Nordic ww2 timeline research.

[von Adler]

I have been considering writing a (hopefully short) timeline on a different ww2 in the Nordic countries.

There were in Sweden a political and military movement called "antingen-eller", meaning "either-or" which argued that Sweden needed either armed forced on the 1914 level (13 divisions) or make defensive pacts with its neighbours (Denmark, Finland and Norway) to counter any aggression as defined by the League of Nations collectively.

This movement, as opposed to the traditionalists within the army, were not above working with the liberals and eventually the social democrats. on defence and foreign policy issues, and was very popular among up-and-coming officers. Their greatest political ally was Foreign Minister Rickard Sandler of the Social Democrats, although they did have other powerful backers, such as Minister of Social Affairs Gustav Möller and to some extent the Defence Minister Per-Edvin Sköld (although he was never one to push for anything outside the government agreed policy). However, the faction lost a lot of influence when the discussions about a common defence of Åland went awry due to Colonel Airo's obstinate attitude (he considered the talks pointless as he did not believe that the Swedish delegation would get any political approval).

To some extent, Airo was right. I don't think any of the Nordic countries were up for a full defensive alliance in the 30s. But other things are possible. A slightly earlier investment in the military. Joint procurement of weapons. Standardisation of calibers to be able to support each other with ammunition. Ready institutions to funnel volunteers and material support. Joint exercises and sharing doctrinal and tactical experiences and development, and so on. All of which could help a lot.

I have a decent idea of what could cause the "either-ors" to be more successful in Sweden, and what could be done militarily and what kind of effect it would have, but I would love some help with the internal political situation in Norway, Denmark and Finland and what could help them increase defence spending somewhat, and be more receptive for cooperation with the other countries in the Nordics.

Calling
@Uff Da the optimist
@arctic warrior
@DrakonFin
@Karelian
And anyone else who think they got something useful.

 

[von Adler]

As an example, Sweden, Denmark and Norway used the same ammunition - 75x278mm for their light artillery.

Sweden and Finland realised that 75mm light artillery was not effective enough and planned to replace it with 105mm Bofors howitzers (105 H/37 in Finland and 10,5cm Haub m/40 in Sweden), but had not gotten very far with it in 1939. In the meantime Sweden decided to mount the older 7,5cm Kan m/02 on split trail carriages to increase their range and rate of fire as well as installing updated optics and aiming aids. This should have been possible with the Danish and Norwegian 75mm guns as well. The Poles relined their 76,2mm M1902 Russian guns to use 75mm French ammunition and mounted them on split trails, so such a project should be possible for the Finnish guns as well to create a gun that uses the same ammo as the rest of the Nordics and have a range above 10km.

So, if a defence cooperation starts in the early 30s, that might be one of the results - the conversion may not be complete by 1939, but if say half the Finnish guns are converted and can thus source ammunition from the other Nordic countries, the Finnish artillery ammunition situation in the Winter War could be much improved.

 

[Uff Da the optimist]

I hope some other Norgies can help more, but basically here is the problem.
Norway was laboring under a delusion that being neutral and peaceful meant neutrality and peace.

“De bruke geværs politikk» (the broken rifles policy) was popular and prevalent in the Labour government.
You’d need an incident early enough to convince Norway that what it wanted meant nothing to the outside world.
Basically a vaccinating reality check.
Maybe some incident in territorial waters in ‘34?
Or a spy-incident turned shoutout between Abwehr and NKVD/MI5 in Oslo?

The problem with Sweden acting in good faith and offering mutual protection is the (relatively) recent break up between them an Norway.
“Cooperate with the Swedes? You mean submitting? Get this traitor out of here”.
So have one of the countries, preferably Norway, get its sovereignty violated early.

 

[von Adler]

I hope some other Norgies can help more, but basically here is the problem.
Norway was laboring under a delusion that being neutral and peaceful meant neutrality and peace.

“De bruke geværs politikk» (the broken rifles policy) was popular and prevalent in the Labour government.
You’d need an incident early enough to convince Norway that what it wanted meant nothing to the outside world.
Basically a vaccinating reality check.
Maybe some incident in territorial waters in ‘34?
Or a spy-incident turned shoutout between Abwehr and NKVD/MI5 in Oslo?

