World War II broke out in 1939 when Germany (as well as Russia) invaded Poland; France and England declared war on Germany for this unprovoked invasion. The world was shocked by the rapid progress of German forces through Poland. The German blitzkrieg, or lightning war, strategy was revealed.

On April 9, 1940, Germany launched a surprise attack on Norway, ignoring Norway’s professed neutrality in the growing conflict. In accordance with Germany’s newly developed strategy of blitzkrieg warfare, the world was caught off guard by the rapid invasion of Norway. Britain supported Norway in a last-minute naval response, and a number of German ships were sunk by allied ships and submarines. Furthermore, British troops landed in Norway to support the small Norwegian army forces, but they were soon outnumbered, and the British troops were evacuated. Norway was quickly overwhelmed by the Germans’ naval, air, and land invasion; ultimately, 10,000 German troops seized Oslo and all major Norwegian ports. Norway officially surrendered to Germany on June 9, 1940, and remained under Nazi control for the duration of the war, only being liberated at the time of the German surrender on May 8, 1945 (Hughs, Thomas A. & Rhoyde-Smith, John Graham. “

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