|
Combined Operations - Norway
Index Page.
Links to web pages
with strong Norwegian connections to Combined Operations.
Combined Ops Memorial
Information about the memorial,
including its location in the grounds of the National Memorial Arboretum in
Staffordshire. The memorial embraces all the Allied
nations whose service men and women served in
or alongside Combined Operations, or
were trained by them in amphibious
warfare.
Lofoten
Islands (Claymore)
Operation Claymore (3/4 March 1941), was the 1st Lofoten
Islands raid off the Norwegian coast, just north of the Arctic Circle.
The Commandos destroyed German ships and a fish factory and gave free passage to the UK to over 300 Norwegian
volunteers and a few Germans and Quislings. It was, however, most notable
for giving a great boost to flagging morale within the ranks of the
Commandos and later to the country, as news of the raid was made public.
Lofoten Islands
2nd Raid (Anklet)
Operation Anklet, (26-27/12/41), the second Lofoten Islands
raid, was a diversion in support of a larger action at Vaagso and Maaloy, further south on
the Norwegian coast. There was no opposition to the landing, but a near miss
from a German bomber convinced the planners that in future operations of this
kind, air cover would be provided as a matter of routine.
Vaagso, Norway
(Archery)
Operation Archery (27/12/41), the raid on Vaagso and
Maaloy, broke new ground with the provision of air cover as an integral part of
the raid in the initial planning process. The planners had
learned from the 2nd
Lofoten raid that the lack of air cover could put similar missions in
jeopardy.
Glomfjord,
Norway (Musketoon)
Operation Musketoon (15-22/9/42),
was a
daring raid on an
electricity generating station at Glomfjord in German occupied Norway not far
away from the Arctic Circle. Their target was a station that provided the electricity for a
nearby aluminium plant. The unit
chosen for the mission comprised 2 Officers, 8 Commandos, from No 2 Commando and 2 Norwegian corporals working
for the Special Operations Executive (SOE). They were transported by submarine
to a remote Fjord, completed a difficult high level overland route to
approach their target from the rear and successfully destroyed it.
They paid a high price though, as Hitler's infamous 'Commando Order' was
invoked for the first time. The damage that the electricity plant put it out
of action for the duration of the war.
Further Reading
There are around 300 books listed on
our 'Combined Operations Books' page. They, or any
other books you know about, can be purchased on-line from the
Advanced Book Exchange (ABE). Their search banner link, on our 'Books' page, checks the shelves of
thousands of book shops world-wide. Just type in, or copy and paste the
title of your choice, or use the 'keyword' box for book suggestions.
There's no obligation to buy, no registration and no passwords.
|
