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Report of the Commander in Chief, Navy, to the Führer on 12 December 1939, at 1200.

Present: Generaloberst Keitel
Generalmajor Jodl
Fregattenkapitän von Puttkamer

1. Concerning: The Norway Affair (see Annexes 1 and 2).

The Commander in Chief, Navy, received Mr. Q. and Mr. H. (Quisling and Hagelin). Q., former Minister of War and leader of the National Party, made a reliable impression. He reported the following: Public opinion in Norway is very hostile to Germany, as a result of the conflict between Russia and Finland even more so than formerly. England's influence is very great, above all through the President of the Storthing, Hambro, a Jew and a friend of Hore-Belisha, who is at present all-powerful in Norway. Q. is convinced that an agreement exists between England and Norway regarding a possible occupation of Norway. Sweden would then also turn against Germany. There is a very real danger that Norway may be occupied by Britain, possibly soon. The Storthing, and with it the Government of Norway, is no longer legal from 11 January 1940, since it decided to extend itself for a year, contrary to the constitution. This would provide an opportunity for a political coup. Q. has good connections with officers in the Norwegian army and has followers in important places (e.g., railways). Should the occasion arise, Q. is prepared to take over the government and to ask Germany for aid. In addition, Q. is ready to discuss preparations of a military nature with the German Armed Forces.

The Commander in Chief, Navy, points out that it is impossible to know with such offers how much the people concerned wish to further their own party schemes and how important German interests are to them. Caution is therefore advisable. It must be made impossible for Norway to fall into British hands, as this could be decisive for the outcome of the war; Sweden would then be entirely under British influence and the war would be carried into the Baltic Sea, thereby completely disrupting German naval warfare in the Atlantic and in the North Sea. The Führer also regards the occupation of Norway by Britain as unacceptable. The Commander in Chief, Navy, points out that German occupation of Norwegian coastal bases would naturally occasion strong British countermeasures for the purpose of interrupting the transport of ore from Narvik. Severe surface warfare off the Norwegian coast would be the result, and the German Navy is not yet prepared to cope with this for any length of time. In the event of occupation this is a weak spot.

The Führer considers whether he should speak to Q. personally, in order to form an impression of him; he would like to hear Reichsleiter Rosenberg's opinion first, as the latter has known Q. for quite a while. The Commander in Chief, Navy, suggests that if the Führer is favorably impressed, the OKW be permitted to make plans with Q. for preparing and executing the occupation either:

    a. by friendly methods, i.e., the German Armed Forces are called upon by Norway, or

    b. by force.

2. The Commander in Chief, Navy, recommends keeping a clear policy with regard to the Russo-Finnish conflict. No armament is to be sent in support of Finland (via unreliable Sweden). The Chief of the OKW declares that the Foreign Office has been informed that arms would be delivered to Sweden only if the Swedish Government guarantees in writing that they are to be used solely by the Swedish Army. On the other hand, the Commander in Chief, Navy, recommends accommodating Russia, for example in the matter of oil supply for submarines, as Russia also offers us practical advantages, e.g., holding foreign steamers in Murmansk for three days after the departure of the BREMEN. The Fuehrer agrees on both points.

signed: Raeder

countersigned: Assmann


Annex 1.

Minutes of a Conference on 11 December 1939 at 1200.

Mr. H. and Mr. Q. (in writing: Director Hagelin and Quisling) called on the Commander in Chief, Navy.

Q. stated that England has not made the desired declaration of neutrality to Norway, as she has to the other Scandinavian countries, and judging by available information and observations, England has no intention of respecting Norway's neutrality for the duration of the war. Only after considerable pressure on the part of Quisling in the Storthing did the British government make the desired declaration. Nevertheless the present Norwegian government has signed a secret treaty with Britain to the effect that in case Norway becomes involved in war with one of the great powers, an invasion by Britain may be carried out with Norwegian consent. A landing is planned in the vicinity of Stavanger, and Christiansand is proposed as a possible British base. The present Norwegian government as well as the Storthing and the whole foreign policy is controlled by the well-known Jew Hambro, a great friend of Hore-Belisha. For some time the sympathies of the Norwegian people have been consciously driven in a pro-British, anti-German direction, and the whole Norwegian press is under British control. Hambro is misusing his position, and with the help of numerous British agents is trying to bring Norway under British influence or into complete dependence. The influence of Norwegian policy has been sharply felt in the remaining Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Denmark, and Finland). These countries are also fully aware of the fact that the one who occupies Norway has the key position for all trade in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. The dangers to Germany arising from a British occupation of Norway were depicted in great detail (example: The Rhine and Elbe estuaries are flanked by the Western Powers). The Baltic Sea is developing into a theater of war in which Germany can no longer carry on her trade undisturbed.

