Bull at Narvik

A smothering blizzard delayed the Allies' mopping-up around Narvik last week. As advertised in advance (to give all who wished a chance to leave), British warships lying in Ofot Fjord shelled the town systematically. This fire discomfited the German troops--perhaps 1,000--who remained dug in there. But new, hip-deep snow impeded the encircling and climbing movements of Allied troops sent to dislodge and cut off 1,000 more Germans entrenched on Rombak heights, southeast of the town. An Allied column for this purpose was landed at Fagenes, in Beisfjord to the south. Norwegians plodded eastward through the mountains from Gratangen, to head off German retreat through Bjoernfjell near the Swedish border, and preserve the ore railroad. The arrival at the border of 460 fugitive German "seamen" in civilian clothes, who said they were refugees from nine merchant ships sunk during the naval actions, betokened the plight of their soldier comrades under General Dietl, famed skier, organizer of winter sports at Garmwisch-Partenkirchen. The latter, called "The Bull" by his men (for his stubbornness), was said to have told his personal friend, Adolf Hitler, by radio telephone: "We have no ships. We have no artillery left. We have few anti-aircraft guns. ... A few pieces of mountain artillery would be invaluable." In their isolation far to the north, the Germans were at a worse disadvantage than the Allies farther south at the main scene of battle (see p. 22). But some reinforcements and supplies did reach them, by airplane, and they were still holding out at week's end.

What happened to 1,500 men of General Dietl's original landing force became known last week. Retreating Norwegian troops tempted them to pursuit up the road to Tromsoe, then cut off their retreat at the town of Gratangen, which was set afire. The Nazis took shelter in farmhouses, Norse sharpshooters picking them off when they stuck their heads out. It was such a trap as the Finns sprang repeatedly on whole divisions of Russians, and it worked as perfectly. Hungry, half-frozen, before week's end 850 survivors at Gratangen surrendered.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.