German Soldier with His Dog at an Airfield in Norway

A German soldier cradles his pet dog as other troops carry supplies from aircraft at an airfield in Norway during Operation Weserübung, the German assault and invasion on Denmark and Norway and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign. In the early morning of 9 April 1940 (Wesertag; “Weser Day”), Germany invaded both Denmark and Norway, ostensibly as a preventive maneuver against a planned, and openly discussed, Franco-British occupation of Norway with Norwegian consent. In April, the U.K. and France came to Norway’s aid with an expeditionary force. Despite moderate success in the northern parts of Norway, Germany’s invasion of France in May eventually compelled the Allies to withdraw and the Norwegian government to seek exile in London. The campaign ended with the occupation of Norway by Germany and the continued fighting of exiled Norwegian forces from abroad and Norwegian partisans on the home front. Norway. 10 April 1940.

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http://bag-of-dirt.tumblr.com/post/130838024915/a-german-soldier-cradles-his-pet-dog-as-other

Fallschirmjäger at the Fornebu Aerodrome

German Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 (FJG 1) rest and regroup at the Fornebu aerodrome after capturing the surrounding area during Operation Weserübung; the German invasion of Norway. On 9 April 1940, both Denmark and Norway were simultaneously invaded by German troops. Controlling Norway was important to Germany for three primary reasons: securing the western coast as part of the defensive Atlantic Wall, as a base for naval units, including U-boats to target Allied shipping in the North Atlantic, and to secure shipments of iron-ore from Sweden through the port of Narvik. Fornebu, Bærum, Norway. April 1940. Image taken by Willi Ruge.

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http://bag-of-dirt.tumblr.com/post/143396722415/german-luftwaffe-fallschirmj%C3%A4ger-paratroopers