The German Invasion of Norway began on April 9, 1940, during World War II. The operation, codenamed Operation Weserübung, aimed to secure strategic locations and resources, particularly iron ore from Sweden. German forces quickly captured key cities, including Oslo and Bergen, facing limited resistance from Norwegian and Allied troops. The invasion was part of Germany's broader strategy to control Northern Europe and prevent Allied access to the region. By June 1940, Norway was fully occupied by German forces, which established a military presence that lasted until the end of the war in 1945.