NORWAY 1940-TORÅS FORTRESS READY FOR ACTION?

NORWAY 1940 –TORÅS FORTRESS READY FOR ACTION?

The German attack on Norway in 1940 could have been avoided if the news about the planning and military preparations of the attack on Norway had been understood and evaluated by the members of the Norwegian government. If the fortresses had been established to protect the capital of Norway, Oslo, the war might have been avoided?  A week ago, July 2016, I paid a private visit to one of the fortresses: TORÅS FORTRESS. Torås fortress was not ready for the German invasion in 1940.The fortress was not finished in 1940. No fighting took place at Torås fortress. The Germans finished  the building of the fortress in 1941. The fortress was equipped with four 15cm Bofors L/50 pieces. After the war , the Norwegian army reused Torås fortress.The fortress is situated at Tjøme, Vestfold.In 1999 the military activities on the fortress were closed. Information about the living conditions for people in the district during the war is presented in the book published by the local history association:Hvasser og Brøtsø Historieforening.The title of the book is: Øyboere i krig. The book is written by Einar Chr. Erlingsen and Kari Sundsåen. The story about Torås fortess and other military buildings ,are to be found on pages 146-155.