Updated and Re-Published: The Norwegian Effort in Operation Overlord

[rAstha]

I want to post my old thread from the old forum here so new people that have joined the last months can read and (hopefully) enjoy it:

I make this tread so you developers wont forget to include the Norwegian sailors who fought and died in the waters off shore of Normandy. I also want to share some of my country's effort at D-Day with all the people here at the forums :)


Ships

The Norwegian ships that participated in operation Neptune (the landing part of Overlord) was:

HNoMS "Stord" (G26) (http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5413.html)

HNoMS "Svenner" (G03) (http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/712.html)

HNoMS "Glaisdale" (L44) (http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4680.html)

"Stord" and "Svenner" were both deployed at sword beach against the Riva Bella sector. They were Destroyer S-Classes. "Svenner" was the former "HMS Shark II" and "Stord" was built to be "HMS Success" but was bought in to the Royal Norwegian Navy.

HNoMS "Glaisdale" was an ex British Destryer Escort of the Hunt 3 class. This ship was a bit older and inferior to the two others and were deployed against Juno beach.

http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/photos/nw/dd_hnoms_stord.jpg
HNoMS "Stord". A Typical S-Class Destroyer.

http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/photos/br/dd_hms_albrighton_l12.jpg
A Hunt III Destroyer Escort, the same type as HNoMS "Glaisdale".


History

"Svenner" and "Stord" were deployed at Sword Beaches. Their objective was to lay covering fire for the landing troops and take out gun emplacements and other defencive positions.

"Stord" had position about 6 km out of the Riva Bella beach. She were one of the first ships to open fire at D-Day at 06:21, only nine minutes before the first wave of troops landed on the beaches. "Stords" job was simple, destroy everything that made resistance against the landing soldiers. Her Artillery Officer, Nils Owren, had soon witnessed the destruction of most of the gun emplacements the "Stord" could see. Now he ordered a wall of fire just in front of the advancing troops, both confusing and destroying any whaiting defenders. It took the troops only one hour to clear the beaches thanks to the ships. "Stord" had taken out a very important commando tower early in the attack and got much of the honor for making the job at the Sword beaches so easy.

"Svenner" was torpedoed and sunk off the Sword beaches during an attack by the German torpedo boats (T 28) Möwe, Falke and Jaguar at 05:30 in the morning. Survivors say that there were no panic, allthough the ship got split on the middle, and that the Norwegian seamen on board neatly put their shoes in a row on deck before jumping into the freezing water. 33 of the ships men died. Of these there were 31 Norwegian one British and one Danish seaman.

"Glaisdale" was also partly destroyed off Juno beaches, but did not sink.

Alltogether, over 1000 Norwegian seamen fought at D-Day. And even more served in transport ships carrying soldiers, ammmunition, tanks and other supplies to Normandy.
Seamen is often forgotten when we tell tales of bravery from World War Two, but they risked their lives to keep the war machine going. Norway lost thousands of seamen during the war, and without our large and powerful trading fleet serving the best of the Allies the war could have turned out in another way. Both Churchill and Roosevelt was inspired by the courage of the norwegian people, just have a look at President Roosevelt's famous “Look to Norway” speech from 1942.

[D.O.A]

yeah thanks nice read:)

[enigma]

Good post,

and just to add to a little the orginal post

from the wiki

The "Look to Norway"-speech by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was given during the handover ceremony of the Royal Norwegian Navy ship HNoMS Kong Haakon VII 16 September 1942.

In the speech the President among other things said: "If there is anyone who still wonders why this war is being fought, let him look to Norway. If there is anyone who has any delusions that this war could have been averted, let him look to Norway; and if there is anyone who doubts the democratic will to win, again I say, let him look to Norway."

The speech served as an important source of inspiration to Norwegians fighting the German occupation of Norway and the rest of Europe as well as for the freedom fighters of other small countries during World War II.

The speech also made an impact on Norwegian-Americans and the rest of the American publics opinion on the struggle in Europe. The impression of the Norwegians situation had been severely damaged by an article by the American reporter, Leland Stowe, who happened to be in Oslo on the day the Germans marched into the city. He witnessed shocked Norwegian civilians standing around watching the Germans march down the parade street Karl Johans Gate. He interpreted this as indifference and acceptance on the part of the Norwegian population and wrote a stinging article in Time and several newspapers which severely damaged the American publics opinion of the Norwegian resistance and therefore their motivation to help Norway and Europe. The speech definitely corrected that impression.

The speech is still referenced and quoted today.


although i cant find the speech, can anyone else?

[rAstha]

No, the speech is hard to find... I think you need to buy it or something.... I'll search some more! :)

[McCoy [1st RB]]

looking preety redonculous!

[jcoquillon]

I've come accross the memorial to the norwegian participation in overlord in normandy before, i'd have to check to remember where it was though.

[rAstha]

I've come accross the memorial to the norwegian participation in overlord in normandy before, i'd have to check to remember where it was though.

Cool! Post it here if you find it then lad!

[jcoquillon]

I have a book somewhere around that lists all the museums and memorials in normandy, just need to locate it.

I have a feeling it may be over in the house in Normandy, so may not be able to get it right away.

This may be my brain playing tricks on me but i think the statue may be near UTAH beach at the base of the cotentin penninsular, literally 30 seconds from the beach itself.