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German coastal main defence in Norway during WW II
(Includes the Petsamo area in Finland)
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By Bjørn Jervås
Valuable informations provided by Øistein Th. Berge

                This article is a humble attempt to give the most complete listing of the so-called “Festung Norwegen”, or “Fortress Norway”ever given. It is of course, almost impossible to get all units and locations 100% correct: one must consider the facts that German armed forces in Norway counted about 350 000 men, not including “Organisation Todt” or NSKK.
 

Because of the Norwegian terrain, the Coastal defence had the highest priority. Serving on the Coastal Defence units was regarded as very hard duty, and the men were sent on recreation homes or home leave at least twice a Year.

Many German units were frequently moved and changed names or designations. Therefor I hope that everyone with corrections or amendments get in touch with the author as soon as possible.
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Naval Artillery

Prior to the Norwegian campaign 9thApril, 1940, the German Navy Coastal Artillery units assigned to the Campaigns forces were organised in 6 “Marineartillerie-Abteilungen”:
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- “MAA Horten”
- “MAA Kristiansand”
- “MAA Stavanger”
- “MAA Bergen”
- “MAA Drontheim”
- “MAA Narvik”
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These units were to operate captured Norwegian Coastal Fortresses and installations. In June 1940 the MAA’s got numbered designations, the first ones temporarily for just 1-month, before they got permanent numbers.

The German MAA’s were divided into companies; each company manned a battery. A standard MAA usually consisted of 6 companies, but this could range from 2 – 12.
The commander of a MAA was usually “Korvettenkapitän”, but could also be “Fregattenkapitän” or “Kapitänleutnant.”
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Army Artillery

Army artillery units designed for coastal defence appeared in Norway in 1941. They established several “Heeresküstenartillerie-regimenter” (HKAR), “Heeresküstenartillerie-Abteilungen” (HKAA) and 160 “Heeresküsten-Batterien” (HKB).
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At the end of the war, there were 221 batteries divided into 29 units & 10 regiments. The Germans had serious problems in commanding and controlling this effectively. The mix-up between army and naval artillery also caused serious problems when it came to effective command. 
The “Heeresküstenartillerie” had standard army OOB, but had guns of varying calibre’s and quality. Some units were also sometimes equipped with tanks, mostly French captured ones, like the “Somua”. Especially in South West Norway.

The coastal defence had a big need of men. In 1930, the entire German “Kriegsmarine” counted 15 000 men. In Norway, the total number of Army / Naval Coast defence personnel only was about 65 000 (1945). Artillery Schools and firing ranges were established several places, amongst them Rauöy in the Oslo-fjord, and Stavern. (Which still is a firing range)
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To the right: Gun crew at Batterie Vara (38 cm guns!)
You can find more pictures here.

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Marine FLAK

These AA units used two different 88 mm cannons, 10,5 cm’s and 7,5 cm’s, together with different smaller calibre guns. Most fortresses were equipped with 20 mm AA guns in different versions, and the Germans also widely used the MG 34 on an AA mount as a secondary / light weapon for close defence against low-level targets.
All fortresses had 60-200 cm floodlights, operated by a three man squad, or more – these were used against sea & air targets.
The subject of “Marine FLAK” will be covered in a forthcoming separate article.

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RADARS

The Germans made widely use of radars in Norway. These were among the most common:* 

FuMO (Seetakt.), numbered 1-100
FuMO (Seeart.), numbered 101-200
FuMO (Flak), numbered 201-300 Used by Luftwaffe
FuMO (Flum.), numbered 301-400 Used by Luftwaffe

FuMO 214, produced by Telefunken for Luftwaffe. Also known as "Würtzburg-Riese", it was used to control heavy FLAK, and for ground controlled intercepts. It had a weight of 15 tons; max range 80 km, but 55 km when used to control fire.

Gema produced FuMO 2, also known as “Calais”. It was mobile, and designed for use on ships.

FuMO 3, also known as “Pillar”, was an improved version of FuMO 2 and intended for use on E-Boats. Like FuMO 2 it had an effect of 20 W.

FuMO 5, also known as "Boulogne", was the most powerful radar the Navy was equipped with. It had an effect of 400 W, and was twice as effective as FuMO 2 and 3.

FuMO 214/15 was equal to FuMO 214, but was electronically improved and more sophisticated. There was only one of these in Norway, placed at Närbö.

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Positions of Luftwaffe and Marine radar sites, and OOB (a selection)
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German flak organisation chart
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*CLOSE DEFENCE

              All units were trained to prepare for their own perimeter close defence, and they were often generously equipped with several light & heavy machine guns. Many of these were so-called ”Beutewaffen” from the Norwegian Army, such as “Madsen” light (L)MG and “Colt” (H) heavy MG. Germans also used a big amount and variety of mortars, together with personnel & AT-mines and other AT-weapons. Some coastal fortresses had remotely controlled and fixed flame-throwers, but these only had enogh fuel for 40 seconds use before running out, “Abwehr 1942”. 
French built tanks were also in use in some fortress areas, mostly the popular “Somua”or “Hotchkiss”. These were sometimes co-ordinated with other tank units in the area, if any.

In Stavanger, southern Norway, was the ”Beutepanzerkompanie Stavanger”. More than likely it was an interim measure to fill the gap between the departure of 25.Panzer-Division and the later formation of “Panzer-Division Norwegen”. The main tanks were the French “Hotchkiss” and “Somua” tanks which the 25.PD left behind.

The “25. Panzer-Division” was ready in Norway in early 1942 as an operational reserve to defend against allied invasion or alternately to be used in an invasion of Sweden. The division was slow in forming and initially was equipped with the French tanks as well as Panzer II. Starting in Spring 1943, it began receiving Panzer III and IV and by June 43 it grew into a significant force which had 7 PzKw II, 41 PzKw III, 16 PzKw IV, 40 “Hotchkiss”, 15 “Somua”, and 15 StuG. In July 43 it was reported at 14 PzKw II, 62 PzKw III, and 26 PzKw IV. 25.PD was moved out of Norway in 1943, except for the “1st Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 9”.
This left the Norwegian command without a significant armoured mobile reserve, and ”BeutePzKp Stavanger” was an interim measure in summer 43 to cover the gap until later in November 1943 when they started forming "Panzer-Brigade Norwegen" around I./PR 9. This was renamed to “Panzer-Division Norwegen”, but it was a division in name only. This division was reported to also have “Beute-Panzer´s” along with PzKw III and PzKw IV.

As an example of typical armament for a Coastal Fortress, the Battery at Trondenes was equipped with: 5 machine guns (Norwegian), 1 Field Gun (7,62 cm Russian), 1 AT gun (7,5 cm German), 1 mortar 81 m.m, 4 mobile flame-throwers, 6 x 20 m.m. FLAKs, 3 x 37 m.m. PAKs, 3 x 8,8 cm FLAKs, and 4 floodlight units, (3 x 60 cm, and 1 x 150 cm).
Details are given in this article when available.

The German-built Fortresses and other defence preparations were for the most part very intelligently placed, as they made brilliant tactical use of the Norwegian terrain and landscape.
 

Barbed wire combined with mine fields was usually used around the perimeter. Some fortresses had very solid concrete bunkers for the guns, most others often not. The allied landing in Normandy gave the Germans valuable informations for different evaluation of their remaining coastal defence installations; the results could be noticed in the Norwegian Coastal Defence area too.
 

The building of the fortresses had high priority, and the British / Norwegian commando raids in Svolvär and Maalöy gave the work extra speed. Hitler is said to have thought the allies would land in Norway. Organisation Todt and Norwegian workers did some of the work, but slave labourers were also used in large scale. Most came from Serbia and Russia. 

Documents from that time show a tremendous use of concrete, iron and steel material.

Only a very few coastal defence installations saw any serious action, except for the Arctic units. All fortresses were taken over by the Norwegian Defence Forces in ’45. Quite a few were used by the Norwegian Coastal Artillery, but many were immediately destroyed. Only a few are still operational w/ original guns. “Batterie Dietl” and "Batterie Vara"has been restored, and is a tourist attraction. A few other sites are also used as museums, like Tellevik Fort and Kvarven Fort outside Bergen

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OTHER WEAPONS

                In November ’44 the Germans established so-called “K-Flotillen”. (Kleinkampf-flotillen). These used a new kind of vessels (these are only the ones used in Norway, the Germans had other weapons too, like ”Neger” – a manned torpedo)

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Kleinkampf-flotillen units
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Mines

The Germans operated quite huge anti-shipping mine fields. These were organised by the “Sperrwaffenkommandos”. Most coastal fortresses were also protected by mines, in this article the numbers of mines are given for the Sognefjorden area.

These fields were in use, among others:
 

Place
No. of fields
Number of mines German/
ex-Norwegian
Kirkenes
5
250/110
Tromsö
3
0/127
Sandnessjöen
10
250/108
Trondheim
2
0/32
Molde
2
2/60
Bergen
6
22/181
Kristiansand
2
0/40
Oslofjord
1
0/10
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Totally the Germans put out a sum of 8 800 naval mines by 1942.
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A selection of mine fields in Norway
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38 cm RGT

Late in the war, the Germans developed a 38 cm rocketlauncher (“Raketentauchgeschoss”) for use against enemy submarines. The ammo was a depth charge, which was rocket-fired from the shore, and into the water where it sank to the predetermined depth, and exploded.
The weapon was deployed to Alta, Agdenes and Trondheim amongst other places – mostly to cover the big battle ships like Tirpitz or U-boat bunkers.
The weapon had a range of 2 000 m some sources state 3000 m. 
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Most guns were gathered from all occupied countries. The Germans identified the origin with a letter: Austria (ö) Poland (p), Yugoslavia (j), Soviet (r), England (e), Holland (h), Belgium (b), France (f), Norway (n) and Czech guns (t). It seems as If the Germans preferred the French quality and their favourites were K331 and K332.
However, the Germans had several accidents with cannons during practice live shooting, and lost many men in these, more than 100.

To the right, a German soldier with a water cooled sMG(n)

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Personnel organisation Marine-Küsten-Batterie (1941):*
 
Battery commander: 1 officer, armed with pistol
Vehicle driver:  1 soldier with rifle
Second commander: 1 officer with pistol
Observation man: 1 NCO with pistol
Range operators: 2 NCOs with pistols
Calculation platoon: 1 NCO with rifle (platoon commander), also chemical warfare officer.
HQ crew:  4 soldiers with rifles operated the 3-m range finder
MC driver:  1 soldier with rifle & motor cycle
Radio NCO:  1 NCO w/ rifle
Radio operators: 6 soldiers w/ rifles
Oberwachtmeister: 1 NCO w/ pistol
Platoon commanders: 2 NCOs w/ pistols
Medical officer: 1 NCO w/ pistol & motor cycle
Gun crew:  16 soldiers, 15 w/ rifles, and 1 w/ pistol
MG crew:  2 crews w/ LMG & pistols
Ammo crew:  8 soldiers w/ rifles
Weapons maintenance: 1 soldier w/ pistol
Cooks:   2 soldiers w/ rifles
Economy ass.:  1 soldier w/ rifle
Drivers:  2 soldiers w/ rifles and 2 x 1,5 ton trucks
HMG team:  3 soldiers w/ pistols


This listing is the actual status in 1945. Army units have a ( ) attached, showing which naval unit who was administrative in charge. The listing is following the Norwegian coast from south to north. German terms have been used, even in the spelling of locations.*
 
The German naval command in Norway
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Artillery units
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How to navigate the group section: The artillery units has been divided into 9 groups, each describing the units within it's section along the coastline. Each unit has several subunits. The first group starts in south-east Norway, and the last ends up in northern Norway and Finland. You can choose to either click the group numbers to check other units in the area, or just click on the specific unit so check subunits. To search for a unit, click the search link below.
Group 1
Art.Gr. FREDRIKSTAD
Art.Gr. MAAKERÖY
Art.Gr. LARVIK
Art.Gr. ARENDAL
Art.U.Gr. LILLESAND
Art.Gr. KRISTIANSAND
Art.Gr. MANDAL
Art.U.Gr.  SÖGNE
Art.Gr. VANSE

