World War II

Operation Weserübung

The occupation of Denmark and Norway
8 April - 8 June 1940
Contributed by Peter Lienau and Michal Kopacz

German Order of Battle

Contributed by Peter Lienau

Command

SKL (Naval High Command) exercised command for all naval operations. SKL split command authority into two areas:

BALTICS: Naval Group Command East (Marinegruppenkommando Ost), under Admiral Rolf Carls, covering the Baltics up to the Skagerrak Mine fields.
NORTHSEA: Naval Group Command West, under Generaladmiral Alfred Saalwächter, covering Norway.

Units

Battleship Force

Battleship Force backed up Warship-Group 1 and Warship-Group 2.

Vice Admiral Günther Lütjens

Battleship GNEISENAU

Commanding officer: KzS Harald Netzbandt
Battleship SCHARNHORST

Commanding officer: KzS Kurt Caesar Hoffmann

Warship-Group 1

Narvik

KzS and Commodore Friedrich Bonte

Destroyer Z 21 (flagship)

Commanding officer: WILHELM HEIDKAMP, KK Hans Erdmenger
Destroyer Z 2 GEORG THIELE

Commanding officer: KK Max-Ekkart Wolf

Notes: Hosting Leader of 1. DD-Flotilla FK Fritz Berger.
Destroyer Z 9 WOLFGANG ZENKER

Commanding officer: FK Gottfried Pönitz
Destroyer Z 11 BERND VON ARNIM

Commanding officer: KK Kurt Rechel
Destroyer Z 12 ERICH GIESE

Commanding officer: KK Karl Smidt
Destroyer Z 13 ERICH KOELLNER

Commanding officer: FK Alfred Schulze-Hinrichs
Destroyer Z 17 DIETHER VON ROEDER

Commanding officer: KK Erich Holthof
Destroyer Z 18 HANS LÜDEMANN

Commanding officer: KK Herbert Friedrichs

Notes: Hosting Leader of 3. DD-Flotilla FK H.-J. Gadow.
Destroyer Z 19 HERMANN KÜNNE

Commanding officer: KK Friedrich Kothe
Destroyer Z 22 ANTON SCHMIDT

Warship-Group 2

Drontheim

KzS Hellmuth Heye

Heavy Cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER

Commanding officer: KzS Hellmuth Heye
Destroyer Z 5 PAUL JACOBI

Commanding officer: KK Hans-Georg Zimmer

Notes: Hosting Leader of 2. DD-Flotilla FK Rudolf v. Pufendorf.
Destroyer Z 6 THEODOR RIEDEL

Commanding officer: KK Gerhardt Böhmig
Destroyer Z 8 BRUNO HEINEMANN

Commanding officer: KK Hermann Alberts
Destroyer Z 16 FRIEDRICH ECKHOLDT

Commanding officer: KK Alfred Schemmel

This Group hosted the Naval Spec.Ops.Group, commanded by KK Wilhelm Hornack.

Warship-Group 3

Bergen

Rear Admiral Hubert Schmundt

Position: B.d.A. (Leader of Scouting Forces)

Light Cruiser KÖLN (flagship)

Commanding officer: KzS Ernst Kratzenberg, flagship of B.d.A
Light Cruiser KÖNIGSBERG

Commanding officer: KzS Heinrich Ruhfus
Artillery-Schoolship BREMSE

Commanding officer: FK Jakob Förschner
T-Boat LEOPARD

Commanding officer: KLt. Hans Trummer
T-Boat WOLF

Commanding officer: Olt. Broder Peters

Notes: Hosting Leader of 6. T-Boat-Fl. KK Hans Marks.
1. S-Boatflotilla

Commanding officer: KLt. Heinz Birnbacher
- S 19
- S 21
- S 22
- S23
- S 24
S-Boat-Tender CARL PETERS

Commanding officer: KLt. Otto Hinzke

Warship-Group 4

Kristiansand and Arendal

KzS Friedrich Rieve

Light Cruiser KARLSRUHE

Commanding officer: KzS Friedrich Rieve
T-Boat LUCHS

Commanding officer: KLt. Karl Kaßbaum, hosting KzS Hans Bütow (F.d.T. = Leader of T-Boats)
T-Boat GREIF

