Capture of Arendal
The Capture of Arendal occurred on 9 April 1940 and saw the German torpedo boat Greif land a force of bicycle troops and seize an invasion beachhead at the Norwegian port town of Arendal. The main aim of the landing, part of the German invasion of Norway, was to sever the undersea telegraph cable between Arendal and the United Kingdom.
| Capture of Arendal | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the German invasion of Norway during the Second World War | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Germany | Norway | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Wilhelm-Nikolaus Freiherr von Lyncker (naval) Smith von Wesentahl (land) | Thore Holthe | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
| unknown | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
90 soldiers 10 signals troops 1 torpedo boat |
19 sailors 1 torpedo boat 1 seaplane | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| none | none | ||||||||
The German force landed unopposed, with the Norwegian torpedo boat based in the town choosing to evacuate rather than take up the fight against the surprising arrival of the Germans. The Norwegian naval commander cited concern for civilian casualties and a glum view of his chances as reasons for not resisting.
While the initial German occupation of Arendal took place without serious incident, panic broke out the following day and led to many civilians abandoning the town, following unfounded rumours of an incoming British bomber raid.
Five days after the German occupation of Arendal, the town saw the establishment of the first organized resistance group in Norway. The Arendal Group operated from 14 April 1940 until crushed by the Gestapo four months later.