ABSTRACT
The Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939 had serious ramifications for the states that encompassed the Baltic Sea. In the wake of his agreement with Hitler, Stalin was anxious to bolster the USSR's defences against any invader approaching from the west. The occupation of Denmark was merely the opening phase of 'Operation Weserbung', an enterprise conducted by land, sea and air that was intended to bring the whole of Scandinavia's western rim within Hitler's grasp. The British Admiralty and Air Ministry had first compiled plans 'Operation Fuller' for use in such a contingency as early as April 1941. The atmospheric conditions had also played havoc with RAF Bomber Command's plans to bombard the German ships with over two hundred aircraft. The destruction of two capital ships at a cost of just four planes represented a tactical triumph for the Japanese and was another illustration of the emergent axiom that even a few aircraft might do tremendous harm, especially in maritime environments.