The problem with Sweden acting in good faith and offering mutual protection is the (relatively) recent break up between them an Norway.
“Cooperate with the Swedes? You mean submitting? Get this traitor out of here”.
So have one of the countries, preferably Norway, get its sovereignty violated early.

Yep - I don't think an actual defence treaty will be possible. But for Norway, the least change is necessary, since it is inherently so defendable. Even just heeding some of the warnings could be enough.

A diplomatic incident might do it. Perhaps some Czarist in exile leaking a plan to take Narvik to secure the iron ore railroad as an ice-free port from before 1914 (got to be plenty of such plans, it was army staff training to make such plans and/or some drunk military attaché from the Soviets saying that is a good idea at some point (because it would have been, strategically, if not for the extra enemies and so on). IIRC, Norway approved a massive increase in defence spending (200 million NOK) in late March/early April 1940. If you can bring some of that in a bit earlier, perhaps as some kind of Keynesian spending to relieve the lingering effects of the depression?

If the German-Soviet alliance is seen as more coherent and a bigger threat too?

 

[arctic warrior]

Interesting idea von Adler; the Danish position with the Socialdemocratic-Radikale Venstre(Danish Social Liberal Party) was a blocking of any rearmament though some interesting possibilities. RV was handling Foreign Affairs since the Socialdemocratic Party came to power 1924 because Stauning felt his Party didn't have the experience in this area. His coalition partner was very much against any armaments and lauded any kind of such. Stauning however by 1933 did have doubts about Danish Neutrality and began talking with the other Nordic leaders however Sweden felt the enemy to be the Sovietunion where Denmark had Germany as the one. None of the others wanted to aid Denmark and Stauning didn't want to be the watchdog of them. Because the Radikale Venstre was reluctant to survey the possibilities of building some form of alliance during his visits to the Nordic countries and Britain Stauning himself too that mantle upon him; the last place got told that "Denmark doesn't have a ditch over which to feed the Tiger" (in contrast to Norway) so mind your own business.
By the time of the 1935 elections Stauning seem to have realized that there was little to do and changed his mind to get the best of the worst when it came!
However!
During 1932 armaments talks the Conservative and Liberal Parties wanted increased Army and Navy and defences as such. The compromise actually laid the foundations for modernizing the Army with new weapons AT-guns, Autocannon dualpurpose AT/AA, more Automatic Infantry Weapons, homemade Artillery besides the existing 75mm Krupp guns - 10,5 cm Cannon - and 15cm/155mm Howitzers of Bofors/French make. Rifles were Norwegian Krag-Jørgensen 98 and Light/Heavy Machineguns Madsen all in 8mm cal. Light AT/AA guns Madsen 20mm. Infantry Guns Bofors 37mm AT. Motorization of Artillery begun which by 1940 would be half the Battalions. Modern Vickers 75mm AA guns. The Cavalry also began Motorization but still essentially Horsed.
1933 - 35 Stauning himself took the Ministry of Defence on his shoulders.
1937 the Army got even more modern equipment - Armoured Cars, an AT/Combatengineers-Regiment on Motorcycles just north of the Border.
The Navy's Commander Rechnitzer was actually a strategist but he failed to provide a clear order to his Commanders from the break out of hostilities in Europe to 9. April 1940 - and he didn't want to alert his Commanders 8. April 1940, which the Army decided to do anyway.

There is room certainly following Adolph Hitler forming Government 1933 that Denmark could have pursued an activist foreign policy; Stauning just needed some clear "Go" from the other Scandinavians or a Great Power preferably Britain to back him up. Government did ship the Gold Hoard out of Country 1939-40 and did procure stocks of fuel and raw materials to prepare for the worst when War was about to break out.

During the War scare following the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact 23 August 1939 the Navy was Armed and Ready and the Army called up troops - these were soon demobilized. By outbreak of War the Army again called up troops but most were soon demobilized though with Uniform so they could meetup and just have their Rifle and Kit issued.

The General Staff had some collaboration with the Swedish General Staff and had a small Intelligence Network in North Germany; the Military Attache at the Embassy in Berlin was quite energetic.

General With Chief of Staff untill 1939 had a clear perception of German intentions and expected North Jutland/Vendsyssel to be occupied so that the enemy would dominate the surrounding lands and waters with Airunits out of the new Airport at Aalborg!
To counter such an Infantry Battalion was moved up there during 1939 though north of the Airport and 8 April 1949 I. Battery 14 AA-Battalion was ordered to limber up for moving to Aalborg Airport..
Those two units in place at Aalborg would have made a serious change to events in Norway.