Commanding officer: KLt. Wilhelm-Nikolaus Freiherr von Lyncker, hosting KK Wolf Henne, Leader of 5. T-Boat-Fl.)
T-Boat SEEADLER

Commanding officer: KLt. Franz Kohlauf
2. S-Boat-Flotilla

Commanding officer: KK Rudolf Petersen
- S 7
- S 8
- S 17
- S 30
- S 31
- S 32
- S 33
S-Boat-Tender TSINGTAU

Commanding officer: KzS Carl Klingner

Warship-Group 5

Oslo and Oslo-Inlet

Rear Admiral Oskar Kummetz

Heavy Cruiser BLÜCHER (flagship)

Commanding officer: KzS Heinrich Woldag
Heavy Cruiser LÜTZOW ex. DEUTSCHLAND

Commanding officer: KzS August Thiele
Light Cruiser EMDEN (III)

Commanding officer: KzS Werner Lange
T-Boat MÖWE

Commanding officer: KLt. Helmut Neuss
T-Boat ALBATROS

Commanding officer: KLt. Siegfried Strelow
T-Boat KONDOR

Commanding officer: KLt. Hans Wilcke
1. Minesweeper-Fl.

Commanding officer: KLt. Gustav Forstmann
- R 17
- R 18
- R 19
- R 20
- R 21
- R 22
- R 23
- R 24
Whale catcher RAU 7
Whale catcher RAU 8

Warship-Group 6

Egernsund (Cablestation)

KK Kurt Thoma

Position: Leader of 2 Minehunting-Fl.

Minehunter M 1

Commanding officer: KK Kurt Thoma
2. Minehunting-Fl.
- M 9
- M 2
- M 13

Warship-Group 7

Nyborg and Korsör

KzS Gustav Kleikamp

Schoolship SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN

Commanding officer: KzS Gustav Kleikamp
Six Fishingtrawlers

Commanding officer: FK Dr. Oskar Dannenberg

Notes: School-Fl. of CIC Baltic approaches
Testvessel CLAUS VON BEVERN
Testvessel PELIKAN
Testvessel NAUTILUS
Transportsteamer CAMPINAS
Transportsteamer CORDOBA
Two Tugs

Notes: Assisted CAMPINAS and CORDOBA.
Minesweepingship MRS 12

Commanding officer: KK Carl Bünte

Notes: Attached as Vanguard.

Warship-Group 8

Copenhagen

KK Wilhelm Schroeder

Minelayer HANSESTADT DANZIG

Commanding officer: KK Wilhelms Schroeder
Icebreaker STETTIN
13. Patron-Flotilla

Commanding officer: KLt. Dr. Walther Fische

Notes: Provided assistance in the waters of the Belt.

Warship-Group 9

Middelfart and Bridge over Belt

KzS Helmut Leißner

Position: F.d.V.O (Leader of Patron Flotillas Baltics)

Steamer RUGARD

Notes: Leaderboat of F.d.V.O
Minehunter-Group
- Testvessel ARKONA (M 115)
- TestvesselOTTO BRAUN (M 129)
- Testvessel M 157
- Patron 102 (CRESSIDA)
- Patron 103 (SILVIA)
- Minesweeper R 6
- Minesweeper R 7
- Subhunter 107
- Navytug PASSAT
- Navytug MONSUN

Warship-Group 10

Esbjerg and Nordby (Fanö)

KzS and Commodore Friedrich Ruge

Position: F.d.M. West (Leader of Minehunters/-sweepers west)

Escortship KÖNIGIN LUISE (F 6)

Notes: Leaderboat
12. Minehunter-Fl.

Commanding officer: KK Karl Marguth
- Large Fishtrawler M 1201
- Large Fishtrawler M 1202
- Large Fishtrawler M 1203
- Large Fishtrawler M 1204
- Large Fishtrawler M 1205
- Large Fishtrawler M 1206
- Large Fishtrawler M 1207
- Large Fishtrawler M 1208
M 4
M 20
M 84
M 102
2. Minesweeper-Fl.

