Gudbrandsdal — Ruge imposes his line

General Otto Ruge, 57, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Norwegian army on 11 April 1940, two days after the German invasion, replacing General Laake. A staff officer renowned for his rigour, he inherits an army barely mobilised, deprived of armour, of modern aviation and of part of its arms depots seized in the very first hours.

From Oslo, German forces push north through the valleys. Ruge positions himself between the Randsfjord and Lake Mjosa to slow them in the narrow passes. His reasoning: hold long enough for British reinforcements landed on the coast to arrive in strength. If the Germans come up the Gudbrandsdal valley, they will threaten the rear of the Allies aiming for Trondheim further north.

Yet Allied plans and his own diverge. The British land at Andalsnes with the intention of marching on Trondheim. Ruge, for his part, judges it priority to consolidate the Norwegian line just south of Lillehammer, where his defence is being decided. The British brigades arrive poorly equipped, without maps or reliable communications. Ruge must decide on the tone to adopt with his allies.