Group 2
Art.Gr. EGERSUND
Art.Gr. STAVANGER-SÜD
Art.U.Gr.  STAVANGER HAFEN
Art.Gr. KARMÖY-SÜD
Art.Gr. STAVANGER-NORD
Art.Gr. HAUGESUND

Group 3
Art.U.Gr.  BÖMLAFJORD
Art.Gr. KORSFJORD
Art.Gr. HJELTEFJORD
Art.Gr. BERGEN
Art.Ob.Gr.FÖRDE
Art.Gr. SOGNEFJORD
Art.Gr. NORDFJORD
Group 4
Art.Gr. STADTLANDET
Art.Gr. AALESUND
Art.Gr. MÖRE
Art.Gr. KRISTIANSUND
Art.Gr. DRONTHEIM-WEST
Art.Gr. ÖRLANDET
Art.Gr. DRONTHEIM-OST
Art.Gr. NAMSOS
Art.Gr. VIKNA
Art.Gr. BRÖNNÖYSUND
Art.Gr. SANDNESSJÖEN
Art.Gr. BODÖ
Art.Gr. FOLDA
Group 5
Art.Ob.Gr. LÖDINGEN
Art.Gr. VESTFJORD
Art.Gr. KORSNES
Art.Gr. OFOTFJORD
Art.Gr. NARVIK
Group 6
Art.Ob.Gr. WESTLOFOTEN
Art.Gr. MOSKENES
Art.Gr. FLAKSTAD
Art.Gr. VESTVAAGÖY
Art.Gr. SVOLVÄR
Art.Gr. HADSEL
Group 7
Art.Gr. GAVLFJORD
Art.Gr. HARSTAD
Art.Gr. ANDSFJORD
Art.Gr. VAAGSFJORD
Art.Gr. SALANGEN
Group 8
Art.Gr. SENJA
Art.Gr. BALSFJORD
Art.Gr. TROMSÖ
Art.Gr.  ULLSFJORD
Art.Gr. VARTÖ
Art.Gr. NORDREISA
Art.Gr. ÖKSFJORD
Art.Gr. ALTA
Art.Gr. HAMMERFEST
Art.Gr. KISTRAND
Art.Gr. NORDKAPP

Group 9
Art.Gr. UNTERABSCHNITT TANAFJORD
Art.Gr. UNTERABSCHNITT EISMEER
Art.Gr. UNTERABSCHNITT VARDÖ – KIBERG
Art.Gr. UNTERABSCHNITT NORDVARANGER
Art.Gr. UNTERABSCHNITT SÜDVARANGER
Art.Gr. UNTERABSCHNITT FINLAND

Search for your Coastal artillery unit here!
A tip on how to use search:
If you know the three number of the unit you are searcing for, just use the number in your search,  do not include slashes, detachment numbers, etc.
Search
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Abbreviations used:
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A.A  = Anti-aircraft
A.R  = Artillerie-Regiment
Art.Gr.  = Artillerie-Gruppe
Art.U.Gr. = Artillerie-Untergruppe
Art.Ob.Gr. = Artillerie-Obergruppe
FLAK  = Anti-aircraft gun
HKB  = Heeres-Küsten-Batterie
HKAR  = Heeres-Küstenartillerie-Regiment
HKAA  = Heeres-Küstenartillerie-Abteilung
I.D  = Infanterie-Division
LMG  = Light machine gun
MAA  = Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung
MFA  = Marine-Flak-Abteilung
MKB  = Marine-Küsten-Batterie
MAR  = Marine-Artillerie-Regiment
P.D  = Panzer-Division
SMG  = Heavy machine gun
PAK  = Anti-tank gun
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Sources:
Bundes-Archiv Freiburg
Fjörtoft: “Tyske kystfort i Norge” (ISBN 82-990878-1-3)
T. Gamst: “Finnmark under Hakekorset”
Local history section, Bodö Library
Interwiew with ex-Funkmaat Stras
German LW OOB 1944
“Portretter av en fiende”
Copies of German documents

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