Video není dostupné.
Omlouváme se.
The sinking of the cruiser «Blücher» April 9th 1940
Vložit
- čas přidán 20. 09. 2020
- It is dark and foggy, this early morning of April 9th, 1940. Hitler's plan to take Norway, "Operation Weserübung", is in effect. The heavy cruiser Blücher is approaching Oscarsborg fortress, as the first of several German ships on their way to the capital Oslo. Why Norway? And what happens, why do they not succeed?
#oscarsborgfortress #blücher #ww2 #birgereriksen#ww2 #weserübung #oscarsborgmuseer #forsvaretsmuseer #thenorwegianresistance #forsvaret
I grew up in Norway, moved to the United States as an adult. This is the most detailed explanation of the sinking of the Bucher I have heard or read. Thank you for teaching me something I never learned in school as a child and teenager. The men who sunk this big ship deserve the gratitude of Norwegians since it changed the war in Norway. By 1940 Norway had only been a truly independent country for 35 years, and most Norwegians were not willing to give up that independence to anyone, let alone the Germans.
Thank you for your motivating comment🌺 More videos will come soon, please feel free to subscribe, then you’ll get a notice when they come. Mange hilsener fra gamlelandet ditt😊 Mvh Gry Larsson, Oscarsborg museer
@@oscarsborgmuseer4014 Takk, Gry! Jeg har subscribed! Det er så interessant å lære mere om alt dette siden jeg hadde familie medlemmer som støttet tyskerne. Andre var aktive i motstanden, så jeg vokste opp flere år etter krigen med historier fra begge sidene. Neste gang jeg besøker Norge skal jeg ta en tur til Oscarsborg. Jeg beundrer de som begynte den norske motstanden mot tyskerne ved å synke Blucher.
@@MegaSnow121 Hjertelig velkommen!🌺
"Not everything is written down in war"
Smart man. You don't hear that very often in an American documentary.
I worked with Norwegians at sea out of NZ waters for over 12 years, so this accent was not hard to understand. Most were from the west coast. They never talked much about Norway. Fish, the ship and football were their usual topics (usually Manchester United). They used to make this stuff that is fish soaked in caustic soda for a couple of days and then rinsed with water so it becomes a paste. It was like a special treat for them. I was never brave enough to try it. Salty potato dumplings doused in what we called heart attack sauce was another option. Dried ling fish too. I was never a fan of the food, but they ran the best ships by far. Best pay and best to work on (they paid the best trying to get the best crew possible, as opposed to ships that pay as little as possible and then wonder why the crew does not work well). It does not surprise me they had such a big merchant fleet before WWII.
Excellent film. Much appreciated. Great English pronunciation.
Thank you so much, we will share more shortly🌺
Thank you very much for a very clear explanation of the action. Colonel Eriksen and his troops were brave men doing their duty in very confusing conditions.
Thank you for your interest and for sharing you view here! Best regards from us, Gry Larsson/ Oscarsborg museums
Very interesting. So an old fortress battery sunk Germany's newest heavy cruiser and sent the Lutzow packing. Sounds like those men in the fortress knew exactly what they were doing.
How should they miss at this little distance ?? Even recruits should make that...
Most if the men on post that day were actually only trained for 1-3 months. So that makes it even better
Fascinating story certainly to Norwegians, but also to the rest of the world.
Thank you for this nice comment, yes it is a very fascinating story indeed. We are making more videoes in english these days, they will be published soon. Best, Gry Larsson/ Oscarsborg museer
@@oscarsborgmuseer4014 Looking forward to your videos.
Thank you🌺
Amazing account, well told!
Thank you very much for your encouraging response! We are constantly making new videos, trying to improve and tell a broader version of the story of the Oscarsborg fortress. We are also translating the norwegian videos and adding subtitles in english. Hopefully you’ll enjoy them🌺 Best, Gry Larsson, Oscarsborg museums
@@oscarsborgmuseer4014 We look forward to being able to visit your beautiful city and seeing the museum firsthand-once travel returns to normal! Cheers, from Lake Tahoe, California, USA!
@@JG-mp5nb Welcome to Oscarsborg🌺 If you have questions regarding the visit, we’ll be happy to help! Best, Gry Larsson, Oscarsborg museums
@@oscarsborgmuseer4014 Thankyou!
