Military Model Scene

Title: Narvik 1940
Author: David Greentree
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-4728-4910-6

The Battle for Northern Norway, number 380 in the Campaign series from Osprey. A 96-page soft-cover book in the standard style for the series, interesting text, plenty of archive images and fine artwork.
The book starts with an introduction that sets out the Origins of the Campaign, the key to which was the use of Narvik as the port where a key resource for German industry for the shipping of Swedish iron ore when the Swedish Baltic ports were blocked by ice during the winter months. Then a couple of pages with a Chronology of events, from 5 February to 8 June 1940, a set of dates which give some important context to the story I think. Next a look at the various senior commanders on both sides, including British, French, Norwegian and German. Then it examines the various units involved of the two sides, including an Order of Battle, before moving on to the opposing plans. This is followed by the largest chapter in the book, looking at the various actions of the Battle of Narvik. Lumped under the overall heading but actually a whole series of actions not only in Narvik itself, but in a number of other locations up and down the coast and inland from that port. With British regular troops, Norwegian and French units while the Germans used both Falschirmjager and Gebirgsjager (specialist Mountain troops). If that is not enough for you, there were also the naval actions and the roles of the Luftwaffe and RAF. In the end, the Allies withdrew, unable to overcome the enemy.
I think many people think of the Battle of Narvik as the naval action between German and Allied destroyers, but in this one you learn there is so much more to the story. Stories that were a mix of successes and failures, which in the end, if you consider the events going on in France at the same time, there is some logic to the allied withdrawal. I found it another interesting addition to the series, and as ever, sold at a reasonable price.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin