Cryhavoc101
Donor
Despite all the logistical difficulties for the Germans, I'm not convinced that the British and Allies could hold onto parts of Norway from June 40 through June 41.
After the fall of France, Britain needs to be partially concerned with home defense, and the Germans have a relatively large amount of unemployed ground and air power. The latter can pound Allied and Norwegian forces.
A German effort conquering northern or central Norway is an effort, but not sure why it would be harder to expel the British from Norway than it was to expel them from Greece and Crete by spring 1941.
If the mobility corridors are all blocked in Norway, Germans could invade Sweden to broaden their avenues of approach. On a combined Norwegian-Swedish front, I would expect that the Germans would have an operational advantage over Norwegian, Swedish, WAllied troops as long as Germany is not simultaneously fighting with Russia or France (which I presume is conquered in this WI).
So, it seems to me that only if the Wallies have pretty much wiped out the German bridgeheads in all of Norway, including the south, and if Sweden has mobilized effectively against a cross-Baltic, cross-straits invasion, could we be confident that the Germans would be blocked out of the Scandinavian peninsula.
Agreed
Basically the way I see it the only way for a successful defence of Norway - is for the Norwegian Military to have mobilised, the Norwegian Leadership to have issued 'robust' orders to defend the country from invasion and for the British and French to be invited in.
So mine fields would be laid - no half or even non - measures at the coastal Fortresses
Even the Oscarsborg Fortresses commander who sank the Blucher was acting under very poor ROE and virtually no orders from the chain of command -hence his famous quote after his first order to engage was questioned
"Either I will be decorated or I will be court martialled, Fire!"
- and so despite their success this action could also be considered a half measure as their was still some reluctance to fire upon other ships.
Cities ports and airfields garrisoned and units with no orders having the confidence to 'march to the sound of the guns'.
Post a failed German invasion the Norwegian Military would need to be expanded and modernised - so more fighter Squadrons (possibly more US Aircraft?) potential Norwegian pilots enrolled in the empire pilot training scheme, improvements to the airfield defences - revetments armoured bunkers for stores and equipment and given the threat of future Fallshirmjagers style assaults an 'RAF Regiment' style defensive force including fixed and mobile elements (Bunkers and armoured cars).