Commanding officer: KK Gert von Kamptz
- R 25
- R 26
- R 27
- R 28
- R 29
- R 30,
- R 31
- R 32

Warship-Group 11

Thyborön (westinlet of Limfjorden)

KK Walter Berger

4. Minehunter-Fl.

Commanding officer: KK Walter Berger
- M 134
- M 111
- M 136
- M 61
- M 110
- M 89
3. Minesweeper-Fl.

Commanding officer: KLt. Hagen Küster
- R 33
- R 34
- R 35
- R 36
- R 37
- R 38
- R 39
- R 40
R-Boat-Tender VON DER GROEBEN

Commanding officer: OLt. Gustav Czycholl

Other

Schoolship SCHLESIEN

Commanding officer: KK Walter Berger

Notes: Backup-force for the Minesweeper working the south of the Belt, after this she assisted SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, which ran aground.

Minelayers

These ships laid and and later prolonged in the Skagerrak to secure supply lines.

KzS Kurt Böhmer

Minelayer ROLAND

Commanding officer: KK Karl von Kutzleben
Minelayer COBRA

Commanding officer: KLt Dr. Ing. Karl-Friedrich Brill
Minelayer PREUSSEN

Commanding officer: KK Karl Freiherr von der Recke
Minelayer KÖNIGIN LUISE,

Commanding officer: KLt Kurt Foerster
Minehunter M 10
Minehunter M 6
Minehunter M 12
Minehunter M 11

U-boats

Uboat-Group 1

Narvik-Harstad-Westfjord-Vagsfjord

U 25
U 46
U 51
U 64
U 65

Uboat-Group 2

Drontheim-Namsos-Romdalsfjord

U 30
U 34

Uboat-Group 3

Bergen-Aalesund-Shetlands

U 9
U 14
U 56
U 60
U 62

Uboat-Group 4

Stavanger

Uboat-Group 5

Shetlands-Vagsfjord-Drontheim

U 37
U 38
U 47
U 48
U 49
U 50
U 52

Uboat-Group 6

Pentland-Orkneys-Shetlands

U 13
U 57
U 58
U 59

Uboat-Group 7

Cancelled.

Uboat-Group 8

Lindesnes-Egernsund

Uboat-Group 9

Shetlands-Bergen

U 7
U 10
U 19

Other

Operating in Orkneys-Shetlands-Bergen waters

U 17
U 23
U 24
U 61

Transports to Drontheim

U 26
U 29
U 32
U 43
U 101
UA

Landing-Groups

By destination

Narvik

Steamer BÄRENFELS
Steamer RAUENFELS
Steamer ALSTER

Drontheim

Steamer SAO PAULO
Steamer LEVANTE
Steamer MAIN

Stavanger

Steamer RODA

Tanker-Groups

By destination

Some of these ships were deployed to arrive at their destinations before the Warship-Groups.

Narvik

Tanker JAN WELLEM
Tanker KATTEGAT

Drontheim

Tanker SKAGERRAK
Tanker MOONSUND

Oslo

Tanker SENATOR
Tanker EUROLAND

Stavanger

Tanker DOLLART

Berger

Tanker BELT

Transport-Groups

First Echelon

By destination

Oslo

ANTARES
JONIA
MUANSA
ITAURI
NEIDENFELS

Kristiansand

WIEGAND
JONIA
KRETA
AUGUST LEONHARDT

Stavanger

TÜBINGEN
TIJUCA
MENDOZA

Bergen

MARIE LEONHARDT
CURITYBA
RIO DE JANEIRO

Second Echelon

Oslo

FRIEDENAU
KELLERWALD
HAMM
WIGBERT
ESPANA
ROSARIO
TUCUMAN
HANAU
WOLFRAM
WANDSBEK
SCHARHÖRN

Sources

Kommandierender Admiral östliche Ostsee (BA/MA RM 7/90)
KTB M.O.K. Ostsee (BA/MA - M 523/38786)
Geh. NTB Nr. 46/1940
Geh. NTB 157/1940
O.K.M. Skl Qu A II Org (BA/MA-RM 7/160)
Geh. OTB 110/1940
Geh. NTB 82 v. 23.06.1940
Geh. NTB 115/1940
Geh. NTB 148/1940
Geh. OTB 102/1940

Individual Engagements

Michal Kopacz

Hipper vs. Glowworm

8 April 1940

German Forces

Admiral Hipper

Commanding officer: Capt. Hellmuth Heye

Notes: Damaged.

