Landing at Spitzbergen

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22064, 10 September 1941, Page 5

Landing at Spitzbergen

Canadians in Allied Fo rr e Norwegians Brought to England By Telegraph—Pre»ii Association—Copyright (Received 6.80 p.m.) LONDON, September 8. AN IMPORTANT and successful raid has been carried out by an Allied force on the Norwegian dependency of Spitzbergen. This is revealed in the following announcement from the War Office:— “For various purposes, it was recently decided to send a military force to the Arctic. In the course of operations, which were carried out without enemy interference, a landing was effected at Spitzbergen by a mixed Canadian, British and Norwegian force under a Canadian commander. “The purpose of the landing was to prevent the enemy from utilising for their own purposes Spitzbergen, with its rich coal mines. Previously a proportion of Spitzbergen coal had been at the disposal of the population of northern Norway. But it had become known that the enemy’s plan was to seize all coal available, including that from Spitzbergen, which would be used mainly for war transports to the far north. This source of fuel has now been denied to the Germans.”

"The immediate result of the landing at Spitzbergen Is that a considerable number of Norwegian miners, with their families, have now arrived in Great Britain to play a part In the Allied war effort. Most of them will be joining the Norwegian forces or the Norwegian merchant service. The mixed English, Canadian and Norwegian military force which landed at Spitzbergen evacuated almost the whole of the Norwegian mining population numbering between 700 and 1000. This was done to prevent reprisals such as the Germans adopted after the Lofoten raid. Only a few wandering Eskimos and Lapps were left behind. The beUlgerent nations left Spitzbergen alone during the first year of war because It was so far north, and the fact that Russians possessed a mining concession on the largest island made the Germans hesitate, thus the Norwegian civil administration of Spitzbergen remained practically Independent. For the greater part of the year Spitzbergen Is blockaded by !se. The miners who have now arrivd in England report that the current xport season started a month later tian usual. A large stock of coal- had ccumulated because only a few small cargoes went out in June and July. The Germans, while preparing for the campaign against Russia, seized all supplies of fuel in Norway, including Spitsbergen’s coal which was needed for war transports along the Norwegian coast. When Germany attacked Russia Spitzbergen entered ths zone of operations and changes were made in the original export scheme. Only two ships were sent at a time from Northern Norway to Spitzbergen Indicating that the Germans feared Allied action and proving it was their intention to use this Norwegian coal for their own purposes only.

Strack Swiftly A Canadian eye-witness of the Spitsbergen landing said the Allied formation commanded by a Saskatchewan officer struck swiftly and secretly. The Canadians made the first landing from watshlps and troopships and garrisoned the settlements. Some of them are Bow back in England bringing with them large numbers of Norwegian miners and their families.

Throughout the whole hazardous voyage from Britain there was not a single Nazi raid on the expedition comprising a formidable flotilla of warships and Fleet Air Arm planes. Detachments of British and Norwegian troops supported the Canadians who manned the island’s guns and defence positions. Before leaving, the troops were told they were going on army exercises somewhere in Britain. Only a few senior officers knew more than this. First of all they went to a special coastal training area where the

units were instructed in invasion tactics and beach assaults. The flotilla eventually sailed but it was not till the troops were Inside the ships that they were told where they were going. They cheered lustily. A day out from Spitzbergen the officers were handed operational orders. It was not known whether any Germans were on the island so plans were prepared for opposed and unopposed landings. The imposing flotilla reached Spitsbergen at 6 a.m. after destroyers and aircraft ha,d reconnoitred ahead. Troops crowded the rails as the ships moved down the long fiord. A lieutenant and some signalmen armed to the teeth made the first landing from small boats with Bren guns in thB bows to take over the wireless station. The next party ashore took over another wireless station. Norwegians rushed from shacks to greet them. After these initial moves the commander and interpreters went ashore for the official landing at the Russian town, a score of stolid Russians, including the town’s Officials, surrounded them. There was no sign of animosity as the troops entered the centre of the community where they were ceremoniously greeted by the Russian Commissar. A British officer passed round Russian cigarettes and negotiations were rapidly carried out under large pictures of M. Stalin and other Soviet leaders. Within an hour Russians and Canadians were fraternising. Destroyers, trawlers, Russian lighters and motor boats plied between the ships and the dock bringing ammunition, explosives and supplies ashore. In the meantime a destroyer took a Norwegian detachment and a Canadian landing party to the Norwegian settlement down the fiord where the Norwegian Mayor, representing the Norwegian Government in London, read-a proclamation informing the people of the landings. The Norwegians seemed glad to leave Spitzbergen. They held farewell parties and also a last night dance, when British, Canadian and Norwegian troops danced with Norwegian girls. Next morning hundreds of evacuees boarded a destroyer which took them to a troopship which sailed for Britain. The journey was uneventful.

The Norwegian Telegraph Agency reports that the Germans have Installed invasion sirens In Northern Norway, which are sounded continuously when invasion is feared. Several alarms have been heard at Harstad after receipt of reports that warships had been observed. The alarms caused the Germans to flee panic-stricken to the mountains. Detailed Instructions how to act in the event of invasion are being distributed. •

It is reported from Stockholm that a munitions dump adjoining a factory near Oslo was blown up. The factory was producing nitro-glycerine from milk.