Narvik History

History

The Narvik region was inhabited as early as the Stone Age, as evidenced by the distinct rock carving of a moose found at Vassvik, northwest of the centre.

During WWII control of this strategic port was essential to the Nazi war machine, intent upon halting iron supplies to the Allies and usurping the bounty. In April 1940, 10 German destroyers ploughed through a blizzard to enter the port and sink two Norwegian battleships. Next day five British destroyers arrived and a fierce naval battle resulted in the loss of two ships on each side. In May British, Norwegian, French and Polish troops disembarked and took back the town.

But the Nazis didn’t retreat and the town was decimated, as evidenced by the remains of soldiers in the cemeteries and 34 ships of five nations (Norway, Britain, France, the Netherlands and Germany) in the harbour. On 8 June 1940 the Allies surrendered Narvik, which remained under German control until 8 May 1945.

Although the town was admirably rebuilt, downtown Narvik is less than prepossessing (some would say it’s ugly). Still, the surrounding fjord, forest and mountain country borders on the spectacular in all directions, and the trans-shipment facility bisecting the city still loads around 30 million tonnes of ore annually from train wagons onto ships.