Germany's six-hour conquest of Denmark in April 1940 was one of the shortest military campaigns of World War II, securing a staging ground for operations in Norway.
Key Facts
- Date of invasion
- 9 April 1940
- Duration of ground campaign
- Approximately six hours
- Time until PM ordered ceasefire
- Less than two hours
- Operation name
- Weserübung – Süd
- Danish Prime Minister
- Thorvald Stauning
- Part of broader operation
- Weserübung (also included Norway)
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Germany sought to use Denmark as a logistical staging ground for its simultaneous invasion of Norway and to secure supply lines for forces deployed there. Although initial plans called only for basing rights, Adolf Hitler demanded full invasion. The attack violated a non-aggression pact Denmark had signed with Germany less than a year before.
On 9 April 1940, German land, naval, and air forces invaded Denmark as part of Operation Weserübung – Süd. Facing a militarily inferior opponent, German forces encountered brief resistance. Within less than two hours, Prime Minister Thorvald Stauning ordered an end to opposition, fearing Germany would bomb Copenhagen as it had Warsaw. Isolated units fought on for another two hours before all resistance ceased.
Denmark capitulated after roughly six hours of fighting, making the campaign one of the shortest of World War II. Germany gained control of Danish territory and infrastructure, enabling the concurrent invasion of Norway. An extensive radar network was subsequently built in Denmark to detect British bombers targeting Germany.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Adolf Hitler (ordered invasion).
Side B
1 belligerent
Thorvald Stauning (Danish PM).