6th Division (Norway)

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6th Division
Insignia of 6th Division from 1991 until disbandment
Active1897 – 1 August 2009
Disbanded1 August 2009
Country Norway
Branch Norwegian Army
Garrison/HQHeggelia, Norway
Battle honoursWorld War II
Commanders
Last Commander

The 6th Division (Norwegian: 6. divisjon) is a former Norwegian military formation.

History

The pinnacle of this division's service was during

Battle of Narvik.[2]

The Germans took Narvik at the beginning of the battle, but it was retaken 28 May in what became known as the first major victory for the Allies in World War II. However, the successful German attack on France forced the Allied task force to evacuate, which they did in June. As a result of the withdrawal of allied air and naval support the Norwegians were forced to lay down their arms and demobilize.

In one of the most controversial episodes in history of Norway's role in World War II General Fleischer ended his life in 1942, after being sent to Canada as the Norwegian military attaché, a role that was basically a demotion.

After the demobilisation, 6th Division was disbanded. However, when Norway was liberated in 1945, the division was immediately re-established. One long-term consequence of the action at Narvik was the close cooperation between the British military and Norwegian Army, along with close cooperation with France's alpine forces.

During the

Garrison of Sør-Varanger.[3]

After the end of the Cold War the 6th was re-organized in 2002, as part of an overall reform of the Norwegian Armed Forces.

Final organisation

In its peacetime organisation, 6th Division consisted of approximately 1,200 commissioned and non-commissioned officers (COs and NCOs), with approximately 3,000 enlisted soldiers and 200 civilian support staff. In wartime, its numbers could exceed 12,000 in total.

Being the only division in the Norwegian Army, the 6th utilised a wide range of modern combat equipment. Its heaviest weapons included

snowmobiles and light off-road vehicles. Their airlifting capabilities were provided by the Tactical Helicopter Group of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, which is stationed at Bardufoss
. The division's motto is "Styrke for fred, evne til strid", or "Strength for peace, capability for war".

Subsidiary units

  • Brigade Nord - Mechanised infantry brigade including armoured and artillery battalions.
  • 6th Brigade - Light infantry reserve brigade.
  • Army Ranger Command
    .
  • Border Guard Battalion.
  • Intelligence & EW Battalion.
  • Home Guard - Although technically a separate branch from the Army, all Home Guard districts are under the 6th Division mobile Command.

The 6th division also included a number of support functions such as engineering and NBC units. The 6th Division was disbanded on 1 August 2009.

Insignia

The 6th Division has utilized different insignia throughout its history.

  • First insignia used between 1955 and 1957
    First insignia used between 1955 and 1957
  • Second insignia used sometime before 1979 until 1983
    Second insignia used sometime before 1979 until 1983
  • Third insignia used between 1983 and 1991
    Third insignia used between 1983 and 1991
  • Forth and last insignia used between 1991 and 2009
    Forth and last insignia used between 1991 and 2009

References

  1. ^ Lunde, (2010), p. 132.
  2. ^ Mann & Jörgensen, 2003, p. 59.
  3. ^ Thomas & Volstad 1987, p. 6.

Bibliography

  • Henrik O. Lunde (2010). Hitler's Pre-Emptive War: The Battle for Norway, 1940. Casemate Publishers. .
  • Chris Mann; Christer Jörgensen (2003). Hitler's Arctic War: the German campaigns in Norway, Finland, and the USSR, 1940-1945. MacMillan. .
  • Thomas, Nigel; Volstad, Ron (1987). NATO Armies Today. Elite 16. Oxford: .