My favourite scene in the King's Choice movie is when the Blucher is blown to bits.
There's some way to go with the camera skills, BUT its FANTASTIC work you're doing, maintaining your country's proud history and heritage. There are powers that be that do their level best to ensure that national histories are devalued and forgotten. Long may you continue your important work. Best wishes from Great Britain.
Thank you for your encouraging comment🌺 Wish you could see and understand the last films (in Norwegian only so far), we’re getting there with the camera skills too👍
@@oscarsborgmuseer4014 I look forward to them. It's a pity I don't live in Norway, I'd be only too happy to volunteer to help out, it looks a beautiful location. Hopefully you're not short of helpers. All the best.
Blessed be those Brave Battling Norwegians of World War II, The Heroes of Oscarborg, The Heroes of Telemark, and all the other Heroes. Rise to Valhalla!
Churchill said: Haven t been for norwegian merchant ships, who stood for 80% of fuel/oil transport, wed lost the war. Norwegian sailors in the Pasific until mid september on US Navy ships got a green card as for there service.Most Norwegian Atlantic sailer got nothing until lately. Valhall is exlusive for norwegian, but you must have your head on, not chopped of, old chap :)
Great video! Thank you so much. Please make more videos or provide English titles for the others.
What happened to the Norwegian defenders at Oscarborg? Were they interned in Norway? Sent to Germany? Something worse? (I hope not!).
Thanks again...I loved listening to this gentleman's elegant English!
Greetings from Los Angeles.
Thank you so much for this inspiring feedback. I have forwarded your questions to Morten Svinndal. Best regards, Gry Larsson/ Oscarsborg museums
Glad you enjoyed the video. We are in the process of producing some short videos, 3-5 mins, some of those will be in English.
The germans treated the Norwegians soldiers on Oscarsborg well. That was also according to Col Eriksen's terms for capitulation. The Norwegians were free to move around on the Islands and to go home after a few days. The exception was the Officers at Kopås fort. They had been tanken with "arms in hand" and were tanken as POWs (however, Germany did not declare war until the 20.April). The Kopås Officers were also free to go home after the fighting in Norway ended in June 40.
Another story of course, that 1100 Norwegian Officers were arrested in 42/43 and sent to POW camps in Poland and Germany.
@@mortensvinndal2128 Thanks for your thoughtful and detailed (and prompt!) reply. This is a chapter of ww2 history I think American histories neglect. (if it's not all about us.....alas).
I've subscribed to the channel ....and look forward to future videos. If i were young enough, I'd try to learn Norwegian so i could watch the existing collection! Thanks again. Cheers!
The crew of the Oscarsborg where released after a few days/weeks. The Germans where so impressed it’s said that the Norwegian flagg was allowed flying aside the German for a long periode of time.
The Nazis thought the Norweigians would welcome Hitler's idea of Arian order. Bad decision. The Norweigian underground stood and fought back. Norway was thought of as a good place to attack the Murmansk convoys, but that proved wrong. Good video.
Thank you for your interest and respons, more videos will come soon.
Your timeline seem to be serious skewed by years. The Nazi German attack on Norway had nothing with the Murmansk convoys to do.... they didn't exist at that time.... They were established after the Soviet was attacked in 1941....
Your statement about the Norwegian "underground" who stood and fought back. Really...??? This video is about the attack/invasion of Norway. Which battles are you talking about that the "underground" had with the German forces ("..fought back" as you say) and which could hold their advance back...??? The few battles that was in Norway against the invading forces was done by the regular Norwegian military..... that included the one told about in this video. ....and that was done whatever little training/experience and poor equipment they had. The other battles done by the Norwegian military were mainly done trying to stop the German advance north up through Gudbrandsdalen. By far was the longest and hardest battles done in northern Norway at Narvik. That one lasted 2 months and the bombing and fighting turned Narvik to a heap of rubble. The 6.division in northern Norway stopped and pushed the Germans back. Following that the British Navy came and sank the German fleet that was at Narvik. After that came French and Polish land forces. The allied forces that came were around 30000 in number. Together they took back the control of Narvik. That was the first battle lost by the Germans during WW2. The, by far, most bombed place in Norway was Kirkenes. However that one had nothing to do with the invasion into Norway in 1940. They were simply a victim of the German attack on Soviet in 1941. Kirkenes was the base for around 160000 German troops attacking Soviet and trying to take control of Murmansk. The Soviets only port with access to the Atlantic. For 3 years Kirkenes experienced, on average, bombing attacks every 3 days - or rather nights.... The locals had to live in the maze of tunnels at the iron ore mine there. They experienced more bombing attacks over longer time, during WW2, than any other place in Europe except Malta. The average people in the south of Norway know a zero about it...
