Command and Control of the First Modern Joint Campaign: the German Invasion of Denmark and Norway, April 1940

The German invasion of Norway and Denmark in April 1940 was the first example of a modern campaign with integrated land, air, and navy forces. The invasion was successfully executed without distracting forces from the pending invasion of Western Europe in May. It was also conducted in an environment of British naval superiority.

This paper, written for the Joint Military Operations Department of the Naval War College, focuses on the command and control relationships established by the Germans to accomplish the mission within these constraints. It analyzes the decisions made during planning and their effectiveness during execution, provides conclusions, and suggests lessons learned for joint command and control that are relevant today.