 

[Uff Da the optimist]

Yep - I don't think an actual defence treaty will be possible. But for Norway, the least change is necessary, since it is inherently so defendable. Even just heeding some of the warnings could be enough.

A diplomatic incident might do it. Perhaps some Czarist in exile leaking a plan to take Narvik to secure the iron ore railroad as an ice-free port from before 1914 (got to be plenty of such plans, it was army staff training to make such plans and/or some drunk military attaché from the Soviets saying that is a good idea at some point (because it would have been, strategically, if not for the extra enemies and so on). IIRC, Norway approved a massive increase in defence spending (200 million NOK) in late March/early April 1940. If you can bring some of that in a bit earlier, perhaps as some kind of Keynesian spending to relieve the lingering effects of the depression?

If the German-Soviet alliance is seen as more coherent and a bigger threat too?

Maybe a diplomatic incident. But the more screamingly obvious that might makes right is the guiding rule in international politics, the better.
If the armed forces are humiliated and shown obsolete, best of all.
Norway had a mentality that needed waking up.
Right before OTLs invasion they mobilized partly by mail.
So the government needs a clear example.
For that sake, maybe soviets during the Winter War commit a map blunder and invade Norway, fucking up the army before stopping when they realize they’re not fighting Finns?

 

[arctic warrior]

Not to repeat previously written You may look up https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...m-april-9th-1940-to-february-1st-1864.537104/ where I also have some very late events just prior to 9 April 1940.
The mentioned Aircraft construction is party to the late initiation of things but at least they tried doing something.

As may be seen in my earlier post I think Denmark rather easily during the years 1933-35 would rather like to join up the Scandinavians Brothers but also past that if the will to do things in unison would be present - Stauning had actually tried such in LoN with the Oslo-accords getting the other small states of Europe on to the band-wagon. At least Netherlands was positive.

Common development of munitions would be no problem as long as everybody got their fair share - Sweden have Bofors: Artillery Guns and Howitzers, AT-guns. Norway have Krag-Jørgensen rifle. Denmark have Madsen 20mm (and also 23mm) AT/AA Cannon, Madsen Machinegun in whatever calibre wanted. The Orlogsværft built aircraft as did the Army Air Corps.
If something could be streamlined since 1933 due to common threat stuff may happen.

 

[Karelian]

A POD regarding Åland in 1918 could be a key to better interwar relations and closer cooperation, but I can't think of an easy fix to the language strife and the way it resonated to Finnish foreign policy as well.

 

[von Adler]

So some of my ideas.

A Russian pre-1914 general staff plan (very rudimentary) for the invasion of Sweden and Norway, to take Narvik and the ore railrod and connect it to the Russian railroad network to have an ice-free port to get supplies from Britain and France is leaked by a white officer in exile. When asked to comment while drunk on a diplomatic function, a Soviet military attaché makes the faux pas of saying it was a good idea then and now, causing minor outrage in Sweden and Norway.

General Rappe after a heavy session of drinking is scolded by a superior about his behaviour and cannot remember what happened, and decides to swear of drinking spirits. His improved behaviour makes him say less politically stupid things in the wrong places, and he becomes more ingrained with the "either-or" faction through his engagement in the Finland question.

The Lappo movement moves up the ranks in their "drivings" (kidnapping politicians they saw as too soft, driving them to the border "to get them where they belong" and usually brutalising them pretty bad in the process) earlier, either Svinhufvud or someone else, leading to an earlier and much harsher crackdown on them in Finland. Perhaps their 1932 coup comes earlier and leads to some actual shooting instead of the leaders drinking the whole thing away - they lose even worse, and the worst people are actually imprisoned and some die. The whole thing is utterly disgraced.

All Nordic countries realise that some kind of defensive cooperation will be a good idea. Norway thinks they can get some industry and jobs out of it and get some increased military strength on the cheap by the cooperation. Finland hopes to gain support against the Soviets, Sweden and the now successful either-ors want defensive cooperation to keep the Germans and Soviets away as much as possible and Denmark sees possible support against a resurgent Germany. The politicians will squabble, and no actual treaties will come out of it, except a Swedish volunteer force ready day 1 and Swedish defence of Åland in case of a Soviet attack, partially due to Rappe being part of the Swedish negotiation team (him having been a volunteer in Finland 1918 helps with respect) and Mannerheim chairing the negotiations himself, negating much of Airo's attitude.

