Enig og tro til Dovre faller – A Norwegian AAR

[Mettermrck]

Looking good, sir. A lot of interesting Norwegian tidbits here.

[Draco Rexus]

I'm liking this one, liking this one a lot.

Kinda cool to see to a minor played out in a AAR. Can't wait to see what happens over the next couple of years.

[Zanza]

Interesting AAR, Lord E.

[Lord E]

You're doing a very good AAR! Keep going on!

Thank you, next update coming up soon

Nice AAR. I was thinking of doing a Norwegian AAR after my Japanese one, but now I don't have to. Good Luck!

Hehe well you could still do one if you want I guess Thanks

Sorry, I think what I MEANT to say was that I'd eventually like to see some maps of your troop dispositions and (cross my fingers) conquests. ;-)

Great update, btw

Ah now I see, yes there will be some pictures of the armies coming up in an update soon, and then hopefully in the future conquest as well

Looking good, sir. A lot of interesting Norwegian tidbits here.

Thanks, trying to do my best

I'm liking this one, liking this one a lot.

Kinda cool to see to a minor played out in a AAR. Can't wait to see what happens over the next couple of years.

Yes, I though it would be cool to play out a minor, one have to do things in an other way than when playing the big ones, so it will be interesting to see what will happen ahead

Interesting AAR, Lord E.

Thank you, I hope it shall continue that way

To all of you thank you very much for your comments and feedback, next update coming you next…

[Lord E]

The Olympics of 1936



At home in Norway many people was more interested in events happening in Germany than in the war in Spain. On the 1st of August 1936 Hitler opened the XIth Olympiad. Musical fanfares directed by the famous composer Richard Strauss announced the dictator's arrival to the largely German crowd.

The XI Olympic games in Berlin, official poster

Earlier in the year from the 6th of February to 16th of February 1936, Germany hosted the Winter Olympics at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps, and Norwegian athletes competing in the winter games had made sure Norway had finished first in the medal competition, ahead of Germany and now many people at home looked forward to the summer games.

The IV Olympic winter games in Garmisch-Partenkirch, official poster

Norwegian hero from the winter games Ivar BALLANGRUD Triple Gold medal winner in Speed Skating

Norwegian hero from the winter games Birger Ruud, winning medals both in ski jumping and downhill skiing

Now with the summer games coming up the Norwegian public knew that it probably wouldn’t go as good as it had done in the winter games. Still it was great hopes for the Norwegian football team. The team was to face Turkey and the home side Germany in the first matches. Especially towards the German match it was great expectations at home, maybe mostly because it was seen as a very exciting event to face the Germans.

Adolf Hitler had declared that the games would be a great show of German power, but the great man of the games, to Hitler’s annoyance, was an African-American man called Jesse Owens. Jesse Owens won four Olympic gold medals and soon became the great hero of the Olympics, especially among all those in opposition to the games and the regime of Hitler.

Jesse Owens, "the fastest human being," captured four gold medals and became the hero of the Olympics.

For the Norwegian football team the games also were a good show. The first match against Turkey was won 4-0, and as the team was to face Germany both Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels was on the stadium to watch what Hitler though would be a German victory.

Adolf Hitler was present at the match when Norway played against Germany in football.

The match started out much different that Hitler had though, and as the match draw to and end Norway was in the lead 2-0 and Hitler had already left the stadium, furious, before the match ended in a Norwegian victory 2-0, and Norway was on to the Semi-finals to face Italy. At home people celebrated the victory and the team was already celebrated as heroes.
The semi-finale match ended in a loss 1-2 and therefore Italy advanced to the final while Norway had to play the Bronze final against Poland.
In the Bronze final it was a close and exciting match ending in a Norwegian victory 3-2. At home people exploded in joy and upon their arrival home, the ”Bronze Team”, as they got known as, were treated as heroes of the nation, and celebrated for a long time.

