THE BATTLE AT GULSVIK
INTRODUCTION
This is a suggestion for a new Ground forces map, which will take place in Gulsvik, Flå municipality in Buskerud Fylke. This is based on an incident during the Second World War, as a result of the German invasion of Norway “The Battle of Gulsvik”. These battles took place between 12 and 28 April as part of the main front of Operation Weserübung in the east.
Gruppe Ritzmann was then a German battle group that was organized at Hønefoss and whose purpose was to break through Hallingdal in order to get to Western Norway and fight there. This group was formed by one and a half infantry battalions, which then had 5x Tanks, 1x 7.5cm artillery and air support. The tanks were Panzer-Kampfwagen II, Panzer-Kampfwagen I, Panzer-Befahlswagen I and Neubaufahrzeug, might be another or one more of one of these i just listed
HISTORY
This area around Hallingdalsporten (tunnel name) is a steep and bumpy road. The road in this area is still in the same place as it was in 1940. Just north of this “Hallingdalsporten” tunnel there are two bridges Tuva stone vault bridge and Gulsvik suspension bridge. The Gulsvik Bridge was built in 1906 and was Scandinavia’s longest suspension bridge when it was completed. These bridges are more or less the key to the emergence here.
During the night of 12 April, occupied soldiers who had come in from the Voss area in Western Norway under the leadership of Captain Arthur Hauge, to occupy the area around the bridges and train tunnels. There was a long wait for the soldiers, and it was not until the morning of 24 April that the battle group Ritzmann reached Gulsvik with infantry supported by several tanks
The German advance that went from the railway underpass at Kittilsviken Gård, past the hammer at the train tunnel and up to the bridges was particularly open and exposed. The Norwegian reinforcements had had plenty of time to prepare for the battle, and the tunnels provided good cover. As a result, the German losses were very significant. On the Norwegian side, they had 8 injured and one dead (It was Sergeant Ingval Oppedal and he died of cardiac arrest or some similar natural cause).
On the night of 25 April, the Tuva stone vault bridge was blown up and the Norwegian forces then gained enough headway to retreat pressed back to Flå, which was then approximately 8.5 Kilometers further north-west. But here there was already a new battle on April 26! and in the evening of the same day, the Norwegian forces move further up to Nesbyen, which is then around 32 kilometres. (note that the distance is slightly different now on the new modern road).
The Tuva brigde was rebuilt during the war, now as a suspension bridge. To this day, between the bridges there are still depressions in the terrain, which are supposed to be remnants of the Norwegian trenches
THE MAP
In the picture above is a drawing/sketch that shows how it went. The middle German arrow below “Kittilsviken” are the railway tunnel, the further right are a flank that goes up to Kittilsvik farm and out into the terrain/mountain side. and the Far left arrow is towards the tunnel which will then be known as “Hallingporten”. Here we also see the direction of the German reconnaissance planes, and the bombers came from. next we see the Norwegian positions
GAMEPLAY & LAYOUT
As for gameplay, I thought this could be based on the lower tiers, maybe frea 1.0 to 6-7.0 in br. This map can then have several layouts, either that it is based on the area north of the bridges or around the Gulsviktjernet. something might have happened at the sawmill further south
I’m a bit unsure where the possible spawns can be placed best, so I think the developers will have to do that if this ever becomes something, the same with where any zones can be placed. one of the zones should be on the bridge, as it is very important in this battle
COORDINATES OF THE LOCATION
60.386884146093, 9.57705474375487
PICTURES OF THE LOCATION OLD AND NEW
Spoiler
Brigde after the destruction
SOURCES
Spoiler
Book: Tyske tanks var sør i dalen
Print: J.W.Eide Forlag Bergen , Norway
Bindage: Ed.B.Giertsens Bokbinderi, Bergen
1.4.75
ISBN 82-514-0114-3
POLL
Would you like to see this in-game?
This post was made by
Til_Dovre_Faller
Also known as
Warthunder_Norway