3flotte

Cmdr. Hans-Joachim Gadow

Brend von Arnim

Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Kurt Rechel
Hans Ludeman

Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. Herbert Friedrichs

British Forces

Glowworm (sunk)

Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. Gerald Roope †(killed)

Renown vs. Gneisenau and Scharnhorst

9 April 1940

German Forces

Rear Admiral Gunter Lutjens

Gneisenau

Commanding officer: Capt. Harald Netzbandt
Scharnhorst

Commanding officer: Capt.Kurt Hoffmann

British Forces

Rear Admiral W.J. Whitworth

Renown

Battles off Narvik

10 & 13 April 1940

German Forces

Task Force "Narvik"

Destroyer Group

Capt. Friedrich Bonte

Wilhelm Heidkamp (flagship)

Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Hans Erdmenger

1st Flotilla

Cmdr. Friedrich Berger

Georg Thiele (2nd flagship)

Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Max-Eckart Wolff

3rd Flotilla

Cmdr. Hans-Joachim Gadow

Hans Ludeman (2nd flagship)

Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. Herbert Friedrichs
Herman Kunne

Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Friedrich Kothe
Diether von Roeder

Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Erich Holtorf
Anton Schmitt

Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Friedrich Bohme

4th Flotilla

Cmdr. Erich Bey

Wolfgang Zenker (2nd flagship)

Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Gottfried Ponitz
Brend von Arnim

Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Kurt Rechel
Erich Giese

Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Karl Smidt
Erich Koellner

Commanding officer: Cmdr. Alfred Schultze-Hinrichs

Submarines

U-25
U-46

Commanding officer: Cmdr. Sohler
U-51

Commanding officer: Cmdr. Knorr
U-64

Commanding officer: Cmdr. Wilhelm Scholz
U-65
U-48

Norwegian Forces

Coast Defense Vessels

Norge

Commanding officer: Capt. Per Askim
Eidsvold

Commanding officer: Capt. Odd Isaksen Willoch
Patrol boats
- Michael Sars
- Kelt
  
  Commanding officer: Lt. Rasmussen
- Senja

Submarines

British Forces

2nd Destroyer Flotilla

Hardy

Commanding officer: Capt. Bernard A.W. Warburton-Lee
Hotspur

Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. H.F.H. Layman
Hostile

Commanding officer: Cmdr. J.P. Wright
Havock

Commanding officer: Cmdr. Rafe E. Courage
Hunter

Force B

Warspite

Commanding officer: Adm. W.Jock Whitworth
Eskimo
Punjabi
Bedouin
Hero
Cossack

Commanding officer: Cmdr. R.St.V. Scherbrooke
Icarus
Kimberley
Foxhound

Operation Juno

8 June 1940

German Forces

Adm. Wilhelm Marschall

Gneisenau

Commanding officer: Capt. Harald Netzbandt
Scharnhorst

Commanding officer: Capt. Kurt Hoffmann

Reconnaissance Forces

Rear Admiral Hubert Schmundt

Admiral Hipper

Commanding officer: Capt. Hellmuth Heye
Destroyers

Commanding officer: Capt. Erich Bey
- Hans Lody
  
  Commanding officer: Cmdr. Hubert Freiherr von Wangenheim
- Hermann Schoemann
  
  Commanding officer: Cmdr. Theodor Detmers
- Erich Steinbrick
  
  Commanding officer: Cmdr. Rolf Johannesson
- Karl Galster
  
  Commanding officer: Cmdr. Theodor Freiherr von Bechtolsheim

Support Units

Juniper
Oilpioneer
Atlantis
Orama

British Forces

Glorious

Commanding officer: Capt. G. D'Oyly-Hughes
Acasta

Commanding officer: Cmdr. C.F. Glasfurd
Ardent

Commanding officer: Cmdr. J.F. Barker

Source

"Burza nad Atlantykiem", t1, Andrzej Perepeczko