The Nazi Drive on Trondheim

Southland Times, Issue 24115, 2 May 1940, Page 6

The Nazi Drive on Trondheim

C'ABLE messages from Norway < are now presenting a picture so difficult to understand that the statement promised to the House of Commons by Mr Chamberlain will be awaited with impatience, and not without anxiety. The Germans claim to have established land connections between Oslo and Trondheim, and if this were true it would mean that they, had occupied key positions on the railway line that runs up the narrow Gudbrandsdal Valley. Heavy fighting is known to have taken place near Dombas, a junction that commands the approaches to Storen and Trondheim in the north, and to Andalsnes in the west. According to a War Office statement, British forces repulsed a German attack between Otta and Dombas, and although they later made a “strategic withdrawal” they still occupy a position south of the junction. Further north the Germans are believed to have occupied Opdal, so that at the moment the Allies in this sector appear to have been caught in a pincer movement. It seems fairly clear, however, that the German gains between Hamar and Trondheim have yet to be consolidated, and that in the more northerly region

their position is still uncertain. Moreover, the Allied forces are not isolated. Reinforcements are reported to have landed at new points between Trondheim and Bergen; their arrival at the Dombas sector may bring a check to the German advance. The Germans are striving to gain control of the railway from Oslo to Trondheim because if they can hold the line they will be able to bring all the reinforcements they need to the waist of Norway. Essentially, this would give them control of the central and southern “bulge” which includes the richest parts of the country. It would also allow them to establish a fortified line at the narrowest point between the Norwegian coast and the Swedish frontier. Behind this line, and with a clear route from Oslo, they could proceed with the conquest of the most important part of Norway and would no longer be seriously handicapped by the loss of sea power. Further, Trondheim is the terminus of a short railway line which runs about 60 miles to the border of Sweden. Control of this railway would allow the Allies to send rapid help to Sweden if that country were attacked by the Nazis. In German hands it means an increase of potential striking power. It can be seen, therefore, that the Germans have much to gain in their drive to the northwest. At present they seem to be moving forward with an impetus made possible by their surprise invasion. They hold strategic positions of great value, and in the meantime they have a superiority in air power. But the Allies also have advantages. They are apparently in possession of Molde and Andalsnes, which command a railway line from the coast to Dombas; strong forces are said to be concentrating north of Trondheim; and the fortress of Hegre, whose guns dominate the line a few miles south of Trondheim, is still in Norwegian hands. Nevertheless there must be some heavy fighting before the situation is clarified, and it would be foolish to underestimate the military problems now being faced by the Allies.