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Hitler's Northern War: The Luftwaffe's Ill-Fated Campaign, 1940-1945 Hardcover – January 20, 2001

by Adam R. A. Claasen (Author)

14 customer reviews

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Adolf Hitler had high hopes for his conquest of Norway, which held both great symbolic and great strategic value for the Fuhrer. Despite early successes, however, his ambitious northern campaign foundered and ultimately failed. Adam Claasen for the first time reveals the full story of this neglected episode and shows how it helped doom the Third Reich to defeat.

Hitler and Raeder, the chief of the German navy, were determined to take and keep Norway. By doing so, they hoped to preempt Allied attempts to outflank Germany, protect sea lanes for German ships, access precious Scandinavian minerals for war production, and provide a launchpad for Luftwaffe and naval operations against Great Britain. Beyond those strategic objectives, Hitler also envisioned Norway as part of a pan-Nordic stronghold—a centerpiece of his new world order. But, as Claasen shows, Hitler's grand expectations were never realized.

Gring's Luftwaffe was the vital spearhead in the invasion of Norway, which marked a number of wartime firsts. Among other things, it involved the first large-scale aerial operations over sea rather than land, the first time operational objectives and logistical needs were fulfilled by air power, and the first deployment of paratroopers.

Although it got off to a promising start, the German effort, particularly against British and arctic convoys, was greatly hampered by flawed strategic thinking, interservice rivalries between the Luftwaffe and navy, the failure to develop a long-range heavy bomber, the diversion of planes and personnel to shore up the German war effort elsewhere, and the northern theater's harsh climate and terrain.

Claasen's study covers every aspect of this ill-fated campaign from the 1940 invasion until war's end and shows how it was eventually relegated to a backwater status as Germany fought to survive in an increasingly unwinnable war. His compelling account sharpens our picture of the German air force and widens our understanding of the Third Reich's way of war.

Hitler's Northern War: The Luftwaffe's Ill-Fated Campaign, 1940-1945

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An important and original contribution to the history of military airpower in World War II."—James Corum, author of The Luftwaffe "Claasen has completely mastered this difficult chapter of World War II. His study reveals, for the first time, the full story of the Luftwaffe’s operations in Scandinavia and provides valuable insights into both the inner conditions of the Luftwaffe and German war strategy generally."—Horst Boog, author of Die Deutsche Luftwaffenführung, 1935–1945 "An impressive study of combined arms and grand strategy that will appeal to both scholars and general readers."—Edward Homze, author of Arming the Luftwaffe

From the Back Cover

"An important and original contribution to the history of military airpower in World War II."--James Corum, author of The Luftwaffe

"Claasen has completely mastered this difficult chapter of World War II. His study reveals, for the first time, the full story of the Luftwaffe's operations in Scandinavia and provides valuable insights into both the inner conditions of the Luftwaffe and German war strategy generally."--Horst Boog, author of Die Deutsche Luftwaffenführung, 1935-1945

"An impressive study of combined arms and grand strategy that will appeal to both scholars and general readers."--Edward Homze, author of Arming the Luftwaffe

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Series: Modern War Studies (Hardcover)
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: University Press of Kansas; First edition (January 20, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0700610502
ISBN-13: 978-0700610501
Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.3 x 9.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 14 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,470,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #185 in Books > History > Europe > Scandinavia > Norway
- #4528 in Books > History > Military > Strategy
- #5878 in Books > History > Military > Aviation

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Outstanding Military History

ByS. M. H. Klauberon December 13, 2006

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Professor Claasen and Joel Hayward, of "Stopped at Stalingrad" fame, both teach in New Zealand. No offense to Kiwis, but what a waste!! These guys are great writers, and this book is more than a look at the Luftwaffe's role in the little-remarked upon Norwegian front. Just as in Hayward's book, there is much discussion on the Kriegsmarine's operations, all of it fascinating. For example, I have read a lot on WWII (believe me), but until this book I did not know the US Navy ran a carrier operation off the Norwegian coast using the USS Ranger! I can most confidently recommend this book to any WWII buff. It is very well-written, and extremely informative.

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Solid History

Byjack greeneon January 31, 2005

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I am writing with my co-author a book on the invasion of Norway and Denmark and the first four weeks of the war there. Claasen's analysis is brilliant. There may be (or not, I can not say) some errors in his footnoting but his understanding is spot on. We reference him a great deal in our manuscript.

One example: the "Rowehl" long distance recon Luftwaffe air units (using 4-engine craft) are not even mentioned in virtually all books. We knew it existed and had helped in the campaign but could not find details. We were digging through all sorts of sources and went back to Claasen who had a very short but solid understanding of what this recon group accomplished before the war in 2 pages of text. It gave Germany photographs of the harbors they were about to attack! It brought closure to our search.

Claasen also has a sound understanding of why the conflict came about.

0Comment 20 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Four Stars

ByLonnie W. Morris Jr.on April 25, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Good book on Luftwaffe.not full price

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It Fills In Forgotten History

ByS. Douglason January 18, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Its nice to know most people in Norway 'adjusted' to the Germans, who were always 'short of aircraft and materials'.

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Outstanding, "must have" book!

