Introduction
During the Second World War, Germany employed a specific strategy to attack other countries, aiming to gain a military advantage over its adversaries. Therefore, in 1940, the Nazi army launched an attack on Norway. The primary objective was to gain access to valuable resources and expand European influence. Drawing on information from Evan Mawdsley’s book will provide valuable insight into the issue discussed in the paper. The economic and strategic reasons why Germany decided to invade Norway at the beginning of World War II were the country’s natural resources and access to its water territories.
Norway’s Neutrality and Unpreparedness for German Invasion
First, it is necessary to understand why the German army chose to focus on acquiring Norway. At that time, the country had a relatively minor experience in foreign affairs, which characterized it as a relatively quiet and peaceful nation. For this reason, during the outbreak of World War II, Norway adopted a neutral stance and did not take a particular side in the conflict between allies and opponents (Mawdsley, 2020).
The main negative consequence of this situation for the country was that the region was not ready for a military offensive by Germany. Thus, despite the desire to protect valuable natural resources, Norway failed to resist the German army (Mawdsley, 2020). This circumstance was also the reason for Norway’s limited ability to develop defense and warning strategies, as well as the lack of sufficient weapons to repel the attacking country.
Strategic Importance of Norway’s Coastline and Access to the North Sea
The primary motive, as Norway was of value to the German army, was its extensive coastline. It had direct access to the North Sea through the city of Narvik, which could be strategically utilized for naval operations and water control (Mawdsley, 2020). It is pointed out that “from Narvik, as long as Norway remained neutral, ore ships could travel safely in the Leads, the passage inside the numberless islands fringing the Norwegian west coast” (Ziemke, n.d., p. 50).
In addition, Germany could thus reduce Great Britain’s strength in this territory and secure entirely ice-free harbors. This provided constant conduct of military activities and an advantage over other countries. Another strategic reason was gaining control over the Arctic waters. This allowed the German army to complicate the supply of military materials to the Soviet Union.
Acquisition of Swedish Iron Ore and Other Natural Resources
The acquisition of valuable natural resources was also a consequence of Norway’s acquisition of its water territory. One of them was Swedish iron ore, which is necessary for developing many manufacturing and military industries in Germany. Previously, this activity was limited due to a British naval blockade. After gaining control of the iron ores, the Nazi army ensured the safety of this vital resource. In addition, to acquire an advantage, the invading country has significantly reduced the military efforts of the opponents.
Economic Advantages from Access to Fish and Timber Resources
Another economic reason related to resources was to achieve control over resources such as fish and timber. This provided an advantage in supporting the war effort and gaining the opportunity to trade with allied countries. This was also used in the German manufacturing industry to provide wood resources. Therefore, the German army was motivated by the desire to acquire additional natural resources, thereby reducing its import dependence and making it less vulnerable to British naval blockades.
Geopolitical Significance of Norway’s Location in the War Effort
One of the primary benefits of Norway’s acquisition was its advantageous geopolitical position. This was because this country had a neutral position and was considered a link between Germany and the Western Allied countries. Considering this fact, the acquisition of Norway provided the Nazi army with the opportunity to prevent other countries from using this territory as a base for possible operations against Germany. This could be achieved through strategic points such as the Skagerrak and Kattegat. These are straits on the territory of Norway, which provide access to the North and Baltic Seas (European Parliamentary Research Service n.d.). This is another strategic reason for acquiring Norwegian territories.
Application of the Lebensraum Concept to Germany’s Expansion
Regarding Germany’s annexation of Norway, the concept of lebensraum can be applied. It was characteristic of Hitler’s conquest of lands and is defined as “the idea that land expansion was essential to the survival of a people” (Rosenberg, 2020, para. 1). This can be interpreted as conquest, invasion, and the threat of military force, which were used to ensure prosperity and improve the lives of the German people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Germany conducted a relatively successful policy of gaining control over countries to limit the control of other states during the Second World War. Therefore, in 1940, the German army attacked Norway, which was in a neutral position and had a low capacity for defending and repelling military actions against the country. The primary economic reasons for Norway’s capture were the accumulation of iron, wood, and fish.
This allowed Germany to gain independence by importing and strengthening its military forces. In addition, the strategic advantage that control over Norway gave was the acquisition of the country’s water territories. These became the city of Narvik and the Straits of Skagerrak and Kattegat, with access to the North and Baltic Seas. Thus, Germany seized the Norwegian territories to gain an advantage over other European countries and increase its military strength, which should have made it win World War II.
References
European Parliamentary Research Service. “The Skagerrak Kattegat sound Belt Sea and Baltic Sea subdivisions.” European Parliamentary Research Service. Web.
Mawdsley, Evan. 2020. World War II: A New History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Rosenberg, Jennifer. 2020. “Lebensraum: Hitler’s search for more German living space.” ThoughtCo. Web.
Ziemke, Earl Frederick. n.d “The German decision to invade Norway and Denmark.” History Army. Web.