Scandinavian
Misadventure, The Campaign in Norway by Maurice Harvey
Air Commodore Maurice Harvey carefully sets the scene
in all countries directly involved in the conflict. The first four
chapters describe the political vacillations in Britain, France and
Germany as the Allies looked for a way to disrupt the flow of iron ore to
Germany without upsetting the Scandinavians, and Admiral Raeder and Vidkun
Quisling sought to persuade Hitler to intercede in Norway. The invasion
itself, followed by the two dramatic naval raids upon Narvik are next
described in detail. The major part of the book, a description of the land
battle, is divided into two parts: firstly the conflict between the
Germans advancing north from Oslo with the retreating Norwegian Army and
their British and French allies of 'Mauriceforce' and 'Sickleforce', and
secondly the battle for Narvik and the operations south of Bodo. As befits
an airman, Air Commodore Harvey gives particular emphasis to the
implications of the land and sea battles of the contribution of the two
air forces involved, the RAF and the Luftwaffe, and three chapters are
devoted to this aspect. The book concludes with an analysis of the lessons
to be learned from this disastrous episode in the Allied war effort ad
charts briefly the Norwegian's heroic struggle under the Nazi occupying power
until relieved in 1945.
Scandinavian Misadventure is a meticulous and scholarly
study of the politics, personalities and events of these momentous months.
But the book will also appeal to the general reader with its vivid, fast
moving account of the many military actions on land, at sea and in the
air.
Book serial number BK16. Price £19.95. Hard back with
323 pages and black and white illustrations and photographs.
