[[BACKGROUND]]
On the early morning 9th of April 1940 - 05.15 a.m German time, or 04.15 Norwegian time - German troopers invaded both Norway and Denmark, in a secret campaign called ‘Unternehmen Weserübung’, or ‘Operation Weserübung’.
On the pretext that Norway needed protection from British and French interference, Germany invaded Norway for several reasons: strategically, to secure ice-free harbours from which naval forces could seek to control the North Atlantic; to secure the availability of iron ore from mines in Sweden, going through Narvik; to pre-empt a British and French invasion with the same purpose; and to reinforce the propaganda of a “Germanic empire”, for the country was considered by many dedicated Nazis to be the birthplace of the so-called Nordic-Aryan race.
Norway was largely unprepared for the German military invasion.¹
***
On the early morning 9th of April 1940 - 05.15 a.m German time, or 04.15 Norwegian time - German troopers invaded both Norway and Denmark, in a secret campaign called ‘Unternehmen Weserübung’, or ‘Operation Weserübung’.
On the pretext that Norway needed protection from British and French interference, Germany invaded Norway for several reasons: strategically, to secure ice-free harbours from which naval forces could seek to control the North Atlantic; to secure the availability of iron ore from mines in Sweden, going through Narvik; to pre-empt a British and French invasion with the same purpose; and to reinforce the propaganda of a “Germanic empire”, for the country was considered by many dedicated Nazis to be the birthplace of the so-called Nordic-Aryan race.
Norway was largely unprepared for the German military invasion.¹
***
8th of April, 1940
22.30 p.m
22.30 p.m
For Norway, it was just another quiet, ordinary night.
Being neutral ever since the last war, he had nothing to worry much about, either; and even so, he preferred to not let it bother him much. He knew Ludwig well enough to consider him as a loyal and reasonable friend, despite his recent activities caused by his crazy boss.
Finishing his last cup of tea for that day, he turned the lights after him and headed to bed; soon after he crawled under the thick blanket, Ole Lukkøye² arrived; sending him a delicate smile from his lip’s angle before pouring sand to his eyes, the little Sandman sent him to a deep sleep.
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¹More info,
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Weserübung
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Campaign
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Norway
²Ole Lukkøye is one of the Norwegian names for the Sandman
