Norway WWII Group Build 2009
Welcome to the Norway WWII Group Build 2009. The startdate will be 5th January 2009, and the enddate will be 15th October 2009.
Operation Weserübung was the first invasion where the 3 German branches attacked in one force, Navy, Army and Air Force. Also the first combat that the German Paratroopers saw (After my knowledge). The invasion was set to Denmark and Norway. To take this GBs theme, I'll talk a bit about Norway.
The first action (Exept Polish subs sinking German ships) was an Arado seaplane launched from a German battleship. The Arado was reconing when the battleship was sunk by a Polish submarine. The plane had to land at a lake at Eide (just outside where I live) and the crew was warmly welcomed, until the next morning, 9th April '40 when Norway declared war on Germany (Or the other way around?). The crew was taken prisoners and the plane was our first war trophy.
But what the historybooks says was the start was the German heavy cruiser Blücher, loaded with planes, vehicles, fuel, oil, horses, musicians etc. It sailed up with Kampfgruppe 5 up the Oslofjord and got hit by two cannons at Oscarsborg fort, plus several torpedoes from a torpedobattery. That this ship blew up notified the Royal family, and they got to escape from Oslo, up to the area around where I live now, and escaped to England.
The fighting was way more than the Germans expected. It lasted for 2 months before Norway surrendered. The Germans did actually attack France before they got done with Norway. The last Norwegian position was Hegra fort outside Trondheim (my birth city, wohoo!).
Throughout the war, heavy resistance and some smaller battles took place. The resistance is considered as one of WWII's most fierce. A little unknown is that in the last months of 1945, the Russian Army entered northern Norway to aid the Norwegians. The Germans were totally stunned by this and pulled back, while burning everything. The Russians halted their advance after a while though. Norway is the only country that Soviet leaved without any discussion with the Western-allied after the war.
So that was a quick intro with some unknown incidents.
In case anyone by a chance wonder, the first German Panzer knocked out in Norway, was destroyed by a Hotchkiss 25mm FLAK gun, one of the most reliable and accurate FLAK guns during WWII.
The nations that are allowed for the GB is many. but to try to name them,
-Norway
-Germany
-Britain
-USA
-Sweden
-Poland
-Russia
-France (the Foreign Legion as well)
And probably some other I forgot.
Some further history and some of the vehicles/vessels/aircraft/weaponary used, see these three links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Campaign
http://hem.fyristorg.com/robertm/norge/ (Click "Get all the hard facts" for weaponary and such).
http://www.nuav.net/ndWW2.html
To get to the GB itself... This GB is posted a month before kick-off so people can get a months time to research and sign up for the GB. Everyone is welcome to join the GB after kick-off too!
Rules:
* All kinds of kit welcomed (The model must have been used in Norway between 9th April 1940 and 8th May 1945, and be modeled as one used in Norway).
* OOB and AM welcome. As well as scratchbuilt and conversions!
* Some kind of historical proof will be welcomed, for the a bit more special kits. If in any doubt, please just post a "Was this ever used in Norway WWII?". I'll be happy to reply, and maybe someone else have it too.
* Dioramas, vignettes and standalone models are all welcome!
* Unstarted kits. Unless pre-approval has been given.
* Badge is claimable upon completion of model ONLY.
* One or more builds allowed. If you finished a kit and want to build another for this GB, It's great! but only one badge though.
Here's the badge, hope you like!
Any questions/comments welcome.
Then I declare this GB open for signup.
-Huxy