- Operation Renntier
-
This article is about the German military operation. For other uses of the term, see Operation Reindeer (disambiguation).
Operation Reindeer Part of the Arctic Theater of World War II Date June 22, 1941 Location Petsamo, Finland Result German victory Belligerents 
Germany
Soviet UnionStrength 2nd and 3rd Mountain Division
27,500 men[1]unknown 1941
Ladoga Karelia – Karelian Isthmus – East Karelia – Silver Fox – (Reindeer – Platinum Fox – Arctic Fox) – Petsamo – Hanko
1942
Suursaari – Someri
1944
1944 Soviet offensive – (Tienhaara – Tali and Ihantala – Vyborg – Vuosalmi – Nietjärvi – Ilomantsi)
Naval warfareSilver Fox – (Reindeer – Platinum Fox – Arctic Fox) – Raid on Kirkenes and Petsamo – Operation Rösselsprung – PQ17 – Operation Wunderland – Petsamo-KirkenesOperation Renntier (Reindeer) was a German operation during World War II intended to secure the nickel-mines around Petsamo, in Finland, against Soviet attack in the event of a renewed war between Finland and the Soviet Union.
The planning for the operation started on 13 August 1940, after the German occupation of Norway was complete, and was finalized in October that year. The plan called for the two divisions of the Alpine Corps Norwegen to occupy Petsamo and prevent Soviet capture of strategically important mines.
The operation was eventually carried out as part of Operation Barbarossa, the German attack on the Soviet Union. The operation commenced on 22 June 1941, and proceeded without any incidents. The German 2nd Mountain Division occupied the area around Liinakhamari and the German 3rd Mountain Division occupied Luostari.
The operation was followed up by Operation Platinfuchs, which was an attack by the two divisions against Murmansk as a part of the larger Operation Silver Fox.
Notes
- ^ Mann & Jörgensen (2002), p. 81
References
- Mann, Chris M. & Jörgensen, Christer (2002), Hitlers Arctic War , Hersham, UK: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd, ISBN 0711028990
See also
Categories:- Operation Barbarossa
- Battles and operations of the Soviet–German War
- Battles of World War II involving Germany
- Battles involving the Soviet Union
- Battles involving Finland
- 1941 in Finland
- 1941 in the Soviet Union
- 1941 in Germany
- Military history stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
