Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, interwar and Second World War

Battle of Drøbak Sound

Battle of Drøbak Sound was a battle fought on 9 April 1940 at Drøbak Sound, in what is now Norway. It was part of World War II, which ran from 1939 to 1945. The recorded result: Norwegian victory; German invasion force delayed; Evacuation of the Norwegian Parliament, Royal Family, and gold reserve.

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The German cruiser Blücher listing heavily to port after being hit by cannon fire and torpedoes from the Norwegian coastal fortress Oscarsborg. She sank a short time later.
The German cruiser Blücher listing heavily to port after being hit by cannon fire and torpedoes from the Norwegian coastal fortress Oscarsborg. She sank a short time later.. Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought9 April 1940
WhereDrøbak Sound, Norway59.701N, 10.593E
OutcomeNorwegian victory; German invasion force delayed; Evacuation of the Norwegian Parliament, Royal Family, and gold reserve
BelligerentsNorwayagainstNazi Germany
Casualties and lossesNoneand650-800 killed; 1,000 captured; German cruiser sunk; German cruiser damaged
Part ofWorld War II1939 to 1945

Where it sits in World War II

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313 placed engagements of World War II in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date9 April 1940
PlaceDrøbak Sound, Norway
59.701N, 10.593E
KindBattle, interwar and Second World War
Strength407 soldiers; 1 fortress; 18 coastal guns; 11 anti-aircraft guns; 2 protection guns; 1 torpedo batteryHeavy cruiser German cruiser; Heavy cruiser German cruiser; Light cruiser German cruiser; Torpedo boat German torpedo boat; 2 minesweepers
Casualties and lossesNone650-800 killed; 1,000 captured; German cruiser sunk; German cruiser damaged; 4 civilians killed; Sørland sunk; 1 cargo ship damaged
Commanders
  • Birger Eriksen
  • Oskar Kummetz
  • August Thiele
  • Erwin Engelbrecht
Battle of Drøbak SoundBattle of Drøbak SoundBattle of GjellebekkSiege of AkershusFirst Battle of MossBattle of Horten HarbourBattle of LangnesBattle of GjellebekkSiege of AkershusFirst Battle of MossBattle of Horten HarbourSkienGjøvikTønsberg100 km59.701N, 10.593E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1940

Battle of Drøbak Sound is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 70 in present-day Norway.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q567787, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Drøbak Sound, revision 1381293155, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.