Germany invaded Norway for a number of reasons, but from what I can tell it did so primarily to secure the continuous winter trade of high quality Swedish iron ore from Norwegian ports, as the Gulf of Bothnia freezes over and locks down Sweden's northern ports.
Is it possible that icebreakers could be used somewhat extensively to ensure year-round iron exports through Luleå? Was the potential expense simply too great to consider?
If icebreakers would be uneconomical or otherwise unavailable for that use, is it possible that the Swedish rail network could extend northwards with sufficient freight capacity to carry ore to other Baltic ports that do not become ice-bound?
I presume that if either or both of these are possible and occur, there is insufficient motivation for the Germans or Allies to consider military action in Norway. If Germany does not then plan to invade Norway, is it necessary to occupy Denmark? Copenhagen seems unlikely to be anything other than scrupulously neutral, and the British are almost certainly not foolhardy enough to try forcing the Baltic.
Is it possible that icebreakers could be used somewhat extensively to ensure year-round iron exports through Luleå? Was the potential expense simply too great to consider?
If icebreakers would be uneconomical or otherwise unavailable for that use, is it possible that the Swedish rail network could extend northwards with sufficient freight capacity to carry ore to other Baltic ports that do not become ice-bound?
I presume that if either or both of these are possible and occur, there is insufficient motivation for the Germans or Allies to consider military action in Norway. If Germany does not then plan to invade Norway, is it necessary to occupy Denmark? Copenhagen seems unlikely to be anything other than scrupulously neutral, and the British are almost certainly not foolhardy enough to try forcing the Baltic.