The “bronze Team” of 1936 was celebrated as great heroes after their bronze medal and victory against Germany.

The two Olympics of 1936 had brought much joy and honour to Norway, having finished first in the winter games medal table, Norway had shown its great strength in winter sports. But also the summer games had been good for Norway. The “Bronze team “ was celebrated as if they had won gold, and in total the Norwegian summer athletes had brought back 1 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals. 1936 had been a good year for Norwegian sport, and it had given the public of Norway a lot to be happy about, and therefore a possibility to forget all the international events, both the Spanish war and the US presidential election. Norwegians looked to their heroes and many shut away the events of the world.

[Arntf]

Cool... :-)

I remember from history books that we won the bronze that year, but I didn't realize we defeated Germany on the way. No wonder we got hit in april '40...

[kenneththegreat]

Cool... :-)

I remember from history books that we won the bronze that year, but I didn't realize we defeated Germany on the way. No wonder we got hit in april '40...

Hehehe.....but 2 years later Germany retaliated.

World Cup 1938, France. Exact Location of Norway-Italy: Marseilles

85 minutes: Arne Brusland scores but is called, in a controversial fashion (i have seen pictures, it was NOT offside) by the German judge, for offside. The score is 1-1

97 minutes: An Italian forward scores in an OFFSIDE position. Italy wins the match after extra time and goes on to win the whole World Cup

[Lord E]

Cool... :-)

I remember from history books that we won the bronze that year, but I didn't realize we defeated Germany on the way. No wonder we got hit in april '40...

Hehe Norway sure kicked their ass, and Hitler did indeed get a little “upset” to put it that way
A teacher of mine actually once joked about that. “Maybe he decided to invade Norway already at that football match to get revenge”

You never know do you?

Hehehe.....but 2 years later Germany retaliated.

World Cup 1938, France. Exact Location of Norway-Italy: Marseilles

85 minutes: Arne Brusland scores but is called, in a controversial fashion (i have seen pictures, it was NOT offside) by the German judge, for offside. The score is 1-1

97 minutes: An Italian forward scores in an OFFSIDE position. Italy wins the match after extra time and goes on to win the whole World Cup

Evil man....
Damn Italians… I mean what is it with Norway and Italy in championships, seems like Norway always face Italy at some stage and normally they kick Norway right out of the competition both in World Cups and in the Euro championship …
Guess it is needed with more Norwegian referees in matches where Italy and Germany play then

[Mettermrck]

Ah, a different perspective on the perennial 1936 Olympics. Well done, sir. This is shaping up nicely.

[Lord E]

1936 War in the south and the US presidential election



On the morning of the 18th of July 1936 it became clear that Spain had entered into a civil war. After several years of conflict, and especially the last years with much violence it had become clear that Spain was entering a crisis. After the murder of José Calvo Sotelo on the 13th of July 1936 the rightwing parties left the government, and the opposition against the government in the army decided to act. The Spanish civil war had begun.

In Norway most people was shocked by the civil war, and especially after the German and Italian intervention on the nationalistic side, many people volunteered to go to Spain to fight in the international brigades. In total around 300 Norwegians volunteered and was sent to Spain to fight for the republican side.
Both from Germany, Italy and the Soviet Union it was sent material and volunteers to fight in the war, Germany and Italy for the nationalistic side and Soviet for the republic side. Britain and France didn’t intervene in the war.

International Brigades fighting in Spain, about 300 Norwegian volunteered to fight in the brigades

But despite all this it soon became clear that the nationalists with German and Italian support was the strongest side, and on the 12 of November 1936 the Spanish Civil war ended in a nationalistic victory and general Franco became the new leader of the nationalistic Spain.

It stood clear to the world that the German and Italian military tactics and aid was the main reason for the swift victory, and that the German military machine once again was a powerful force to be remembered in European politics.


