The sinking of the German cruiser Blücher was one of the most decisive single events in modern Norwegian history.
On the night of 9 April 1940, several German warships sailed in line ahead into the Oslofjord, without their flanks being secured. It was a bold move. The plan was to dock in Oslo and thereby force the King and government to surrender. Leading the flotilla was the cruiser Blücher. After being hit by gunfire and torpedoes in the narrow Drøbak Sound, Blücher was severely damaged and sank. The rest of the flotilla turned back. The attack had failed.
Until recently, there was general agreement that the damage caused by the gunfire was the direct reason the ship eventually sank. However, new research based on the wreck as an archaeological source now reveals a different sequence of events, offering a new understanding of the causes of the sinking.
Jørgen Johannesen (NMF Conservator) is a maritime archaeologist at the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
Welcome to a lecture at Stavanger Maritime Museum, Strandkaien, Stavanger, on Thursday 5 November, 19:00–20:00.
