Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:34:30-1:34:50

Could commandos raid northern Germany from Norway?

Norwegian bases could redirect submarine-borne British special operations from the Mediterranean into Germany's Baltic approaches.

Baltic SeaCommando RaidsNorwaySpecial Boat ServiceSpecial Operations
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Question

Could British commandos raid northern Germany and Poland from Norway?

Short answer

Yes; submarine-supported Special Boat Service operations could shift from the Mediterranean to the Baltic approaches.

Notes

Norway could support submarine-borne raids into northern Germany and Poland. The Special Boat Service, instead of concentrating on Malta and the Italian coast, could use the Baltic approaches for similar work. Norway shortens access to targets that would otherwise be distant from British bases. The answer makes special operations another consequence of Allied control of the Scandinavian flank.