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THE HEROIC BATTLE FOR NARVIK - THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE NAZI NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE IN NORWAY IN 1940

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The north Norwegian town of Narvik was of huge strategic importance for Nazi Germany. The ice-free harbor on the North Atlantic coast was the end point of the railroad that transported iron ore from Sweden, strategically very important to Nazi Germany. The British eyed control of the Swedish mines and also considered Narvik as a possible landing point for an expedition to help Finland in the Winter War (between the Soviet Union and Finland) and to try to assure access to the Baltic.

Naval battles between the British Royal Navy and Nazi Kriegsmarine took place from 9 April to 8 June 1940 and the two-month land campaign was fought between Norwegian, French, British, and Polish troops against German mountain troops, shipwrecked Kriegsmarine sailors and German Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers).

Der Heldenkampf um Narvik was written by Otto Mielke (a member of a Kriegsmarine artillery unit in German-occupied Norway) and tells the story of the planning of and the military operation to capture the heavily defended city of Narvik. The subtitle Der Vorstoss der Kriegsmarine. Die Operationen des Heeres. Der Einsatz der Luftwaffe translates as “the Advance by the Navy, the Army Operations, the Air Force Mission”, referring to the mountain troops, sailors, paratroopers and fliers - and their participation in the heroic battle for Narvik.

The book describes the Nazi leaders, the operations, the battles, the different troops involved, and much more. The 208 pages of this 5-3/4 x 8-3/8 inch hardcover book contain many wonderful photos by war correspondents close to the action.

The original dust jacket features General Eduard Dietl, “the Hero of Narvik”, using a picture by well-known PK Böttcher. General Dietl, commanding general of the Gebirgs-Korps Norwegen, was awarded Oak Leaves to his Knight’s Cross on 19 July 1940 for his involvement in the “Heroic Battle for Narvik”.

Heldenkampf um Narvik was published by Steiniger Verlag of Berlin in 1940. The front hard cover has an image of an Edelweiss below a Gebirgsjäger Bergmütze.

This 83 year old hardcover example is complete and in very nice used condition with a tight spine and has no odor. The original dust jacket shows wear and has been scotch taped on the inside.