Anatomy of a Campaign
The British Fiasco in Norway, 1940

Senior military commander assesses the reasons behind the ignominious failure of the British campaign in Norway in 1940.

John Kiszely (Author)

9781316646427, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 August 2019

390 pages, 25 b/w illus. 10 maps 1 table
22.8 x 15.3 x 1.8 cm, 0.64 kg

'The book is written in an engaging style, and short biographical sketches bring to life the major participants. The maps are excellent and an appendix with a useful timeline helps orient the reader … The book is recommended for readers interested in World War II and especially for students at professional military education institutions.' Corbin Williamson, H-War

The British campaign in Norway in 1940 was an ignominious and abject failure. It is perhaps best known as the fiasco which directly led to the fall of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and his replacement by Winston Churchill. But what were the reasons for failure? Why did the decision makers, including Churchill, make such poor decisions and exercise such bad judgement? What other factors played a part? John Kiszely draws on his own experience of working at all levels in the military to assess the campaign as a whole, its context and evolution from strategic failures, intelligence blunders and German air superiority to the performance of the troops and the serious errors of judgement by those responsible for the higher direction of the war. The result helps us to understand not only the outcome of the Norwegian campaign but also why more recent military campaigns have found success so elusive.

1. Introduction
2. 'A legitimate shadow'
3. Deciding to decide
4. Warning signs
5. 'The major project'
6. 'Hare-brained'
7. Taking stock
8. WESERÜBUNG
9. 'Something must be done'
10. The jigsaw puzzle
11. 'Something must be done'
12. 'Boldness is required'
13. 'An even greater prize'
14. Maurice
15. Sickle
16. 'We must get out'
17. The third dimension
18. 'In the name of God, go!'
19. 'A good dividend'
20. 'No time to lose'
21. The long retreat
22. Finale
23. Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Second World War [HBWQ], Military history [HBW], British & Irish history [HBJD1]