Operation Wilfred
Swedish iron ore flowed through the Gulf of Bothnia to Luleå during the summer months. Winter ice closed this route by December 1939. Rail lines then carried the ore north to Narvik for shipment to Germany. German imports from Sweden reached roughly one million tons in 1938. The Allied blockade denied about half that amount to Berlin after 1939 began. Orme Sargent, deputy permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, wrote a memo advocating seizure of Lapland iron ore fields. He argued preventing Finnish defeat would stop German control over Sweden. The British War Cabinet expended considerable energy on plans for land operations in Scandinavia during the winter of 1939, 1940.
Winston Churchill ordered the Admiralty urgently to prepare a minelaying plan on the 20th of February 1940. He called it minor and innocent, naming it Wilfred. Churchill thought landing in Norway without Norwegian acquiescence was a mistake even if there was no more than a minor exchange of fire with the Norwegian army. The War Cabinet hesitated to support hostilities in Norwegian waters due to effects on British imports from Norway and Sweden. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain decided to wait and see on the 29th of February. The French government wanted swift action despite uncertainty. Edouard Daladier threatened resignation unless something was done regarding Finland. The Norwegians had been warned in January but could be ignored during a swift occupation of main ports. On the 4th of March the Norwegian prime minister rejected requests to allow transit of military force to Finland via Narvik.
Operation Avonmouth planned three battalions of infantry and ski companies to land at Narvik. They would advance along the railway to take over iron ore fields in Lapland. French Foreign Legionnaires were to continue east towards Finland while keeping away from the Red Army. Up to 100,000 British and 50,000 French troops might participate with generous air and naval support. Plan R3 assigned Major-General Pierse Macksey as land commander and Admiral Edward Evans as naval commander. The force was only to attempt landing if Norwegians made token resistance. Force was not to be used except in self-defence. Embarkation began on the 13th of March but cancelled that day following Finnish capitulation news. Churchill and General Sir Edmund Ironside tried to get permission to land at Narvik but were rebuffed.
Force WV consisted of four destroyer minelayers and four escorting destroyers. They laid mines off just south of Lofoten Islands in Vestfjorden at coordinates 67°24'N, 14°36'E. Force WS included auxiliary minelayer and four destroyers targeting Stadtlandet at 62°N, 5°E. Force WB simulated mine laying off Bud headland using oil drums. On the 8th of April 1940 the Allies broadcast a statement defining mined areas at 05:15 that morning. Norwegian government issued strong protest demanding immediate removal. German fleet already advanced up Norwegian coasts. Ore carrier sailing from Stettin sank in Skagerrak by Polish submarine. Around half of 300 men drowned while survivors told crews they headed to Bergen to defend it.
Operation Weserübung began on the 9th of April with German landings in Stavanger, Oslo, Trondheim, Narvik and Bergen. Norwegians taken by surprise by invasion. British and French troops landed at Narvik on the 14th of April to assist Norwegians. They pushed Germans out of town almost forcing surrender despite Allied landings between 18 and the 23rd of April. Norwegians surrendered on the 9th of June 1940. Operation Wilfred failed to cut off iron ore shipments to Germany. For rest of war British ships and aircraft could enter Norwegian waters and attack German ships at will. Admiral Charles Forbes sailed the 7th of April to block Shetland, Norway Gap. Vice-Admiral Frederick Edward-Collins sailed the 7th of April from Rosyth. Vice-Admiral John Cunningham commanded flagship Aurora departing the 8th of April.
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Common questions
What was Operation Wilfred and when did it take place?
Operation Wilfred was a British naval minelaying operation ordered by Winston Churchill on the 20th of February 1940. The mines were laid off the Lofoten Islands in Vestfjorden on the 8th of April 1940 to disrupt Swedish iron ore shipments to Germany.
Why did Britain launch Operation Wilfred during World War II?
Britain launched Operation Wilfred to prevent German control over Sweden and stop the flow of iron ore from Narvik to Berlin. Orme Sargent advocated for seizing Lapland iron ore fields to ensure Finnish defeat would not lead to German dominance over Scandinavia.
Who commanded the forces involved in Operation Wilfred and Operation Avonmouth?
Major-General Pierse Macksey served as land commander while Admiral Edward Evans commanded the naval force under Plan R3. Lieutenant-Commander Gerard Roope led HMS Glowworm which engaged the German heavy cruiser Hipper before sinking on the 6th of April 1940.
How many troops participated in the planned invasion of Norway under Operation Avonmouth?
Up to 100,000 British and 50,000 French troops were prepared to participate with air and naval support. Three battalions of infantry and ski companies were assigned to land at Narvik to advance along the railway toward Lapland iron ore fields.
What happened after Operation Wilfred failed to cut off iron ore shipments?
Operation Weserübung began on the 9th of April 1940 when Germany invaded Norway taking Norwegians by surprise. British and French troops landed at Narvik on the 14th of April to assist Norwegians but the operation ultimately failed to stop German access to Swedish iron ore.