The German Narvik group evaded British forces that might have intercepted it before it reached the fjord. If Narvik had remained in Norwegian hands, General Fleischer's northern troops could have moved south toward Trondheim sooner. They might have linked with British and French landings before the port was reinforced. This alone probably would not have saved southern Norway, but it would have changed the operational geometry of the campaign. The counterfactual shows how one missed naval interception could shape the movement of armies far inland.
Notable Point · 26:08-27:15
How stopping the Narvik group might have reshaped Norway
The Narvik invasion group's escape from British interception preserved Germany's northern bridgehead and limited General Fleischer's freedom to move south.