HITLER'S PRE-EMPTIVE WAR: THE BATTLE FOR NORWAY, 1940 by Henrik O. Lunde
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Hitler's Pre-emptive War: The Battle for Norway, 1940 by Henrik O. Lunde
Hitler's Pre-emptive War is a well documented, critical and hard-hitting analysis of the war in Norway in 1940. It begins by exploring the policies and motives that led both sides in World War II to decide to expand the war into Scandinavia. It examines the planning and force preparation on both sides and concludes that they were amateurish on the Allied side and reckless on the German one. At first the German General Staff opposed the attack on Norway, viewing it as "lunatic" and contrary to all military logic.
The book then goes on to examine why the war in Norway turned out to be a stunning German military success. It does so by looking at the actual operations and military decisions -- from the lofty halls of power in Berlin, London, Paris, and Oslo to the small unit level -- with a strong focus on the operations in and around Narvik. The 62-day war in Norway was a watershed in military history and a curtain-raiser for events that were to follow. It was the first time in history that land, sea, air, and specialized forces were fully involved. It was the first direct clash between German and Allied forces, and a testing ground for the innovations in equipment and doctrine developed since the Great War.
In Norway, the effect of air power on both land and naval operations caused a fundamental shift in how this new weapon was viewed. The campaign saw the first use of airborne troops to seize airfields and key objectives far behind enemy lines. It was also a schoolmaster example of two opposing military philosophies -- centralized versus flexible control of operations.
Some writers have concluded that Norway was a military episode set in conditions never likely to be repeated. The author debunks this theory by showing that many of the problems on the Allied side were ones that perpetually face military planners and operators. The campaign remains a perfect example of how things can quickly unravel in a pre-emptive war or war of choice when the underlying assumptions governing plans are fallacious. It also demonstrates clearly the dangers inherent in the meddling by high officials totally out of touch with realities on the ground in a frozen wilderness over 200 kilometers above the Arctic Circle.
The campaign revealed serious deficiencies in Allied command structure, inter-allied coordination and cooperation, and the unfortunate effects of strong individuals unwilling to compromise. The Allies failed to come up with a strategy until it was too late -- meanwhile the Germans held the initiative, and by the end of the campaign, around Narvik, some 5,000 of their troops were able to hold off 30,000 Allied and Norwegian troops, until the Allies were finally compelled to withdraw.
Cutting through the often slanted accounts of both sides, Henrik Lunde has written the most objective, comprehensive analysis of this vital campaign to date.
Casemate, Hardcover, 2009
This is a BRAND NEW book.
Hitler's Pre-emptive War is a well documented, critical and hard-hitting analysis of the war in Norway in 1940. It begins by exploring the policies and motives that led both sides in World War II to decide to expand the war into Scandinavia. It examines the planning and force preparation on both sides and concludes that they were amateurish on the Allied side and reckless on the German one. At first the German General Staff opposed the attack on Norway, viewing it as "lunatic" and contrary to all military logic.
The book then goes on to examine why the war in Norway turned out to be a stunning German military success. It does so by looking at the actual operations and military decisions -- from the lofty halls of power in Berlin, London, Paris, and Oslo to the small unit level -- with a strong focus on the operations in and around Narvik. The 62-day war in Norway was a watershed in military history and a curtain-raiser for events that were to follow. It was the first time in history that land, sea, air, and specialized forces were fully involved. It was the first direct clash between German and Allied forces, and a testing ground for the innovations in equipment and doctrine developed since the Great War.
In Norway, the effect of air power on both land and naval operations caused a fundamental shift in how this new weapon was viewed. The campaign saw the first use of airborne troops to seize airfields and key objectives far behind enemy lines. It was also a schoolmaster example of two opposing military philosophies -- centralized versus flexible control of operations.
Some writers have concluded that Norway was a military episode set in conditions never likely to be repeated. The author debunks this theory by showing that many of the problems on the Allied side were ones that perpetually face military planners and operators. The campaign remains a perfect example of how things can quickly unravel in a pre-emptive war or war of choice when the underlying assumptions governing plans are fallacious. It also demonstrates clearly the dangers inherent in the meddling by high officials totally out of touch with realities on the ground in a frozen wilderness over 200 kilometers above the Arctic Circle.
The campaign revealed serious deficiencies in Allied command structure, inter-allied coordination and cooperation, and the unfortunate effects of strong individuals unwilling to compromise. The Allies failed to come up with a strategy until it was too late -- meanwhile the Germans held the initiative, and by the end of the campaign, around Narvik, some 5,000 of their troops were able to hold off 30,000 Allied and Norwegian troops, until the Allies were finally compelled to withdraw.
Cutting through the often slanted accounts of both sides, Henrik Lunde has written the most objective, comprehensive analysis of this vital campaign to date.
Casemate, Hardcover, 2009
This is a BRAND NEW book.
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