Yeah, the "underground" (resistance) movement in Norway were brave in gathering information and do sabotage..... but they didn't in any way fight German forces as you indicate. Their military value for Norway during WW2 can be debated. From the first moment after WW2 were the resistance movement/"gutta på skauen" around Oslo the HEROES.... Many books and movies were made around their stories. But the rest of the country and what other Norwegians had contributed with were largely ignored. For example were those who did resistance in the very north of Norway (in Finnmark) not just ignored....no....they were subject to decades of political pursuing and surveillance by the Norwegian government. They were accused of being communists and traitors. During the war they couldn't get to England that was impossible far away. They went to their closest neighbour and allied in the war ....the Soviet.... They provided the Soviet with information about the German dispositions. That contributed to that the Soviet army - as the only foreign army - liberated a part of Norway from the German occupation ...for good.... After WW2 Soviet became the enemy and the thanks to the people in the north .... from the elite (government) in Oslo was....political surveillance....
Among others that was ignored were the group that made the absolute biggest contribution - both for Norway and the outcome of WW2 in Europe. That was the around 30000 civilian sailors working on the Norwegian merchant fleet. They risked their lives any second out at sea. Thousands lost their lives due to German torpedo- and bombing attacks. As mentioned in the video Norway had one of the largest merchant fleets in the world. Specially were the tanker fleet the world's largest and most modern. The British said that without the Norwegian tanker fleet the Brits would have lost the Battle of Britain. Without the supply of oil the British wouldn't be able to put their RAF planes in the air ....defending their country. The same could be said about the so called Battle of the Atlantic. Without the Norwegian tanker fleet the British Royal Navy wouldn't have oil (to burn for their heating the steam turbines (as far as I know)) to fight and win over/stop the German submarines slaughtering of ships out at sea. The Norwegian sailors/ships were important in the convoys and supplying the Soviet (the Murmansk convoys) with all sorts of supply from military equipment to food... In total of all ship convoys to Murmansk were there landed over 1 million tons of supplies....
If the Germans had been able to take over Britain and cut the supplies across the Atlantic ...well than Europe would probably be quite a bit different from what we see today. The Norwegian sailors never got the recognition they deserved for their important contribution. The elite and government in Oslo just ignored them for decades. When they finally got some compensation it was pathetic. They didn't even get a salary as they were promised in the beginning of WW2. Many of the sailors had perished due the mental stress/trauma they had been through. They had no money, they had lost so many friends/colleagues out at sea and on top no recognition .... their only medicine were alcohol. Probably many more perished because of that than being torpedoed out at sea. Those who contributed most got the least...!!!! So back to the video.... The resolute action taken at Oscarsborg fortress ....resulting in the sinking of Blücher was not only important for Norway, enabling the royal family, the government and the gold reserves to escape from the Nazi Germans.... but it also (as said in the video) enabled the Norwegian merchant fleet to operate under the free exile Norwegian government established in London. So I believe that Oscarsborg's sinking of the German war ship had a wide ranging impact how WW2 unfolded in Europe ....as I lined up above....
This long comment wasn't written solely for you but for anyone who would bother to read it in order to get a little broader angle of view.......
Finally I would say that you don't need to spend your time telling me about what the Norwegian "underground" did. I know quite a bit about it already.....
Lots of history in norway aswell in here in finland. 🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮👍👍👍
This is a great story, well told and important work. I suggest straight cuts or dissolves. Please no wipes or other distracting transitions. Thank you
Thank you for your comments, we learn and improve every day🌺 Best, Gry Larsson/ Oscarsborg museer
Wonderful.
Great presentation of a war against Norway where the defenders were able to draw blood on German forces.
