Allied intelligence info on German coastal fortifications in Norway

[Vegard T]

I'm looking for any files, maps or details mentioned in British/Allied intelligence about a specific fortress on the west coast of Norway, is this type of information available at all?

[thorne83]

Hi Vegar,

Possibly, where is the fort? A quick search of the National Archives shows a number of files that may cover defences on the coast. Eg. The National Archives | Search results:coastal fortification norway

However, to really check what sort of information these files contain you would need to spend many hours, at Kew, perusing them. It would help knowing which fort/where it is, to help narrow down your search.

Cheers, Tom

[Vegard T]

Hiya, the fort is about 60 km north of Bergen, it's called Marøy. HKB 38/977

[thorne83]

Hi Vegar,
I've just had a very quick look on TNA website and have found a series of files which "comprises reports, surveys, maps, plans, and photographs of places and areas in theatres of war in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Atlantic, and the Pacific. The reports were compiled for use in strategic and tactical planning". I've copied a list of the ones that relate to Norway, below. Would Marøy come under any of the following areas? It's just a possibility that there might be something of relevance in there, but not a certainty.
• WO 252/4051942 Sept.Specified objectives in Hardangerfjord
• WO 252/4061943 Mar.Northern Norway: special report
• WO 252/4071942 JuneNorthern Norway: topographical report on specified areasDetails
• WO 252/4081945 Feb.Northern Norway: county roadsDetails
• WO 252/4091945 Feb.Northern Norway: telecommunicationsDetails
• WO 252/4101941 Dec.Northern Norway: topographical report on specified objectivesDetails
• WO 252/4111944 Oct.South Norway: county roadsDetails
• WO 252/4121943 Nov.South Norway: special report on roadsDetails
• WO 252/4131943 Nov.-1944 Mar.South Norway: roads, photographsDetails
• WO 252/4141945 Apr.South NorwayDetails
• WO 252/4151945 Apr.South Norway: roadsDetails
• WO 252/4161944 Aug.South NorwayDetails
• WO 252/4171943 Oct.Special report: road repair materials and water supply in South NorwayDetails
• WO 252/4181943 Dec.Special report: west coastDetails
• WO 252/4191943 Jan.Special report: west coast, Vega to DonnaDetails
• WO 252/4201943 Dec.Special report: south-east, electricity supplyDetails
• WO 252/4211943 Dec.Special report: south-west, signals
• WO 252/4221944 Feb.Special report: south, signal communicationsDetails
• WO 252/4231944 MayNorwegian railways: reportDetails
• WO 252/4241945 Apr.Norwegian railways: amendment 1Details
• WO 252/4251944 MayNorwegian railways: photographsDetails
• WO 252/4261942 Dec.Topographical report on Ofoten railway zoneDetails
• WO 252/4271945 Jan.Nord-Trondelag and Nordland roadsDetails
• WO 252/4281945 Jan.Nord-Trondelag and Nordland roads: (photographs)Details
• WO 252/4291944 Aug.Troms county roadsDetails
• WO 252/4301943 JulySpecial report: Altenfjord area
• WO 252/4311943 Apr.Special report: Askroven and Naeroy areasDetails
• WO 252/4321943 Apr.Special report: AsfjordenDetails
• WO 252/4331942 Nov.Special report: Banak area
• WO 252/4331942 Nov.Special report: Banak areaDetails
• WO 252/4341941 Nov.Special report: Brandsoy and the port of FloroDetails
• WO 252/4351942 JuneSpecial report: GlomfjordenDetails
• WO 252/4361943 Feb.Special report: Josingfjorden, Raekefjorden and A/S Titania minesDetails
• WO 252/4371943 Oct.Special report: Kristiansand South areaDetails
• WO 252/4381943 Nov.Special report: the Lister area, south westDetails
• WO 252/4391943 Nov.Special report: the Mandal areaDetails
• WO 252/4401942 Oct.Special report: Mösvatn and Måna ValleyDetails
• WO 252/4411943 Sept.Special report: the Nase to Farsund

