Posts from December 1939

Hitler meets Quisling at the Reichkanzeli

During discussions about the future of Norway, and in particular the chances of it breaking its neutrality by siding with Britain, Hitler states he has always been a friend of England but is bitter about the declaration of war over Poland. He now hopes to bring Britain to her knees through a blockade rather than full-scale ware. "Any sign of English intervention in Norway would be met with appropriate means."

After the meeting Jodel is instructed to start a low-key investigation into how Norway could be occupied "should it become necessary".

Heer issues Nordwest study paper on the invasion of Britain

von Brauchitsch initiates a counter study paper on the invasion of England and solicited opinions from the Kreigsmarine and Luftwaffe. Major (i.G.) Stieff is responsible for drawing it up.

The given assumptions for the operation are: possesion of the Belgian and Dutch North Sea and Channel ports and the core of the British Army would be on the Continent committed, with the French, to countering a German attack in northern France.

It outlines an assault on the east coast between The Wash and The Thames by 100,000 troops transported and protected by the Kreigsmarine from ports in the Low Countries and supported by airborne troops.

The Kreigsmarine could not envisage taking on the Royal Navy and said it would take a year to organise troop transports.

Goering responded in a single page letter:

[A] combined operation having the objective of landing in England must be rejected. It could only be the final act of an already victorious war against Britain as otherwise the preconditions for success of a combined operation would not be met.