rise-and-fall-of-the-third-reich-william-shirer-pdf

612 THE RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICHThe General’s plans, worked out from an old Baedeker – he was never shownthe plans worked out by OKW – were, as can be imagined, somewhat sketchy,but they seem to have satisfied Hitler. One division was to be allotted toeach of Norway’s five principal harbors, Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheimand Narvik. ”There wasn’t much else you could do,” Falkenhorst said later,”because they were the large harbors.” After being sworn to secrecy and urged”to hurry up,” the General was again dismissed and thereupon set to work.Of all these goings on, Brauchitsch and Haider, busy preparing the offensiveon the Western front, were largely ignorant until Falkenhorst called on theArmy General Staff Chief on February 26 and demanded some troops, especiallymountain units, to carry out his operation. Haider was not very co-operative; infact, he was indignant and asked for more information on what was up and whatwas needed. ”Not a single word on this matter has been exchanged betweenthe Fuehrer and Brauchitsch,” Haider exclaimed in his diary. ”That must berecorded for the history of the war!”However, Hitler, full of contempt as he was for the old-line generals andespecially for his General Staff Chief, was not to be put off. On March 29 heenthusiastically approved Falkenhorst’s plans, including his acquisition of twomountain divisions, and moreover declared that more troops would be necessarybecause he wanted ”a strong force at Copenhagen.” Denmark had definitely beenadded to the list of Hitler’s victims; the Air Force had its eyes on bases thereto be used against Britain.The next day, March 1, Hitler issued the formal directive for Weser Exercise.MOST SECRETTOP SECRETThe development of the situation in Scandinavia requires the makingof all preparations for the occupation of Denmark and Norway. Thisoperation should prevent British encroachment on Scandinavia andthe Baltic. Further it should guarantee our ore base in Sweden andgive our Navy and the Air Force a wider starting line against Britain. . .In view of our military and political power in comparison with thatof the Scandinavian States, the force to be employed in ”Weser Exercise”will be kept as small as possible. The numerical weaknesswill be balanced by daring actions and surprise execution.On principle, we will do our utmost to make the operation appearas a peaceful occupation, the object of which is the military protectionof the neutrality of the Scandinavian States. Correspondingdemands will be transmitted to the Governments at the beginningof the occupation. If necessary, demonstrations by the Navy andAir Force will provide the necessary emphasis. If, in spite of this,resistance should be met, all military means will be used to crush it. . . The crossing of the Danish border and the landings in Norwaymust take place simultaneously . . .It is most important that the Scandinavian States as well as theWestern opponents should be taken by surprise . . . The troops may