While the politciains squabble, the military and industry actually work decently together.

Bofors sets up Kongsberg, Tampella and a Madsen as subsidiaries. OTL they did this with MAVAG in Hungary and SMPzA in Poland and let them take orders Bofors themselves did not have capacity to deliver on. This should be pretty palatable to Finland, Denmark and Norway - the Norwegian broken rifles may protest about producing and exporting weapons of death and destruction, but getting jobs should make most people happy in the tail end of the depression. OTL both Kongsberg and Tampella were set up to produce Bofors guns, but Kongsberg got captured and then produced 40mm Bofors guns for the Germans.

The Swedish ambulance in Ethiopia becomes a Nordic ambulance and red cross field hospital. The order Ethiopia placed with Madsen slips through just before the French close Djibouti, and Madsen 20mm guns cause problems for the Italian air force during the campaign. A pissed off Italian air force officer orders that the Nordic red cross field hospital be bombed with mustard gas in retalation (OTL the Swedish red cross unit was bombed by the Italians, but not with gas). Nordic nurses wounded by gas make are paraded through the press and the outrage is real. An increased focus on air defence throughout the Nordics is the result.

Bofors, Tampella and Kongsberg get licenses to produce 20mm Madsens.

The militaries agree to standardise ammunition and weapons.

75mm light field artillery placed on newer Bofors split trail carriages will be the standard artillery piece until all countries have the funds to start replacing them with 105mm howitzers. Finland will need to reline their Russian guns, making their switch slower and a bit more expensive.

The 37mm Bofors becomes the standard AT gun.

The 20mm Madsen becomes the standard light AA and AT gun.

6,5x55 becomes the standard rifle caliber. Sweden and Norway develops a slightly modified round, say in 1938, that cycles well in both countries rifles (the m/94 had some compability issues that could cause stoppages) and makes it a spitzer round while they are at it. Finland and Denmark plan to switch to this round in the next 10 years.

8x64 becomes the standard heavy rifle caliber for vehicle armament, plane armament and AAMGs. OTL Sweden and Norway developed this jointly and adopted it 1932. I think the Danish 8mm round was very, very similar.

13,2x99 becomes the standard heavier round for airplane armament, to be replaced with the 20mm Madsen later.

The 9x19 becomes the standard pistol round and the Finnish KP-31 the standard SMG and the Lahti L35 the standard pistol.

Can Madsen develop a variant with a quickly interchangable barrel and carrying/changing handle for their LMG? If so, that might become the standard LMG.

 

[arctic warrior]

So some of my ideas.

All Nordic countries realise that some kind of defensive cooperation will be a good idea. Norway thinks they can get some industry and jobs out of it and get some increased military strength on the cheap by the cooperation. Finland hopes to gain support against the Soviets, Sweden and the now successful either-ors want defensive cooperation to keep the Germans and Soviets away as much as possible and Denmark sees possible support against a resurgent Germany. The politicians will squabble, and no actual treaties will come out of it, except a Swedish volunteer force ready day 1 and Swedish defence of Åland in case of a Soviet attack, partially due to Rappe being part of the Swedish negotiation team (him having been a volunteer in Finland 1918 helps with respect) and Mannerheim chairing the negotiations himself, negating much of Airo's attitude.

Stauning was in no way adverse to such but he needs the other PMs to agree and to view it as another question than just aiding Denmark; events during the Winter War showed that Danish Airmen were ready to aid the Finns though they had to go AWOL to do so - the Finns were very happy for their contribution.
So some agreement that will let Danish Pilots go aid the other nations if need be. I think it wrong for something like sending off part of the Danish Army to fight in other parts of Scandinavia than Scania or south Finland - the latter in summer simply due to it not having the training to do so. Airmen something quite different or Specialists as such, Engineers, AA-units or whatever.
Or the Danish Navy - the Submarines and Torpedoboats would be a valuable asset.
Of course for any of such joint exercises have to take place during peacetime to bring the message home with Germany and Sovietunion (and Britain!).

While the politciains squabble, the military and industry actually work decently together.

