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The Blucher, a distinguished member of the Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruisers, constituted a pivotal component of Germany's formidable naval force during a tumultuous era. This story aims to narrate the submersion of the Blucher in the depths of the Oslo Fjord for an epoch spanning over eight decades.
The post-World War I geopolitical landscape was significantly shaped by the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed stringent limitations on Germany's naval capabilities, encompassing both the number and specifications of battleships and cruisers.
However, the mid-1930s witnessed Germany's formal renunciation of the Treaty of Versailles, thereby catalyzing the emergence of the Admiral Hipper-class cruisers within the ambit of the German Navy, known as the Kriegsmarine. This naval development heralded the resurgence of Germany's military prowess, aligning with its strategic ambitions for European dominance.
The fateful day of September 1, 1939, marked the initiation of Germany's invasion of Poland, instigating the cataclysmic conflict that would become World War II. Despite declarations of war by France and Great Britain, Poland succumbed to both German and Soviet forces by early October. Simultaneously, the Soviet Red Army invaded Finland in late November 1939, embarking on the Winter War. Against this tumultuous backdrop, Germany recognized the strategic significance of Scandinavian neutrality, particularly Sweden and Norway, in facilitating the flow of vital iron ore crucial for its war machine.
The intricate network of iron ore supply routes, emanating from the mining towns of Gallivare and Kiruna in Sweden and culminating at the port of Lulea, traversed the Baltic Sea. However, the vagaries of heavy snowfall during December to April rendered the Lulea route unreliable, compelling Germany to heavily rely on the Norwegian route. The awareness of this strategic vulnerability prompted vigilant monitoring by Britain of ore exports from Sweden and stringent control over the North Sea through the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. Operation Wilfred further exemplified Britain's efforts to curtail German shipping activities in the North Sea, prompting apprehension within the German high command.
By January 1940, the British Navy's maneuvers, coupled with the perceived threat of a Norwegian invasion by Britain, propelled Germany to undertake the construction of the Bismarck, a formidable battleship. Concurrently, on February 16, 1940, British naval forces intercepted the German tanker Altmark south of Stavanger, leading to a confrontation resulting in casualties and compelling a reassessment of Norway's neutrality by the German High Command.
The subsequent directive, Operation Weserubung, mandated the invasion of Norway to secure control of its waters and safeguard the vital iron ore supply routes. The German High Command allocated six naval units, prioritizing the capture of Oslo. The intricacies of this operation involved amphibious landings supported by paratroopers, reflecting meticulous planning to achieve strategic objectives.
Norway, under King Hakon VII's constitutional monarchy, became the focal point of German ambitions to establish supremacy over Scandinavia. The plan involved infiltrating puppet elements within the Norwegian government, gradually paving the way for German dominance. Amphibious landings, supported by airborne troops, were intended to secure strategic locations. The period between April 3 and April 7, 1940, witnessed the departure of three groups of supply ships from German ports, with Group-5, comprising the Blucher, Lutzow, Emden, torpedo boats, and support ships, embarking on a mission to occupy Oslo.
As Group-5 advanced toward Oslo on April 8, 1940, the Blucher, leading the fleet, encountered the vigilant Norwegian auxiliary patrol boat Paul III. Warning shots were exchanged, setting the stage for the impending clash in the Oslo Fjord. The German fleet skillfully navigated through Norwegian defenses, with the Drobak Narrows emerging as a critical juncture defended by the Oscarsborg fortress.
Colonel Berger KR Erickson, the garrison commander at Oscarsborg, faced the daunting task of defending the Drobak Narrows against the formidable Blucher. The Oscarsborg fortress, armed with 28cm Krupp-made guns and 15cm Huswick-based guns, posed a formidable defense. In the early hours of the fateful morning, the Blucher, under the command of Konteradmiral Oscar Kummetz, made the decision to enter the narrow space just before sunrise.
As the Blucher approached, Norwegian auxiliary boats patrolling the Narrows spotted the German fleet. Despite valiant efforts, the Norwegian defenses could not prevent the Blucher's entry. The Oscarsborg fortress, lacking radar facilities, relied on searchlights and visual identification. At 4:15 a.m., searchlights illuminated the Blucher, exposing its massive size and firepower.
The Blucher, commissioned in 1937, boasted formidable armaments, including torpedo launchers, mounted guns, anti-aircraft batteries, and accommodation for over 1,300 personnel. Powered by steam turbines and oil-fired boilers, the Blucher could cruise at 32 knots. It played a pivotal role as the flagship in Operation Weserubung, tasked with the capture of Oslo.
Oberst Birger Eriksen, the commander of Norwegian troops, grappled with the dilemma of whether the approaching ship was friend or foe. Norway's pre-war neutralization rules prohibited firing in haste, necessitating a warning shot. However, the Oslo Fjord fortress had already fired a warning shot hours earlier. Eventually, at 04:21 a.m., Eriksen ordered his troops to open fire as the Blucher approached within 1000 yards.
The initial salvo severely damaged the Blucher's tower, rendering one cannon unusable. Subsequent rounds targeted the hanger, causing extensive damage. Norwegian coastal batteries at Kopas and Husvik joined the fray, intensifying the onslaught. The Blucher's fire-fighting equipment was disabled, exacerbating the chaos within the cruiser. The Norwegian batteries, though evacuated, continued their relentless barrage, inflicting further damage.
The Blucher, ablaze and heavily damaged, continued its advance.
Kommandorkaptein Anderssen, stationed at the torpedo battery, seized the opportunity to launch 40-year-old Whitehead torpedoes. The first torpedo, striking near the front turret, caused minimal damage. However, the second torpedo, adjusted for accuracy, struck amidships, resulting in catastrophic damage.
At 4:40 a.m., the cruiser Lutzow, witnessing the Blucher under heavy attack, retreated out of the Oscarborg batteries' range. The Husvik battery, facing repeated attacks, contributed to the Blucher's dire situation. Near the Askholmene islands, north of the fort's guns, the Blucher attempted to combat the flames, launching torpedoes ashore to prevent explosions on board. However, the intensity of the fires led to a massive explosion at 5:30 a.m., causing the cruiser to tilt, turn upside down, and sink completely by 6:00 a.m.
Approximately 1000 German personnel lost their lives in the incident, with the freezing waters posing a grave risk to those unable to reach the shore within twenty minutes. Later in the day, around 500 Luftwaffe bombs targeted the fort, causing damage to buildings but no casualties. The events of that morning thwarted the capture of Oslo, enabling the escape of the Norwegian royal family, parliament members, and cabinet officials. Norway's gold reserves were safely transported to the Allies.
Colonel Eriksen, acknowledging the futility of further resistance, agreed to cease fire on the evening of April 9th. On April 10th, the Oscarsborg fortress surrendered to German forces. In a remarkable testament to the efficacy of a century-old stronghold manned by inexperienced recruits armed with outdated weaponry, Oscarsborg had fulfilled its purpose by preventing the invader from reaching the capital.
The sinking of the Blucher stands as a poignant episode in naval history, encapsulating the clash between tradition and modernity, resilience against overwhelming odds, and the triumph of strategic foresight over brute force. The valor of Norwegian defenders at Oscarsborg echoes through the annals of military history, underscoring the significance of steadfastness in the face of aggression. As the Blucher rests silently beneath the waters of the Oslo Fjord, the legacy of that fateful encounter endures as a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who safeguarded their nation against an impending tide of war.
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