BACKGROUND
Spoiler
At the transition to the 1980s, developments in the Cold War again went in a negative direction, and many believed that Norway’s freedom was threatened by the uncertain situation in the world. The coldness between the superpowers the USA and Soviet Russia characterized the present. Norway was then in a dilemma, as Europe was “split in two”. In Eastern Europe, the old leader of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, Breznjev, vigorously built up the military with new departments of highly trained special forces and Nuclear rockets aimed directly at Western Europe. Because of this, people began to wonder if they were planning an attack against the countries in the west.
Militarily speaking, Norway was in a very vulnerable position. With the Soviets’ very modern submarines, they could reach any target in Norway with Nuclear rockets. US President Reagan urged all NATO countries, including Norway, to equip their defenses to meet the threat from the east. And Norway’s fresh-faced Minister of Defense Anders C. Sjaastad immediately set about increasing Norway’s defense budget sharply. Since, as is known, for a long time there has been little will to invest in and strengthen the Norwegian defense over the years, which has even been painfully experienced, Norway’s defense capability was not great at this time, they did not have modern equipment, nor enough soldiers. In fact, Norway even used horses in defence!
The new Minister of Defense and other social leaders in Norway had already come under the spotlight of the Soviet Spetznaz, and Norway’s King King Olav V, the Minister of Defence, Kåre Willoch and Sven Hauge, were now their main targets. When this became common knowledge, the fear of war spread throughout Norway.
The new Minister of Defense and other social leaders in Norway had already come under the spotlight of the Soviet Spetznaz, and Norway’s King King Olav V, the Minister of Defence, Kåre Willoch and Sven Hauge, were now their main targets. When this became common knowledge, the fear of war spread throughout Norway, and it would later appear that there was a very good reason for this fear, and there was a good reason why one had to be on the defensive. Suddenly, one day in May 1984, the entire Soviet Navy set course for Northern Norway. Early in the early 1980s, the Norwegian military intelligence service was supposed to know that the Soviet Union had concrete plans ready for an eventual attack on Norway.
The Soviet attack plans meant that the Soviet army could first move across the border into Finnmark, as the open landscape of Finnmark would be easy to conquer with tanks. Parallel to this, the Soviet navy would send landing craft south into the deep fjords of Troms to land army forces. These would then be escorted by combat vessels, supported by aircraft and special forces into the deep Norwegian fjords to take ports, airports and other important infrastructure. They had enough landing craft stationed at Kola to send in considerable forces in them. Which I understand meant tanks as well, according to photos and videos in a documentary. At the same time as this, an enormous column of heavy military vehicles would be able to move from the Soviet Union and through Northern Finland, heading for Storfjord in Troms. Parachute troops would rain from the sky, and there, in Troms, there would be an unparalleled war.
POSSIBLE LOCATIONS
Spoiler
As mentioned in the documentary from NRK, the soviet forces invasion would have included to firstly go over the borders by Finnmark, as this open landscape would make it easy to conquer the area with tanks and armored vehicles. So therefore I would suggest a couple of maps in this area.
At the same time as the landing craft and warships were to go “around” and enter the deep fjords in Troms, and the tanks were to cross the Norwegian-Russian border, an enormous column of military vehicles was to go from the Soviet Union through Northern Finland with course for Storfjord in Troms, here parachute troops would also be transported by plane, and probably the first and hardest battles would take place in Skibotn valley and the small locations along the Storfjord.
As I don’t know with certainty where the matches would take place if this had happened (of course), I take the starting point in the Storfjord area, and Skibotn valley where the road (only suitable road for transport) crosses the border and leads to Skibotn Valley. It looks like a decent place for sure, but I don’t think I’ll go into detail about exactly where the matches would take place, I think this would be best for the developers if this proposal were to go ahead. (more options)
I have chosen 3 locations, which to me seems like possible locations if the invasion happened, and which could be suitable for a map in the game.
Spoiler
This, is an area widely believed to be where the fighting would take place if Soviet Russia attacked Norway, and was therefore a place where NATO exercises (annual exercises) were frequently carried out. The way the terrain looks, and as this was one of the places they were reasonably sure would be the place where the matches would take place, I think this would be a pretty good location. The Soviet forces would then have entered through the valley, and probably battles would have taken place a little earlier in the valley as well, but there is mostly desolate countryside and a main road.
The expected route
The area from above
Spoiler
Judging from the location and the Soviet Russians’ purpose of taking control of critical infrastructure, this could be an alternative, the area is relatively flat and has some surfaces with both land and buildings. I don’t know if there are any special reinforcements here. but I think it could be an alternative
View from above to see relevation to Skibotn valley
Closer view from above of the location
Spoiler
When taking into consideration that the Soviet would try to capture important and critical infrastructure, such as airports and that stuff, the Barduforss airport, would highly likely be one of the most important places, as this is one of the most important airports in the country for the Norwegian air force. it is relatively close to where they would cross the border after taking the route trough Northern Finland. On the airport, i don’t think that would be much of a suitable place for a map (it is relatively open and flat…) but the area a little on the side of the location, or a bit of the airfield would be a nice location.
Screenshot in relevation to Hatteng
screenshot from above
SOURCES
Spoiler
NRK Documentary: Kald krig - NRK TV
Other articles
Kultur, Sunnfjord | Her var Kjell-Ragnar klar for ein russisk invasjon. Den kom 44 år seinare
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