Narvik: And the Norwegian Campaign of 1940

In this brief, untidy campaign that lasted just six weeks, all branches of the Allied military service united against the lightning-fast invasion that the Nazis had surprised them with. On an almost hourly basis, air battles, amphibious landings by troops, and monumental naval engagements took place.

Donald Macintyre, the renowned military historian and escort commander, takes the reader to the heart of the battle, providing not just an overview but also provides fascinating details of the attack that left six German destroyers damaged within Narvik’s harbour, the sacrifice made by the damaged HMS Glowworm as it rammed the heavy-cruiser Admiral Hipper, the heroism displayed by one naval officer who worked tirelessly to evacuate the shore bases near Trondheim, and the final tragic loss of the carrier HMS Glorious.

The Norwegian campaign that took place in the spring of 1940 is often overshadowed by later successful Allied operations in the European theatre: North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and France. Yet, although German forces surprised and ultimately held off the Allied counterattack, Captain Macintyre demonstrates why this is such an important campaign and how the Allies had to learn difficult lessons here before they were able to march on to victory.

Narvik should be essential reading for anyone interested in the oft-overlooked campaign that took place during what was known as the ‘Phoney War’, proved a brutally eye-opening to the Allies, but taught them much about how to fight in the battles to come.