Customer Reviews

Narvik: Battles in the Fjords (Classics of Naval Literature)

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This book is for the rather hardcore reader of WWII history and adds to the complete picture of the Norweigan entry into the war. Good read for the seaborne strategist.

The book focuses on the naval battles that occurred in and near Narvik, Norway, on April 10th and 13th, 1940. Narvik is the ice-free far northern port from which Swedish iron ore was exported when the Baltic was ice-bound during the winter months. That ore was vitally important to the German war economy and a tempting target for British interdiction. Germany had invaded Denmark and Norway in April, 1940. The invasion of the Low Countries and France did not start until May, and for a brief few months Britain and France contested German control of Norway at sea and on the ground.

The author is a retired officer of the Royal Navy, and the grandson of Charles Dickens. He was an active participant in the war and a captain of several ships including destroyers. Captain Dickens is a skillful writer and researcher, and applies his talents in a masterful manner -- this book illustrates how it can and should be done!! The archival research and interviews with British and German partipants enhance the meticulous reconstruction of events.

Not a weakness but rather indicative of the narrow scope of the book -- the land and air battles that occurred in northern Norway over Narvik in the following two months are not covered. For that there are many other satisfactory books. One that I have read and especially recommend is Francois Kersaudy's Norway 1940. New books on the German invasion and battle for Norway by Geirr H. Haarr recently became available though I have not yet read them -- they look to be splendid histories.