Norway, 1940

The author of this examination of the Norway campaign of 1940 contends that the courage and steadfastness of the British forces contrasted with what he regards as the cowardice and incompetence of the government which put them in impossible situations and, having put them there, dithered and vacillated. He argues that, on both sides of the Channel, the national leaders - Churchill excepted - were engrossed in playing politics at a time of deadly danger; that soon France paid the price; and that Britain came near to the same fate. Kersaud offers evidence of what he believes to be the depths of dishonour to which Britain descended in deceiving its Norwegian ally. The book's hero is Hakkon VII, King of Norway, whose wisdom and foresight are contrasted with what are described as the "ignoble futilities" of more powerful nations. Hitler's obsession with Norway is seen as equally decisive, and an important factor in his subsequent misjudgments. Francois Kersaudy is the author of "Churchill and de Gaulle".