In the Arctic circle, heavy snow falls, effectively closing down this front, not that any significant events had occurred here since October. Further south, the air is cold and crisp, with the muddy conditions becoming stable underfoot and allowing easy vehicle movement on the roads and tracks. At sea however, the conditions are attrocious, with wild North Sea storms lashing those ships unlucky enough to be caught at sea.

Bodo

At Bodo, the US commander sends his tanks north to block the straits crossing at 0914. Reports have been received from spotter aircraft of a large German battlegroup, some motorised units attached, are heading south at great speed, and the straits crossing is selected at the best place to hold them while Bodo is invested. Using Sunderland Flying Boats as tactical ground support, the American forces attack the 270 Fortress XX holding the port. This unit has long been prepared for this attack and numerous traps and minefields hamper the attacking American infantry who are forced to call off their attack, albeit with minor losses only. Planes continue to take off from Bodo Airfield causing anxious enquiries from Allied theatre command to the US Corp commander as to when he expects to take the city. “Soon” is the confident reply.
(2:1 -2, AS result)

Bergen

Royal Marines take Tysnes Island, rounding up the German Coastal Artillery troops who quickly surrender, convinced the war is lost.

Main battle front – south of Trondheim

An attack by British infantry and Norwegian Mountain troops against the 3rd Mtn XX and 69 Cadre fails to make any impression on the Germans. The British and Norwegians are exhausted after climbing numerous ridges and when their attack goes in it is poorly timed and results in the attack stopping almost immediately. Few casulties are suffered and the Corp commander is asked for an explanation from the Army C-in-C.
(2:1 -2 AS result)

South and east of this action, the Canadians and mountainers of the 52nd XX again attack the hapless 702 Static XX, forcing them back again despite the protection of mountain defences. This attack is critical for the Allies, as it effectively means the mountain barrier to the south has been breached. Standing atop the mountain ridge line looking south, the Canadian Corp commander can look down the long deep valley full of forest. To one side is the Glomma River. The German line has been cracked open and the British and Canadians can now leave the cold mountains and return to more hospitable altitudes.
(5:1 -2, DR result)

Oslo

Norway C-in-C orders units to fall back from the mountains to try and throw up a stabilised front along the Glomma River. The sub-units of the 214 Infantry XX reform into their parent body, relieving the 3rd Mountain XX facing the British 49th and 15th XXs. The 3rd heads south to try and build a defence line along the Glomma. The Mountain troops march furiously to get to their positions in time, driven by their NCOs and Officers who squeeze every ounce of energy from their men.

Proudly marching out of the city, the Norwegian collaborationist Hird Brigade march to join their German comrades at the front line. As they enter the thick forests along the Glomma, locals ask them if they had heard what happened to the SS police units only a few weeks before. Officers of the Hird try to recruit locals through night time torchlight rallies and veiled threats, but the locals remain unimpressed.

At the airbase outside the city, the Luftwaffe ground crews bring back into service two Ju 88 wings.

Bodo

The Luftwaffe commander announces to the garrison commander of Bodo that he is unable to maintain the integrity of his units under the increasingly heavy and accurate fire from the US artillery on the perimeter. His bomber wings must be flown out to Narvik to ensure they are not overrun and can continue to provide a threat against Allied sea power. The Garrison commander waves him away in disgust – he knows the Battle for Bodo will not be won in the air but in the trenches outside the city.

Huguersund

Todt engineering staff are photographed proudly in front of their latest work – the upgraded port fortifications, similar in design and strength to Stavanger’s and Kristiansand’s. Sullen conscripted Norwegian labourers and Yugoslav POWs are in the photo background.