Norwegian government memorandum on Nazis's efforts to secure influence in Scandinavia, the plan to invade Norway, and the occupation in April 1940

GERMAN PLANS FOR THE INVASION OF NORWAY
From Reichsleiter Rosenberg's report to the Fuehrer on the activity of the Aussenpolitisches Amt of the NSDAP it appears clearly that the NSDAP since 1933 has been endeavoring to obtain influence in Norway and the other Scandinavian countries.
When the war broke out it was mainly the OKM that was of the opinion that it would be necessary to invade Norway in order to get control of the Norwegian coast. Already in September 1939 the SKL [Seekriegsleitung] prepared a plan for the invasion of Norway.
In the beginning of December 1939, Vidkun Quisling, who for some months had been in close contact with the Aussenpolitisches Amt of the NSDAP came to Berlin and alleged that England was preparing an attack on Norway with the tacit agreement of the Norwegian Government. Quisling's information
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supported the plans of Grossadmiral Raeder who evidently now managed to persuade Hitler to decide for the invasion of Norway.
The decision to invade Norway was thus taken in the middle of December 1939. and the planning was soon after started by a special staff [Donderstab] of the OKW. On the 19th Feb 1940, 2 days after the Altmark-incident on the Norwegian coast, General v. Falkenhorst was called to the Fuehrer, from whom he received orders to take command of the operations to be directed against Norway.
According to Generaloberst v. Falkenhorst's statement, Hitler gave the following reasons for the necessity of the attack:
а. to prevent a British strategic, movement to the North which would threaten the North German coast
б. to obtain freedom of action for the German Navy
c. to keep open and defend the sea route along the Norwegian coast. .
' The Germans, considering the long lines of communications and the threat of the British Navy, clearly understood the necessity of complete surprise and speed in the attack. In order to paralyze the will of the Norwegian people to defend their country and at the same time to prevent allied intervention it was planned to capture all the more important towns along the coast simultaneously. Members of the Government and Parliament and other military and civilian people occupying important positions were to be arrested before organized resistance could be put into effect and the King was to be forced to form a new government with Quisling as the head.
In the early hours of the 9th April 1940, 7 cruisers, 14 destroyers and several torpedo boats and other small craft carry, ing advanced elements of 6 divisions totalling about 10,000 men forced an entry and landed troops in the outer Oslofjord, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim and Narvik. A smaller number of troops were also landed at Arendal and Eger-sund on the southern coast. In addition airborne troops were landed at aerodromes near Oslo and Stavanger.
The German attack came as a surprise and all the invaded towns along the coast were captured according to plan with only slight losses. In the Oslofjord, however, the cruiser "Blucher", carrying General Engelbrecht and parts of his division, technical staffs and specialists who were to take over the control of Oslo, was sunk. The plan to capture the King and members of the Government and Parliament failed in spite of the surprise of the attack, resistance was organized throughout the country.
When the military resistance ceased 10th June 1940 the King
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and his Government were thus in a position to leave Norway and continue the war against Germany from outside the country.
It is hereby certified that this is a true copy of the original statement prepared by the C. in C. Royal Norwegian Forces on the 1st of October 1945.
Oslo, 3rd October 1945.
(signed) TRYGVE LIE Foreign Minister. '