Thank you, David, much appreciated! Best, Gry Larsson/Oscarsborg museer
Fascinating, and "thank you for the Tankers". 👍🏼 🇬🇧 😘
Thank you for your positive feedback, we are currently working on more videos in english. Best from us, Gry Larsson, Oscarsborg museums
a great Story told very clear and (having stood in the fort, feeling tiny under those guns), very hair raising.
Thank you for this motivating feedback, I’ll pass it on to Morten🙏🏼🌺 Best, Gry Larsson, Oscarsborg museums
Excellent commentary but also revealing. Troops "poorly trained..." Sounds like Norway could have learned a lesson from how Switzerland guarded its neutrality-have a large and well-trained citizen army that can be quickly mobilized.
The Navy was mobilized, but many ships were pre WW 1. Coast Artillery was mobilized only 25 - 30%. Army was only mobilized in the North. When mobilization was finally decided (too late) April 8., it was done by mail. The mobilization reserve was also too small and poorly trained.
Well.... Switzerland didn't get their lesson tested....!!!! Why should the little territory, of around 41300 sq. km and 300 km from east to west be of any big challenge if Nazi Germany had tried to take it. That area is in comparison similar to around 11% of Norway's territory. With the roads we have today is it around 2900 km from south to north. I can add that it has a coastline of 107000 km - equivalent to more than two and a half times around the equator. That includes the coastline of around 297000 islands. It is the second longest coastline in the world. In 1940 were there no roads connecting north of Norway. You could only get around with boat/ship....hence very weather dependent. So whatever equipment you had and whatever trained troops ....and whatever capability to get out an order of quickly mobilisation.... ....there were no way for them to get "quickly around". So any comparison with Switzerland will not make much sense....
Unlike Norway didn't Switzerland have much strategic importance since Germany already had an allied in Italy. It suited the Nazi elite well to have a storage place for their robbery of all sorts, both from the individual people and nations they invaded. Switzerland's "neutrality" ....just like Sweden's "neutrality" profited largely on other nations being slaughtered.....
"Neutral" Sweden let German troops comfortably travel on their railways in order to get into northern Norway. Same way did they send their supplies of all sorts, including weapons. The same way did Sweden also do when Soviet was attacked in the north in order to take Murmansk. On the other hand did the Swedes, during the first part of WW2, deny access for refugees from Norway.... that included the Norwegian royals. Many refugees was forced to return from Sweden and send into the hands of the Germans. Later in the war when the "wind of war" had turned around..... well...then the Swedes got more and more helpful to the Norwegians...
Also as mentioned in the video the Norwegian port of Narvik was occupied. It was bombed to rubble. The Swede didn't exactly protest on that they could get their iron ore shipped out from there and transported to Germany to supply the war industry.
So the only lesson I can see here is: Who need enemies when you have such friends/neighbours.....!!!!???
The Swiss were a rich nation. The Swiss could inflict heavy casualties on the Germans. Norway wasn’t and couldn’t. Norway should have been better prepared for a possible German invasion. The largest effect of the German attack was half the German navy was destroyed in the campaign. Loses that Germany could ill afford
@@Idahoguy10157 Yeah, yeah.... you can really dream up your own stories...!!! What about reality...???
Synd med lyden, du fortjener litt bedre produksjon enn dette. M.Bu
Som du vil oppleve hvis du ser på flere av filmene, har vi både fått nytt og bedre utstyr OG mer kompetanse etter hvert. Etter at vi fikk "mygger", har vi fått kontroll på lyden også:)
@@oscarsborgmuseer4014 Flott, jeg synes den jobben dere har lagt ned er fremragende !! Imponerende kunnskap. Dette fortjener å bli sett av mange fler :)
@@MrNikodemus5 Tusen takk for veldig hyggelig tilbakemelding! Mvh Gry, Oscarsborg museer🌺
I'm studying about war shipwrecks, which becomes Underwater Cultural Heritage when they are in the water during 100 years, but many problems of pollution etc from sunken ships. I heard this German ship was salvaged because of the flow of oil. I appreciate the information ; it was when ? and what attitude of Germany ? Tak !
