The German military genius for maneuver warfare is well illustrated by an often overlooked operation of
World War II, the invasion of Scandinavia in 1940. Operation Weserübung also warrants examination because
it was joint in execution and demonstrates that the German army, navy, and air force—Wehrmacht, Kriegsmarine,
and Luftwaffe—could fight as a team even if rivalry among the headquarters of the services made
Hitler the operation’s unified commander by fault. A combination of speed, surprise, and daring enabled the
German armed forces to defy the Royal Navy by transporting troops directly to their objectives along the
Norwegian coast. Furthermore, quickness and dash baffled the hapless Norwegians and beleaguered Allied
forces. The lessons of this operation were not lost on the British for the balance of the war and remain
relevant today as a case study in joint warfare and the operational art.
An excerpt from “Operation Weserübungnd the Origins of Joint Warfare” by Major Richard D. Hooker, Jr., USA and Second Lieutenant Christopher Coglianese, USA. Detailed article with maps of the campaign.
Full text of the article here: Operation Weserubung
Campaign In Norway, Norwegian Dispositions And Initial German Operations, 9 April 1940
With permission from the Department of History at the United States Military Academy
See also: The Campaign in Norway Maps – Operation Weserübung – April 9, 1940
Historical Resources About The Second World War 
