The missing diplomatic follow-up to Altmark

The Altmark Incident created a diplomatic and readiness problem. Britain should have publicly guaranteed Norway against German retaliation, kept a force ready in Scotland, and proceeded with the planned mining of Norwegian waters. Norway would likely have protested British mines, but alignment with Germany is judged unlikely, and a minefield could partly compensate for decades of neglected defence. The well-run rescue is contrasted with what followed, which is described as atrocious management of the relationship. British, French, and Polish forces deployed roughly a dozen brigades soon after the invasion, while the Germans initially landed smaller packets and reinforced them over time. That disparity suggests Britain possessed options but failed to combine diplomacy, readiness, and timely action.