The terrain that slows NATO reinforcement also constrains a Soviet army driving south. Northern Norway has few railways, few roads, and long coastal distances, so conventional overland supply cannot carry the whole campaign. Major amphibious lifts would move stores and forces between coastal points. Third Shock Army had an unusually large road-logistics component for a Soviet formation, giving it a better starting point than many armies but not removing the need for maritime supply.
Notable Point · 3:46:13-3:47:08
Northern Norway makes Soviet logistics a coastal operation
Sparse roads and railways would force the Soviet advance to combine unusually road-heavy formations with repeated amphibious resupply along the Norwegian coast.