared as quickly as possible.
In case the enemy seizes the initiative against Norway,
we must be able to apply immediately our own counter-
measures.
"It is most important that the Scandinavian States as
well as the Western opponents should be taken by
surprise by our measures. All preparations,
particularly those of transport and of readiness,
drafting and embarkation of the troops, must be made
with this factor in mind.
"In case the preparations for embarkation can no longer
be
[Page 746]
kept secret, the leaders and the troops will be
deceived with fictitious objectives." (C-174)
The
original plaintext version
of this file is available via
ftp.
[
Previous |
Index |
Next ]
Home ·
Site Map ·
What's New? ·
Search
Nizkor
© The Nizkor Project, 1991-2012
This site is intended for educational purposes to teach about the Holocaust and
to combat hatred.
Any statements or excerpts found on this site are for educational purposes only.
As part of these educational purposes, Nizkor may
include on this website materials, such as excerpts from the writings of racists and antisemites. Far from approving these writings, Nizkor condemns them and
provides them so that its readers can learn the nature and extent of hate and antisemitic discourse. Nizkor urges the readers of these pages to condemn racist
and hate speech in all of its forms and manifestations.
Volume
I Chapter IX
Aggression Against Norway & Denmark
(Part 5 of 10)