A gripping account of the disastrous first significant land encounter of WWII, focusing on the areas of Narvik and Bodö-Mosjöen, Namsos and Aandalsnes.
In the early hours of 9 April 1940, the Germans invaded Denmark and Norway. Within twenty-four hours, Denmark was overwhelmed and the main Norwegian airfields and seaports were under German control. Thus started the first confrontation in modern war in which combined operations on land, sea, and in the air were fully involved. Reluctantly the Allies launched Anglo-French landings in the Lofoten Islands and in Central Norway. At the outset, serious liaison, command and, above all, communication problems arose. The urgent military needs of the Norwegians, with their King and government pursued by the Germans, were tragically misrepresented and never fully understood by the Allied politicians. On another level, personality clashes between senior commanders further confused conditions in the field, where lack of air cover, supporting arms, and equipment made the task of the comparatively few combatants almost impossible to perform. Heroic battles and humiliating retreats led to the inevitable evacuation of an Allied expedition doomed from the start.
This item is in Fair condition. There is coloring and marking of the page edges and cover. There is creasing of the spine and cover. There is some shelf wear. As usual, photos are of the item that you will receive.