Over on the other side of the Atlantic the USA was preparing for the presidential election of 1936. The Democratic Party Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and overwhelmingly nominated President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Republican Party Convention in Cleveland, Ohio nominated Alfred Landon from Kansas. Landon ran on a moderate platform, accepting the need for some government involvement in the economy and opposed to the power of big business, but felt that the “New Deal” was corrupt and wasteful. As well as the two main candidates several more men run for president.
It soon became very clear that the battle seemed to stand between Franklin Delano Roosevelt from the Democrats and Alfred Landon for the Republicans. Roosevelt campaign on the “New Deal” and it soon became clear that he was ahead of Landon in the polls.

The election was held on the 3rd of November 1936.
As the results started coming in it soon became clear that Roosevelt had won the 4th largest electoral victory in US history after George Washington's two unanimous wins in 1789 and 1792 and James Monroe's unopposed race in 1820. It was clear that the Americans had voted for the continuing of the “New Deal”, and that they were very satisfied with Roosevelt’s work and wanted him to continue for an other term as president.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Democratic 523 electoral votes 27,476,673 votes

Alfred M. Landon Republican 8 electoral votes 16,679,583 votes

William Lemke Union 882,479 votes
Norman Thomas Socialist 187,720 votes
Earl Browder Communist 80,159 votes
D. Leigh Colvin Prohibition 37,677 votes
John W. Aiken Socialist Labour 12,829 votes

Back in Norway the government was glad to see Roosevelt re-elected because his work against the depression was something that the Norwegian government saw as important, and something the Norwegian government also wanted to work against coping some of Roosevelt’s methods. It was clear that the work had already started to work, but there was still unemployment in Norway made it clear that action was still needed.

[Draco Rexus]

Do I sense a growing relationship between Norway and the United States? I wonder how that would change things to see the two of them more closely tied than in RL when Hitler invades. That could prove to be quite interesting, eh?

[kenneththegreat]

Do I sense a growing relationship between Norway and the United States? I wonder how that would change things to see the two of them more closely tied than in RL when Hitler invades. That could prove to be quite interesting, eh?

Maybe....

PS: I like your sig

[Lord E]

Do I sense a growing relationship between Norway and the United States? I wonder how that would change things to see the two of them more closely tied than in RL when Hitler invades. That could prove to be quite interesting, eh?

Well that might just be, I know and you don’t so I guess all you can do is wait

*Note to self Draco know to much *

Well since I feel in a good mood today, and since you all are behaving good I decided to put up a second update today… Coming up next…. Norwegian war games

[Lord E]

Operation Snow, winter exercise of 36-37



The Norwegian general staff was in a meeting. During 1936 two new divisions of recruits had been called out to do active service and now it had been decided it was needed to send the Norwegian Army on exercise to train on winter and mountain warfare.

The Norwegian general staff.

At the meeting was the chief of staff, General Otto Ruge, chief of army, General Kristian Laake, chief of navy, Admiral Henry Diesen and the chief of air force, Jacob von der Lippe.
The two army generals Ruge and Laake was clearly pushing forward that the general staff should put more pressure on the government to use more money on the army.

-It is my clear opinion that the army needs more money, we need to modernize most of the units, only one of them is currently up to date, the rest is sadly out of date.

-But Ruge, what about the navy? The navy is even smaller than your precious army, and then I haven’t even though about the air force or what von der Lippe?

-Yes, yes admiral. As you all know the Norwegian air force consist of just about 5 planes, and we are lucky if we are able to get 3 of them into the air… So therefore I must say that what we have today isn’t an air force it is just some old fashion planes that might be used for training, but it wouldn’t stand a chance against modern planes in battle.
As you all know from reports from Spain it is clear that the air force is the weapon of modern warfare!

-Well I can see both of you have expressed your opinions clear, but what do you say Laake?

-Well sir, I tend to agree with you… As we all know Norway have no possibility to produce any aircrafts at the moment, so no matter how much we would like an air force, we have no way to create it. As for the navy, yes we could surly need more ships, and we have the naval yard in Horten ready to produce new ships, but really Diesen, you got a new set of destroyers just some weeks ago.

