A window of opportunity 1905

Swedish decision:
Facing a stand-off at sea the Swedish General Staff decided on the plans of assaulting the Norwegian border fortification though the Amphibious force was kept ready at Strömstad to keep the opponents in doubt as to what would be happening.

In the south a Regiment of the Bohus Detachment would move on Halden and Sarpsborg in front of the main Norwegian fortressline. A reduced 3. Fordelning would go west across the border from Töckfors heading for Örje.

The main effort would be undertaken by 1. Army now less one Fördelning guarding Scania in crossing the border further north at Charlottenberg heading for Kongsvinger Fortress to cross the Glomma River there or north of it and then turn west to mach on Kristianstad.
The force comprised the 2. and 4. Fordelning and parts of 3. while 5. and the Cavalry Fordelning's would make up the Army Reserve.
Advancing along the railway from Charlottenberg the about 50km to Kongsvinger should be possible to cover within a couple of days.



Kongsvinger had a dominating feature; above the town the fortress towered upon a hilltop at a bend in the river Glomma. The fortress was a depot for Norwegian troops in the area and as such well stocked with ammunition and other supplies. It had also during the days of tension had two new artillery batteries added to increase its defences.
The position of these hadn't been revealed to the newly created Swedish military intelligence unit which initially had to rely on British officers contracted to do the job in Norway.
Their main objective had been the Norwegian Navy base at Melsomvik as the Swedes themselves felt information on the older Norwegian fortresses such as Kongsvinger were adequete though Dressner, one of the British officers had been at Kongsvinger during summer and made a plan of the surrounds; though the new build batteries weren't on his plan.

The Fortress commanded the area and the crossing of river Glomma which included two bridges – an old road and a newer railway bridge.
There had been a proposal of commandeering trains from Charlottenberg for a rush up the railwayline to capture the bridges at Kongsvinger before the Norwegians would react.
That sounded too daring for the Swedish commanding officer of 1. Army.

The axis of advance had to great extend been dictated by the question of supply!
Railways from Sweden crossed the border at Kornsjö and went on to Halden and at Charlottenborg to Kongsvinger.
Of course smaller detachments, the most important being a Brigade of 1. Army moving cross country from Charlottenberg across a few forested ridges to be able to march on Kongsvinger from the east, would use local roads for the march and haul of supplies on wagons but the main route had to be along the railways to secure a steady flow of supplies.
That would of course dictate the axis of advance but would serve to make for fast movement of supplies in quantity to the front line.

If the Swedes and Norwegians didn't have much experience in the sphere of intelligence work the Danish Army was another kettle of fish; the Danish General Staff had a long history of intelligence work at home and in neighbouring countries mainly German States.
By 1904 captain Berthelsen head of General Staff Tactics Department would get a young First Lieutenant With married to Norwegian Gustava placed within General Staff 2. Bureau and soon sent abroad to work in intelligence building up networks in neighbouring countries including Sweden.

Besides supplying intelligence information to their Norwegian brothers the Danes also shipped off an Infantry Battalion the 26. Reserve Battalion of Fyn Liferegiment to bolster the defences of the Norwegian capitol. Along came a Cavalry Squadron of the Guards Hussar for reconnaisance duties.

If that is the case that there are some 'British officers' on holiday then i assume the Germans might send some of their officers on holiday as well.

Its a bit difficult to decide but seems those British officers were not in place in an official capacity though I may be wrong.

You mean England and France getting Germany aboard in making a joint statement.

So everybody who has a interest in and around the Baltic Sea. 

Assault, 20. September 1905:
Feeling what was brewing among the powers the Swedish command launched the attack on the Norwegian border fortifications preceded by a heavy artillery barrage which consumed an unexpected amount of artillery shells.
The Norwegian border fortifications mainly earthworks supported in some places by field guns was in most places overrun by superior Swedish numbers though it would take more than one attempt in quite a number of places.
The amassing of Swedish artillery proved its worth as it would take out quite a lot of Norwegian artillery in counterbattery duels but also consume precious amounts of shells. Still the depots were containing more which would be shipped up front.
The logistics had its hand in the axis of advance of the Swedish Army; the railways crossed the border in the south af two places at Kortsjö south of Halden and at Charlottenberg south of Kongsvinger. In the center to the east of Trondhjem and of course in the far north east of Narvik.


When the advance beyond the border began the difficulties began too.

The Norwegian troops were darn good marksmen; at 3. Fordelnings crossing of Öymark Sø to Örje the Norwegians effective rifle fire kept the Swedes low until arrival of artillery in numbers.
Several hours passed before the artillery had arrived, unlimbered and found the range to hit the Norwegians.
According to Clausewitz – called the armchair general by the Danes who had defeated him at Sehested 1813 – once operations began plans began to fall apart.
Once the artillery made itself felt the Norwegian defenders were driven back according the Swedes – preserving precious manpower according to the Norwegians.

In the south the Bohus Detachment Infantry Regiment moved up on Halden and then began digging in according to plan; waiting for the 3. Fordelning to deliver the blow on the Norwegians at Halden and open the advance on Sarpsborg along the railway.
At Strömstad on the coast the main force of Bohus Detachment waited for orders to board the barges and the warships that would carry them up Oslo Fiord for the amphibious assault.

Further north 1. Army columns advancing upon Kongsvinger Fortress on the river Glommen - which river further south was no small part of Norwegian defences in Østfold - made good progress having brushed aside the border guard; though being annoyed by numerous Norwegian franc-tireur/guerrillas long range rifle sniping on the march column as it proceded ahead.
Regularly squads or platoons of troops had to be detached to get rid of the annoying snipers who would be shot or hanged when found.
The terrain was hilly and forested with boulders strewn making for excellent terrain for a guerilla to operate in; difficult for a diciplined Army to traverse except in column if any speed were to be maintained. Speed being essential to the operation was going down.

The forward units of Norwegian troops had occupied all road and railway bridges making determined stands which time and again necessiated the deployment of artillery to the front of the advance guard to brush the defenders off the bridges.
The idea of running trains up the railway line to capture the bridges at Kongsvinger was becoming more and more of a pipe dream.

Indeed - more to follow including Naval action..