The wreck rests south of Askholmene, approximately one naut. mile north of Oscarsborg on 60 to 90 meters depth. I did leak a lot of oil during the first years, and there was a fear of even more pollution. In October 1994 most of the oil was removed with assistance of divers and a giant oil rig, positioned over the wreck site. I am not aware of any German role in this work, however the German embassy was present when the site was declared a war memorial in 2016. Oil leaks can still be spotted in the area, but marginal compared to the situation prior to 1994. One of the Arado seaplanes and two anchors were also removed from the wreck. One anchor is on Aker brygge in Oslo, the other in Drøbak. The Arado is located in an airplane museum in Stavanger.
The Blucher was only 6 months old, when it was sunk - the Nazis had a great track record with their ships.
Wonderful Norwegian war-history :)
Thank you so much for your motivating comment🌺 Best regards, Gry Larsson/ Oscarsborg museer
Lesson: don't mess with Vikings.
Im from Norway
Fellow norwegian, så hyggelig/how nice👍🌺 Best, Gry Larsson, Oscarsborg museer
Most of those sailors were young kids and likely not many were hardcore on Hitler’s ideology of a master race. Unfortunately war sucks. Thumbs up in regards to video though 👍🏻
That is undoubtedly true, Germans are not such a bad lot,but Nazi's were evil.
The Nazi's were quite happy to kill those who dared oppose them.
I salute The Norwegians for defending their country. Those young Germans would have probably been perfectly welcome in Norway as Guests. That was a Kampfgruppe, with evil intent.
Man , the German ships were hit at almost pointblank range.
They barely saw the ships, due to heavy fog...
My father watched the whole thing. From his grandparents' house on the west side of the Oslo fjord.
He'll be 95 on October 20th...
In WW2 England and USA tried to help Norway.
read the book "SAS rogue heroes" and you`ll dive in an incredible piece of history - very bloody but effective to slow the Nazis.
That's a funny statement. England planned an invasion of Norway and was going to annex the whole country as a base to combat Germany like they did with Iceland, expect they were too slow in their invasion and Germany beat them to it.
All men at Oscarsborg held their ground in the dawn of 9th of April, but thee one who stands out is the 64 year old Oberst (Colonel) Eriksen.
First reports came in at about midnight. He immediately starts preparing for combat with his tiny crew. He calls in the acting commander of the torpedo battery, kommandørkaptein Andressen, another old officer, gone on pensions for years, but now recalled due to sick leave by the current commander. The torpedo battery had the moste experienced crew, most of them having served there for years.
Eriksen Splitting one gun crew in the main battery in two, filling up with newcomers. Arranging for the Kopaas battery to be manned partly with inexperienced cadets. Alerting the Police in Drøbak to evacuate civilians. At about 03:30 all seems calm and half of the men are ordered to take a rest and eat. At 04:00 a telephone call from Filtvet light house, a parol boats are reporting the intruders in force and informing that German talking has been heard on board.
Oberst Eriksen is the one who without clear orders besides neutrality regulations, ordered to immediately fire in anger with all the fortres’ armament at hand. A grate personal risk - what if he was wrong?
Mye av det du skriver er korrekt, noe er litt unyansert og noe er feil. De fleste av disse momentene er behandlet i noen av våre CZcams videoer på norsk. Noe av det vil komme senere både på norsk og engelsk.
Sorry for introducing wrong informations. Its some time since I read this story. In addition the references are sometimes contradicting. Could you comment on the errors found so they are not repeated?
hehe😏
Tf was that intro
Hi Kieran, we do our best in trying to make this videoes, unfortunately it is difficult to please everyone every time. I'm sorry you do not like this intro, and I will bear that in mind for the videoes to come. Best, Gry Larsson.
Poor quality video, constant parasitic noise, very few illustrations but a lot of speech which makes it a very boring video, the shots are very negligent or even zero, you don't pay attention to what you are doing especially in a such a historic site, be more respectful of your fathers next time.
Thank you for your feedback. We are a not a professional film crew, we started this during the pandemic lock down as a service to our visitors and people interested in the battle in the Drøbak straights. We have invested in better equipment over time and hopefully our skills concerning the film presentation has improved along the way. If you look at more recent videos, maybe you will like them better. We certainly hope so! Best wishes from Gry Larsson, Oscarsborg museums🌺