On 2 September 1939, after the outbreak of war with
Poland, Germany sent a solemn assurance to Norway in these terms:
"The German Reich Government is
determined in view of the friendly relations which exist between
Norway and Germany under no circumstance to prejudice the
inviolability and integrity of Norway, and to respect the territory
of the Norwegian State. In making this declaration the Reich
Government naturally expects, on its side, that Norway will observe
an unimpeachable neutrality towards the Reich and will not tolerate
any breaches of Norwegian neutrality by any third . party which might
occur. Should the attitude of the Royal Norwegian Government differ
from this so that any such breach of neutrality by a third party
occurs, the Reich Government would then obviously be compelled to
safeguard the interests of the Reich in such a way as the resulting
situation might dictate."
On 9 April 1940, in pursuance of her plan of
campaign, Norway was invaded by Germany.
The idea of attacking Norway originated, it
appears, with the Defendants Raeder and Rosenberg. On 3 October 1939
Raeder prepared a memorandum on the subject of "gaining bases in
Norway", and amongst the questions discussed was the question:
"Can bases be gained by military force against Norway's will, if
it is impossible to carry this out without fighting?" Despite
this fact, three days later, further assurances were given to Norway
by Germany' which stated: "Germany has never had any conflicts
of interest or even points of controversy with the Northern States
and neither has she any today."
Three days later again, the Defendant Dönitz prepared a
memorandum on the same subject of bases in Norway, and suggested the
establishment of a base in Trondheim with an alternative of supplying
fuel in Narvik. At the same time the Defendant Racder was in
correspondence with Admiral Karls, who pointed out to him the
importance of an occupation of the Norwegian coast by Germany. On 10
October Raeder reported to Hitler the disadvantages to Germany which
an occupation by the British would have. In the months of October and
November Raeder continued to work on the possible occupation of
Norway, in conjunction with the "Rosenberg Organization."
The "Rosenberg Organization" was the Foreign Affairs Bureau
of the NSDAP, and Rosenberg as Reichsleiter was in charge of it.
Early in December, Quisling, the notorious Norwegian traitor, visited
Berlin and was seen by the Defendants Rosenberg and Raeder. He put
forward a plan for a coup d'état in Norway. On 12 December the
Defendant Raeder and the naval staff, together with the Defendants
Keitel and Jodl, had a conference with Hitler,