Norway is a narrow long country the size of New Mexico with the smallest population of the Scandinavian countries. Norway 5.5 million, 5.9 Denmark and 10.6 Sweden.
The occupation of Norway provided strategic significant for the Germans during WW ll. Germany planned to invade Russia, that border with Norway. Norway had iron ore to supply war machine & nuclear power. Lastly, Norway had access to Northern sea necessary to fight off the Allies. Unlike the Danes and the Swedes, German army invasion struck a hard blow on Norways economy and loss of life.
Norwegian resistance fought back. Because of the link with the British (King and Prince of Norway retreated to Buckingham palace) they provided a lifeline and spy material to the Resistance. During the British blitz, Great Britain under Winston Churchill, fought alone for 1.5 years inspiring hope to the Resistance throughout Europe.
Some examples of Norweigen resistance: Norwegians smuggled across border with fake passport stamps. Bridges were blown up near Lillehammer to impede German advance. Both Allies and Norwegians bombed power plant and sabotaged transport to prevent Germany’s production of heavy water to produce the first atom bomb.
During the war, 40,000 political prisoners were held in camps. Survival rate less than 25% due to harsh winter conditions at 110-400 war camps or POW camps located in northern Norway. One prisoner poked holes in toilet paper sending secret messages; only the paper survived. Thousands were executed for the clandestine production of and distribution of 60 underground newspapers distributed three times a week. Resistance increased in 1943 a pivotal year where Hitler was not winning the war. End of 1944 Germans leave a scorched earth policy, detonate and burn everything in Northern Norway (and beyond).
Norway underground suffered the most losses and contributed to defeating Nazi Germany.
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