Question about Petsamo

[krimsonglass51]

Did Marineoberkommando Norwegen also cover the Finnish arctic coast, aka Petsamo?

According to this document: http://apps.library.und.edu/nuremberg/pdf/NOKW097.pdf, MOK Norwegen was tasked with destroying coastal defenses and defending the northern Norwegian coastline in coordination with the 20th mountain army, which was supposed to evacuate Lapland and Finnmark. I was curious if MOK Norwegen carried out these operations in both Finnmark and Petsamo.

[Darius333]

Maybe start here:
http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/km/mgk.htm

Regards

Darius

[krimsonglass51]

Was there coastal artillery at Petsamo?

[igorr]

MOK Norwegen was main navy commando in all water north of Skagerrak, and Finnmark included. If we go down with commando line, there was Admiral der norwegischgen Polarkuste and Kommandant der Seeverteidigung Kirkenes. Last one was highest commander directly in Petsamo area. Alas, documents of APK and SK for 10.44 not survived. Only KTB and Anlagen of AN.
There was 2 types of coastal artillery at Petsamo: naval and army. 1. and 2./MAA 517 belongs to sailors, 1., 2. and 3./HKA 773 - to soldiers. Naval guns guarded fjord entrance and army guns were positioned near port of Liinahamari.

[Natter]

Locations:

[RandJS]

Hi,

Check the extensive information here, which includes some information regarding the movement of batteries:

http://www.nuav.net/festnorw.html

Regards,
Rand

[igorr]

Locations:

HKB ?./773 Tuulivuono never exist
Torpedobatterie and MKB Suomi were not completed.

[krimsonglass51]

"Army (A.O.K.) considered the following immediate measures necessary in order to insure a coordinated leadership of the operation:

"1) The tactical and supply subordination for the LXXI Infantry Corps under 20th Mountain Army as far as required in the preparatory and introductory withdrawals leading toward the Lyngen positions.

"For the time being, the leadership of the fighting around the north Norwegian coast must remain in the hands of the commander Polar Area under the headquarters of the Wehrmacht Commander Norway.

"2) The regulation of the removal or of the destruction of the Coastal Artillery (including the Army Coastal Batteries) by the Military High Command Norway in agreement with the 20th Mountain Army.

"4) Permit to destroy all war important industrial installations in the north Finnish and the north Norway area; in particular that of the nickel works Kolosjoki and its"subsidiary electricity works and of the Syd-Varanger plant on the basis of the orders to be issued by the 20th Mountain Army.

"5. Appointment of the O.Qu. of 20th Mountain Army "Evacuation Commissar" of the entire theatre of operations, east of the Lyngan position. This requires particularly the subordination of all Wehrmacht units and of all non-military organizations because combat and movement of the 20th (Mountain) Army including the LXXI Infantry Corps stands in mutual relation to the evacuation.

"6. The cover name for the withdrawal on the Lyngen position "Nord-licht" (Northern lights).

From here: http://library.und.edu/digital/nurember ... /26/page/7
and here: http://library.und.edu/digital/nurember ... /26/page/8

That was from the document laying out the initial plans for Operation Nordlicht. So I guess from this document, Operation Nordlicht actually consisted of /both/ the retreat of the 20th Mountain Army across Lapland and Finnmark, /and/ Oberkommando Norwegen destroying naval installations in Finnmark and Petsamo?

[igorr]

Operation Nordlicht for MOK Norwegen means in first place evacuation of XIX (geb.) AK by sea with huge stocks of materials, accumulated for coming winter.

[Natter]

Torpedobatterie and MKB Suomi were not completed.

Yes, of course (hence the missing numbers...).

HKB ?./773 Tuulivuono never exist

It has shown up in some sources. Was it a planned battery that never was established, or perhaps a planned location for one of the other HKB's?

[igorr]

I'll never see this place as batterie in any german docs, naval or army. Perhaps this was place for one of observation posts.

[Natter]

Ok. Thanks.

[Swing]

Finnish Wikipedia (https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/1941):

6. helmikuuta − Suomen Moskovan-lähettiläs J. K. Paasikivi ehdotti Petsamon luovuttamista Neuvostoliitolle...
6th of February - The Finnish Ambassador in Moscow, J. K. Paasikivi, proposed transfer of Petsamo to the Soviet Union...

Does anyone know the details of this proposal?