Britain and France tried their best to control Norwegian waters, thus publicly destroying Norway's neutrality. Just after the New Year, the British government sent a note to the Norwegian government, claiming that the Royal Navy would never tolerate German merchant ships sailing freely in Norwegian waters. According to intelligence, the Norwegian government had reached certain secret agreements with the United Kingdom to allow the British and French teams to "enter" Norway to protect "Norwegian neutrality". Due to the urgent situation, the German Emperor instructed the General Staff to formulate a combat plan to fully occupy Denmark and Norway as soon as possible. For this reason, the German Army and Navy staff formed a special team to formulate an invasion plan code-named "Wisheshe Exercise".

Sweden among the Nordic countries carried out a common pro-German route. Finland was afraid of Soviet pressure before the war and tried to remain neutral. The Danes also tried to find a balance between Britain and Germany, while the Norwegian government favored Britain.

However, there are also a considerable number of pro-German forces in the Norwegian government. The National Alliance led by Defense Minister Jillins has always held a pro-German stance. After the Norwegian government reached a tacit understanding with the United Kingdom to allow Britain to send troops, Jillins revealed the content of the British-Norway secret agreement to the military officers of the German Embassy.

The German General Staff decided to launch an attack in early March.

According to the plan, in order to quickly achieve the purpose of the battle, the German troops participated in the war include the German Navy Rapid Fleet, the North Sea Fleet and the West Baltic Fleet, 6 Army Aviation Divisions and 2 Airborne Divisions, the 21st Army and the 31st Army, a total of 7 infantry divisions. In addition, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will also send a mountain hunting division to carry out Nordic operations with the German army.

As four Kings-class battleships are being modernized in the shipyard, five Bavarian-class battleships were damaged in the Far East and are being "treated". Among the fourteen battleships before the war, only five "Markensen-class battleships" were able to fight. While formulating the "Wisheshe Exercise" combat plan, the German Navy Commander-in-Chief Marshal Redel ordered the acceleration of the installation and testing progress of the newly built five "Germany"-class battleships, but at the same time, he ordered the naval shipbuilding department to complete the design plan to use the hulls of five "Scharnhorst-class battleships to be converted into aircraft carriers as soon as possible.

The five newly built German-class super battleships in the Second Empire have now completed the installation of the German, Marshal Rudendolf and Marshal Hippel, and are intensifying testing and can barely catch up with the expected battle in three months. Even if the construction is carried out, it will be difficult for the Navy to join the sequence. Even if the captain completes the project, the shipbuilding department will never allow a warship that has not been tested at sea to join the fleet.

As troops were needed to simultaneously deliver troops along the long coast of more than 1,000 nautical miles in Norwegian waters, Admiral Raidel suggested that warships rather than transport ships to transport troops to land in faraway Trondheim and Nalvik. According to the entire battle plan, Lieutenant General Wilheim Marshall commanded the first battle group composed of Admiral Spee, the Battleships of Markent Markenson and the Blücher aircraft carrier to Nalvik; Rear Admiral Erich Bey led the second battle group composed of the heavy cruiser Luzov, two light cruisers and four destroyers to Trondheim. Lieutenant General Gunther Lukins commanded the battleships of Prince William and Prince Frederick, and the aircraft carrier York.

The third battle group of the 3rd battle group went to Bergen; Lieutenant General Hubert Sumond led the fourth battle group composed of the aircraft carrier "Prince Albert", heavy cruisers "Von der Tann" and "Moltz", light cruisers "Cologne" and "Konn" and four destroyers to Stavanger; Lieutenant General Oscar Kumetz led the fifth battle group composed of the aircraft carrier "Luen", "Bismarck Marshal", "German battleships "Sedlitz" and "Deferringer" heavy cruisers went to Oslo; Lieutenant General Theodore Cranca led the sixth battle group composed of the battleships "Martyr Rudendolf" and "Admiral Hippel" to ensure the army's occupation and occupation.

According to the plan, the Battle of Denmark and the Battle of Norway will be held at the same time. The German army will land at six landing sites on March 16 from north to south on the Norwegian coast. The Navy needs to ensure the security of the maritime supply line and block the Skagerak Strait. In order to protect the security of the maritime supply line, the army must also occupy the Jutland Peninsula, Denmark, and the navy and airborne forces are responsible for seizing the port of Copenhagen and the Great Belt Strait.

In the following days, the German Navy began to speed up the testing and modification of the "Germany" class battleships, and installed a new range-finding radar for the new battleships. The comprehensive test project was finally completed in mid-February. Lieutenant General Oscar Kumetz was responsible for the training of three newly entered battleships.

On February 23, Lieutenant General Kumetz led three battleships including the "Germany" to conduct their first sea training after entering the service. During the training, the three "Germany"-class battleships actually ran a speed of 31.5 knots under full load, while the "Admiral Hippel" with a light load ran a high speed of 33.5 knots, which means that this class of new battleships can have the speed that can match the heavy cruisers in this era.

The Bay of Pomerania in February is still chilly, with clear sky above the sea. Three large German warships are undergoing maritime training accompanied by six destroyers. Fighters taking off from Rügen Island whizzing past the warships in combat formations from time to time, and sailors on the warships are busy manipulating the anti-aircraft artillery on the ships. Aiming and air defense training are conducted on these fighters.

In this era, the main guns of battleships have a rare opportunity to open fire, but air defense has become the main task of these expensive sea fortresses.

On the bridge of the "Germany", Lieutenant General Kumetz wore a brand new dark blue woolen coat and shook his head when watching the training on the warship. Less than half a month before the start of the "Wisser Exercise", the artillery training of the three "Germany"-class battleships was still unsatisfactory. So he ordered the fleet to stay at sea and continue to conduct shooting training. He did not return to the port for rest and replenishment until a week before the war began.

Although this gives people the feeling of sharpening a gun in the face of battle, generals who know the dangers of fighting still hope that their subordinates can conduct more training.

Four Queen Elizabeth, five “revenge”, three “hoods”, two “reputation” and two “Nelsons”, the British Navy at least looks like there are many battleships on the surface and are strong. In fact, the German Navy is not afraid of them. But the battle line of the Norwegian battle is too long. It is difficult for the German fleet with dispersed strength to withstand the opponent’s full-strength attack. It is certain that the British will not sit idly by and watch the fall of Norway.
Chapter completed!