ByAmazon Customeron January 26, 2001

Format: Hardcover

I admit from the outset that I know the author, who is both a good friend and a delightful colleague. I can truthfully add, however, that even if he were entirely unknown to me, I would still rate his new book highly. It is superb!
Dr Claasen made splendid use of primary sources, including many from German archives that have never been used before, to create a new and startling reconstruction of German air and joint operations in Norway during World War II. Even though it focuses heavily on the German war effort, the analysis is balanced and shows not the slightest sign of respect for the vile Nazi ideology that saw Norway swallowed up in a stunning Blitzkrieg.
Claasen masterfully explains the complex dynamics of that Blitzkrieg, including the interpersonal relationships in the German High Command as well as the doctrinal and theoretical background and operational mechanics of the rapid conquest itself.
The analysis continues through until Germany's defeat in 1945, which means that many readers will learn for the first time how the Luftwaffe in the far north functioned after 1940. And it's a fascinating story.
The prose is engaging and the pace lively. In other words, this book reads well. Scholars AND interested "buffs" will enjoy it. I'm convinced they'll also learn much. I certainly did, and I have researched the Luftwaffe for many years!
I recommend this attractive, beautifully presented book without any reservations. It's a gem, and belongs on your bookshelf.

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This is a great read

ByTim Cooperon August 8, 2001

Format: Hardcover

This was my first foray into military history and I really liked it. I guess I expected to be bored by endless details of this type of weapon or that, and which soldiers were moved where, but I wasn't bored at all. It helped that Claasen put the whole thing into a strategic context. I could easily see why the northern theatre was so important (especially for its iron ore, but also as a base for air and shipping operations against Britain). While he doesn't labor the detail (thankfully) Claasen relates some great stories of the important clashes. They illustrate the argument he is making. He also focuses on the role of air power, which makes it interesting. The appalling weather conditions made this a difficult theatre for airpower, but the effort there included a number of firsts. For example, it saw the first ever paratroop drop and it provided the first evidence that the balance of air and sea had shifted forever towards the air. In the middle of this is Hitler, as Claasen calls him the "great meddler". Intriguingly, both Churchill and Hitler were obsessed with Norway at varying stages, though Hitler's interest was slow in building, it burned brightly in the end (and in some strange ways). All this was fine in the early stages of the war when the blitzkrieg was so devastating. But later, sustaining a war on a number of fronts, it was all too much for Hitler to keep control of effectively, though that didn't stop him from trying. There are other colorful characters as well, some on the ground (or in the air) in Norway, others like Goering back in Germany. Goering is blamed for Germany's fatal lack of a long-range strategic bomber and maritime aircraft. He is also criticized for his luftwaffe parochialism. He jealously guarded anything that flew from the clutches of the navy, to the detriment of both. This chronic inter-service rivalry and the lack of aircraft seriously hampered the operations and even the usefulness of Norway. It never delivered on its potential, largely because the Germans lacked the necessary aircraft. So the invasion was a complete success (thanks also to the "disjointed and shambolic" response from the allies) but from early on "Norway failed to live up to its billing".
But that doesn't stop this from being a fascinating story, and Claasen does a great job of handling it. He breaks up the essential elements of the tale, selecting what he needs without cluttering up the plot. He often writes with a colorful turn of phrase, and you get the feeling he has an eye for humor and irony in all of this. And there is brilliant material to work with. The geography of Scandinavia, with all its extremes, provides a colorful background. The fate of arctic convoys or vulnerable footholds adds to the excitement. I found this a fantastic book. It's a great read. I recommend it to layperson and expert alike.

0Comment 17 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Strong and readable

ByChips Mintonon April 12, 2005

Format: Hardcover

I can't comment about the contested accuracy of the German translating in this book because I can't read German. But I read the book carefully as I have long been interested in the overlooked Norwegian campaigns and I think the author has written a strong enough book with a good narrative and clear maps. I enjoyed reading it, and I learned a lot about the Luftwaffe and its commanders that I did not know. I don't think it'll ever be considered definitive, but, as I rate it a deserved four stars out of five (therefore above average), I do recommend it to readers who don't yet know much about the Norwegian campaigns, especially the Luftwaffe's participation in them.

0Comment 26 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Most recent customer reviews

Uneven book

Despite its title,the major part of the book covers the German invasion of Narvik in some detail, though I am concerned by the fact that in consulting his sources, the author uses...Read more

Published on January 27, 2005 by Devl's Advocate

Average

The writer's many mistakes made while translating and even copying German titles and bibliographical details weaken the confidence I have in this work's accuracy, despite what his...Read more

Published on November 22, 2004 by USAF-ACSC-Student

Very nice book with real scholarly depth

This is a rewarding study that will fill in many of the gaps in our knowledge of the Wermacht's Norwegian campaign and subsequent occupation.Read more

Published on July 16, 2004 by Chris Huntley

Average

The cover is nice, but the contents are unusually average. The author struggles to write well without polemic, hyperbole, mixed metaphors and so on.Read more

Published on April 9, 2004 by Jo Thoenes

Incisive and thought provoking

Claasen writes well.The narrative has pace and purpuse.The author offers not just an insight into the role of the Luftwaffe, but succeeds in placing this theme into a broader...Read more

Published on February 14, 2004 by Mr. Andrew J Hook

Magnificent book. I learned a lot!!!!

I'm pleased to see the University of Kansas Press continues to lead the field in terms of solid, analtyical military history.Read more

Published on July 21, 2001 by peter j smith

The obsessed Hitler

A fascinating account of Hitler's obsessive concern over controlling the Norwegian coastline during WWII.Read more

Published on June 4, 2001 by mark ingram

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