{"id":584,"date":"2024-07-16T12:02:53","date_gmt":"2024-07-16T10:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ciw.usd.cas.cz\/?p=584"},"modified":"2026-07-30T13:03:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T11:03:29","slug":"banner02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ciw.usd.cas.cz\/cs\/banner02\/","title":{"rendered":"WEHRMACHT IN NORWAY"},"content":{"rendered":"

Massive presence<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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Numerous powerful batteries along Norway\u2019s coast highlight the country\u2019s strategic importance during World War II. The Wehrmacht maintained a particularly strong presence here, with troop numbers ranging from 300,000 to 530,000 between 1942 and 1945\u2014over 10% of Norway\u2019s population of around 3 million. This ratio was higher than in any other Nazi-occupied country. In many places, German troops far outnumbered the local population. Norway\u2019s economy was adapted to meet the needs of the occupiers, with significant resources allocated to building fortifications, railways, roads, and harbours. Many of these structures remain in use today.<\/p>\n

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<\/span>STRATEGIC BRIDGEHEAD: Challenging the enemy<\/div>
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Hitler invaded Norway to establish a naval bridgehead capable of threatening the Allied fleet beyond the perceived blockade. Occupying Norway also extended his influence over Finland and Sweden. Norway\u2019s strategic importance grew with the invasion of the Soviet Union, as the movement of ground forces and naval attacks posed a significant threat to Allied convoys supplying Murmansk.<\/div><\/div>\n

<\/span>STRENGTH: Numbers and locations<\/div>
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