-And besides what should we use a stronger navy for. Norway is under no threat of invasion, and it won’t be a war in Europe for decades, so it is nothing to worry about.

-I guess that settles it then. I have heard all your objections and opinions gentlemen, but I agree with Laake we should focus on the army. Although I am not to sure that there will be decades until the next war. The rise of right wing controlled countries in Europe is scary, but it seems like there isn’t really a great will for war, and besides in the event of a war Norway would immediately declare neutral just like last time…

Now on to the planning of the winter exercises. Operation Snow is to go ahead in December and January. Fleischer will take “Den Norske Hær” into the woods around Terningmoen. The winter in Elverum can be hard, and that will be well.

-Yes, sir. So I presume we are going to focus on the skiing troops?

-Yes, as well as training in winter camouflage and defence. As well I hope we might get some training in air defence as well

-That should be possible, sir. It if isn’t to cold I shall try to get at least 2 or 3 of the plans into the air, but then again as I said the air force is out of date and I can’t promise anything. If it is too cold, then it is too cold…

-Very well. We shall have blue team defending the woods and red team is the aggressive force. So have the written orders sent to Fleischer at once.

- As well Graff-Wang is to do exercise in and around the mountains of Narvik. It should be an exercise in co-operation with the navy…

-That won’t be a problem, sir, the navy is ready.

-Good issue the orders to Graff-Wang as well then. Operation Snow shall begin on the 10th of December and it shall last until the 5th of February next year.

Good then we have agreed! You all know what to do?

-Yes, sir

Norwegian soldiers during Operation Snow, defending Terningmoen, the army base in Elverum. Operation Snow turned out as a shock to the army commanders, and a much needed lesson

Operations Snow turned out to be something the army was in deep need off. The beginning of the operations was filled with failed orders, missed objectives and much communication problem between the units. It also became clear than when the temperature dropped below -5 degrees Celsius it was impossible even to get the engines of the planes to run, and during the entire exercise it was only able to have 2 of the planes in the air for two hours on just one day. This lead to a change in the thinking in the general staff, and it was decided to start negotiations with Aircraft companies for the purchase of planes.
Also it became clear that the army lacked any modern transport, and it was decided to look into the ways of armoured warfare. A special team was sent to Britain to look at the armoured forces, and it was decided that the possibility of purchasing armoured units from Britain or France should be looked into.

The Chief of Navy knew that the pride of the Norwegian navy wouldn’t stand a change against a modern fleet, but the Navy’s fine achievement in Operation Snow would put a stop to any modernizing of the navy.

The navy on the other side was the only of the weapon branches that managed all its objectives in the exercise, and it became clear that although the pride of the navy was old it worked fine in co-operation with ground troops, the only problem Admiral Diesen could see was that with this fine show his navy would probably be put even further down in the list of priorities. He knew that the navy might work to ground bombardment and transporting troops, but the Norwegian navy wouldn’t stand a chance against the modern battle fleet, and certainly not against the new weapon of the British and the Americans, the aircraft carrier.

[Fornadan]

What's Fleischer's skill level?

[Lord E]

What's Fleischer's skill level?

Well funny enough he is actually the highest ranking out of all the Norwegian generals in skill. He has a skill of 3, and is at the moment the only Norwegian general with a skill of 3, Ruge, and some majors generals has a skill of 2 and they are next on the skill list….

[Draco Rexus]

I just wonder what the General Staff is going to do know when the start reading the reports about how horrible the field excercises really were. We already know that they know they need new equipment, but just how badly will they push for that equipment from the gov't, eh? One wonders.

[Arntf]

This is looking good, Lord E, keep it up! :-)

[kenneththegreat]

This is looking good, Lord E, keep it up! :-)

I second that

[yourworstnightm]

Keep it up!