• WO 252/4421943 JulySpecial report: the Ofotfjord areaDetails
• WO 252/4431942 Mar.Special report: Porsangen and approaches from Repparfjorden, Revsbotn and LaksefjordenDetails
• WO 252/4441943 Oct.Special report: Röst (Lofoten)Details
• WO 252/4451943 Mar.Special report: SkjomenDetails
• WO 252/4461943 Aug.Special report: central Jaeren and the Stavanger PeninsulaDetails
• WO 252/4471942 Mar.Special report: approaches to Trondheimsfjorden and AsfjordenDetails
• WO 252/4481942 JuneSpecial report: cross country routes from Glomfjord into SwedenDetails
• WO 252/4491943 JulySpecial report: the Trondheimsfjorden area
• WO 252/4501942 Dec.Special report: Sömn Peninsula, BrönnöysundDetails
• WO 252/4511942 Dec.Special report: StordöyDetails
• WO 252/4521943 Jan.Special report: hiding places for small craft in approaches to StordöyDetails
• WO 252/4531943 Mar.Special report: Tysfjorden-Skjomen areaDetails
• WO 252/4541943 JulySpecial report: A/S Sörvaranger iron ore worksDetails
• WO 252/4551943 Oct.Special report: western approaches to Solsviksund and SvaelgenDetails
• WO 252/4561942 Jan.Special report: ÅlesundDetails
• WO 252/4571944 MaySpecial report: Listerfjord, southern Jaeren
• WO 252/4581942 JulySpecial report: Banak-Ivalo-Laanila roadDetails
• WO 252/4591942 Feb.Ekersund and Stavanger ports and beachesDetails
• WO 252/4601942 Feb.Kristiansund NorthDetails
• WO 252/4611943 Feb.KvenangenfjordenDetails
• WO 252/4621942 Oct.Escape routes from Vermork to the Swedish frontier



Cheers, Tom

[Vegard T]

Marøy might come under these:
• WO 252/4181943 Dec.Special report: west coastDetails
• WO 252/4191943 Jan.Special report: west coast, Vega to DonnaDetails
• WO 252/4551943 Oct.Special report: western approaches to Solsviksund and SvaelgenDetails

[Vegard T]

Would the cleaning up post-war also be documented? I know there were British forces involved in helping to clean up the fort just after the war, I suppose they would have done an inventory before hauling the guns, shells, ammunition, equipment etc away?

Thank you so much for your help so far btw Tom

[thorne83]

No problem Vegar. A couple more possible files for consideration:

COASTAL FORTIFICATIONS IN NORWAY AND HOLLAND. Report by J.P.S. C.O.S. Meeting 1945: 204th.
War Cabinet and Cabinet: Joint Planning Committee, later Joint Planning Staff, and Sub-committees: Minutes and Memoranda (JP, JAP and other Series). COASTAL FORTIFICATIONS IN NORWAY AND HOLLAND. Report by J.P.S. C.O.S. Meeting 1945: 204th.
Collection:Records of the Cabinet OfficeDate range: 22 August 1945 Reference:CAB 84/74/16

COASTAL FORTIFICATIONS IN NORWAY AND HOLLAND. Note by Secretary.
War Cabinet and Cabinet: Joint Planning Committee, later Joint Planning Staff, and Sub-committees: Minutes and Memoranda (JP, JAP and other Series). COASTAL FORTIFICATIONS IN NORWAY AND HOLLAND. Note by Secretary.
Collection:Records of the Cabinet OfficeDate range: 08 August 1945 Reference:CAB 84/74/15

These are just from typing in various key words (defences/fortifications/norway/coast etc) into the search function at TNA:
Discover our collections | The National Archives

May have another play around later, but off to do some work shortly!

Cheers, Tom