The King's Choice

As the momentous days of April 1940 unfold, King Haakon VII and the Norwegian royal family are thrust into a chaotic chapter of their nation’s history. The crisis ignites when Crown Prince Olav delivers a grim report to his father, revealing that the transport ship which sank off Lillesand on April 8th was transporting German soldiers, thereby casting doubt on Norway’s stance of neutrality against German aggression. Simultaneously, at the German embassy in Oslo, envoy Curt Bräuer finds himself under pressure from military attaché Lieutenant-Colonel Hartwig Pohlman to convince the Norwegian government, led by Prime Minister Johan Nygaardsvold, to permit German troops to enter the country under the pretext of safeguarding Norway from an imagined British invasion.

As the situation intensifies, Colonel Birger Eriksen at Oscarsborg Fortress prepares his forces for combat, receiving alarming reports from surrounding fortresses about the approach of German vessels. On the morning of April 9th, Eriksen, with sharp vigilance, spots the German cruiser Blücher entering Drøbak Sound, leading him to decisively order an engagement despite the absence of explicit directives from Oslo. The fortress’s artillery and torpedo battery successfully sink the Blücher, sending shockwaves through the capital.

With the prospect of invasion looming larger, Prime Minister Nygaardsvold discreetly contacts King Haakon VII, warning him of the German threat and recommending an evacuation from Oslo. The royal family hastily boards a train to Hamar, where the Norwegian Parliament gathers to discuss potential negotiations with Germany. Amidst the unfolding turmoil, Bräuer meets with Oslo’s police chief Kristian Welhaven, acting as his key liaison with the Norwegian Cabinet to convey his willingness to negotiate. In parallel, military attaché Pohlman receives urgent orders from Berlin to dispatch paratroopers to Hamar with the aim of apprehending King Haakon VII and the Cabinet.

As Norway faces the precipice of occupation, Nasjonal Samling leader Vidkun Quisling audaciously declares himself Prime Minister over national radio, urging Norwegians to accept the imposed German forces. In a final attempt to persuade King Haakon VII, Bräuer is instructed directly by Adolf Hitler to convince the monarch to endorse Quisling’s government; yet, Bräuer remains skeptical that Haakon or the Cabinet would ever comply with such demands.

As the German army approaches Hamar, the Norwegian royal family and Cabinet quickly relocate to Elverum, where a critical decision is made: Olav’s wife and their three children will be sent to Sweden for their safety, while King Haakon VII and Crown Prince Olav choose to remain in Norway. As the clock strikes midnight on April 10th, German paratroopers conduct a surprise assault on a roadblock at Midtskogen, only to be met with fierce resistance from Norwegian volunteers defending their homeland.

Following this initial confrontation, the Cabinet gathers at Nybergsund to discuss General Bräuer’s request for a private audience with King Haakon. Despite Olav’s strong objections and deep fears for his father’s safety, the King ultimately decides to meet with Bräuer in Elverum. The German general urges Haakon to surrender without further conflict, citing the example of his elder brother, King Christian of Denmark. However, Haakon stands firm, refusing to accept Quisling’s leadership and suggesting he would abdicate if the Cabinet desired it.

Motivated by their sovereign’s steadfastness, Cabinet members relay their own refusal to capitulate to Bräuer. In retaliation, German aircraft unleash a flurry of bombs over Elverum and Nybergsund, compelling Haakon and his ministers to flee into the nearby woods for their safety.

Ultimately, the King, Crown Prince Olav, and the Cabinet secure their escape to Britain, where they remain in exile until the war’s end. As the dust settles in May 1945 following Germany’s defeat, King Haakon is joyfully reunited with his grandson, Prince Harald, in London before the royal family makes their long-awaited return to Norway, finally able to go back home after enduring years of turmoil and tribulations.

Last Updated: November 22, 2024 at 14:53