Great anxiety is felt by all Norwegian patriots over the Russian advance into Finland. Further pressure on the Scandinavian countries is expected. It is understood that at present Germany can do nothing to counter the Russian advance, but it is desired nevertheless to prevent Russia from gaining further influence in Scandinavia. Hambro and his followers believe they can do this with the help of Britain. The National Party, however, does not wish to come to blows with Germany because of Britain's gaining a foothold in Norway. Therefore the National Party desires to anticipate any possible British step in this direction by placing the necessary bases at the disposal of the German Armed Forces. In the whole coastal area men in important positions (railway, post office, communications) have already been bought for this purpose. But a change in the German attitude toward Norway's policy is absolutely necessary. Months of negotiations with Reichsleiter Rosenberg have not produced the desired results, (Incompetency of accredited diplomats.) Q. and H. stated that this visit to Germany is for the purpose of establishing clear-cut relations with Germany for the future. From 10 January the present government and the Storthing will no longer be legal. There is the possibility of a political revolution, in which the National Party would probably not remain passive. Conferences are desired for discussion of combined action, transfer of troops to Oslo, etc., and the possible laying of protective mine fields. Amtsleiter Scheidt was requested as a confidential agent.

The Commander in Chief, Navy, agreed to confer with the Führer on the matter and to inform Q. and H. of the results of the conference.


Annex 2

Memorandum.

Re: Visit of Mr. Quisling from Norway.

Supplementary to earlier information, I wish to report that Quisling is one of the best known Norwegian general staff officers. He was Military Attaché in Finland, and from 1927 to 1930, before diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Great Britain were broken off, he represented British interests in Moscow. From 1931 to 1933 he was Norwegian War Minister, representing the Norwegian Peasant Party; he then resigned and formed a radical national and socialist party called the National Unity Party. This party had, and still has, anti-semitic views and it recommends closest cooperation with Germany. It has 15,000 registered members, and Quisling estimates the number of his direct followers at two to three hundred thousand; this comprises that ten per cent of the population which is in favor of cooperation with Germany even at the present time, when the general attitude in Norway and Sweden is definitely anti-German. His party also did not participate in voting for the Storthing.

The Storthing, contrary to the constitution, has decided to extend its own period of office starting 12 January. Quisling suggests that this fact could be used as a pretext for action. Quisling, as an experienced officer and a former War Minister, has even now very close relations with the Norwegian Army. He showed me the original of a letter which he had recently received from the commanding officer in Narvik, Colonel Sunlo. In this letter Colonel Sunlo openly stresses the following: If present conditions continue, Norway will be destroyed. He only hopes that enough will be left of the nation to form a people which can rebuild Norway on a sound basis. The present generation is doomed, and rightly so; it must be admitted that they deserve nothing better, for, as he sees it, the Norwegians have violated the unalterable laws of the world. These laws call for work and idealism, and stupidity has never been considered a legitimate excuse. "I will do nothing for that old soak Madsen (Minister of Commerce), for that pacifist Monsen (War Minister), and for that blockhead Nygolswold (Premier). On the other hand, it can be good and useful to risk your bones for the national uprising." Signed: Konrad Sunlo.

Amtsleiter Scheidt, who has been in Norway several times and has a number of acquaintances there, has stated that the commanding officer of the largest troop training grounds, Hroslev, has expressed himself in a similar manner, likewise the Senior Officer of the War Academy in Halden, Captain Fritzner.

Quisling knows the King very well from the time when he was in office and he believes that the King holds him in esteem, even though the latter is on the whole pro-British. The Jew Hambro, who is President of the Storthing, and at the same time President of the Committee for Foreign Affairs, is regarded as the greatest enemy of Germany and as perhaps the most powerful political personality. For all practical purposes the politics of Scandinavia rest in his hands at the present time. At the same time he is leader of the delegation to the League of Nations and leader of the strongest political party, the so-called "Conservatives", who control the fate of the present minority government. Hambro also controls the press in Norway. It is to be feared that the anti-Russian feeling which is fanned by the Russo-Finnish conflict will very soon result increasingly in greater sympathy for Britain and greater antipathy for Germany.

A plan for possible procedure has been suggested. According to this plan a number of picked Norwegians will be given training in Germany for this particular task. They will be told exactly what to do, and will be assisted by seasoned National Socialists who are experienced in such matters. These trained men are then to be sent back to Norway as quickly as possible, where details will be discussed. Several focal points in Oslo will have to be occupied with lightning speed, and simultaneously the German Navy with contingents of the German Army will have to put in appearance at a pre-arranged bay outside of Oslo in answer to a special summons from the new Norwegian Government. Quisling has no doubt that such a coup, achieved instantaneously, would at once meet with the approval of those sections of the Army with which he now has connections. Of course he has never discussed political action with them. As regards the King, he believes that he would accept such a "fait accompli".

Quisling's estimate of the number of German troops needed for the operation coincides with the German estimates.

signed: A. Rosenberg



   


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