Bofors sets up Kongsberg, Tampella and a Madsen as subsidiaries. OTL they did this with MAVAG in Hungary and SMPzA in Poland and let them take orders Bofors themselves did not have capacity to deliver on. This should be pretty palatable to Finland, Denmark and Norway - the Norwegian broken rifles may protest about producing and exporting weapons of death and destruction, but getting jobs should make most people happy in the tail end of the depression. OTL both Kongsberg and Tampella were set up to produce Bofors guns, but Kongsberg got captured and then produced 40mm Bofors guns for the Germans.

The Swedish ambulance in Ethiopia becomes a Nordic ambulance and red cross field hospital. The order Ethiopia placed with Madsen slips through just before the French close Djibouti, and Madsen 20mm guns cause problems for the Italian air force during the campaign. A pissed off Italian air force officer orders that the Nordic red cross field hospital be bombed with mustard gas in retalation (OTL the Swedish red cross unit was bombed by the Italians, but not with gas). Nordic nurses wounded by gas make are paraded through the press and the outrage is real. An increased focus on air defence throughout the Nordics is the result.

Bofors, Tampella and Kongsberg get licenses to produce 20mm Madsens.

The militaries agree to standardise ammunition and weapons.

75mm light field artillery placed on newer Bofors split trail carriages will be the standard artillery piece until all countries have the funds to start replacing them with 105mm howitzers. Finland will need to reline their Russian guns, making their switch slower and a bit more expensive.

The 37mm Bofors becomes the standard AT gun.

The 20mm Madsen becomes the standard light AA and AT gun.

6,5x55 becomes the standard rifle caliber. Sweden and Norway develops a slightly modified round, say in 1938, that cycles well in both countries rifles (the m/94 had some compability issues that could cause stoppages) and makes it a spitzer round while they are at it. Finland and Denmark plan to switch to this round in the next 10 years.

8x64 becomes the standard heavy rifle caliber for vehicle armament, plane armament and AAMGs. OTL Sweden and Norway developed this jointly and adopted it 1932. I think the Danish 8mm round was very, very similar.

13,2x99 becomes the standard heavier round for airplane armament, to be replaced with the 20mm Madsen later.

The 9x19 becomes the standard pistol round and the Finnish KP-31 the standard SMG and the Lahti L35 the standard pistol.

Can Madsen develop a variant with a quickly interchangable barrel and carrying/changing handle for their LMG? If so, that might become the standard LMG.

The Danes kept the 75mm Krupp due to cost. They did build a 105mm Gun and could build a 105mm Howitzer instead. However the 75mm also had AP-rounds produced to be able to fight Tanks. A dual-purpose weapon el-cheapo created which would be forfeighted by switching to a 105mm Howitzer and then having to find another AT-gun. Besides the 75mm AA gun this was the only Field Artillery to have an AT capacity so if heavy AT-units should be set up this would require all new units to be created - in poor Denmark? Though if Stauning had his alliance of sort.. perhaps.
The KP-31 was being introduced by 9 April 1940. The Danish 8mm rifle cartrigde was apparently a 8x58mmR. Of course rifles could be rechambered or new ones made for the 6,5x55mm which seems to having been done actually - Madsen was able to deliver its small arms in almost any caliber.
Madsen also license produced the Bofors 37mmAT gun.
The Madsen 20/23mm Autocannon could be changed to a higher cyclic rate than manufacture by adding a second recoil spring - done at the Army Air Corps works intended for the Fokker G 1. Possibly the like could be done to increase the cyclic rate of the Madsen LMG. There was a belt-fed variant made for Aircraft use. The LMG could be seen with a carrying handle:

The barrel would be changed within 12 seconds by an experienced gunner - sufficient? At least this was claimed by the Factory when tested by the US Army 8 November 1940.

Nordic Ambulance Ethiopia? Sweden had its own relationship with Ethiopia - it had from 1936 an Army and Airforce Military Mission in country; perhaps some Danish instructors with the Weapons delivery to team up with the Swedish MM. A joint unit being attacked would be a very good arguement for better preparation.

 

[von Adler]

The barrel would be changed within 12 seconds by an experienced gunner - sufficient? At least this was claimed by the Factory when tested by the US Army 8 November 1940.

Nordic Ambulance Ethiopia? Sweden had its own relationship with Ethiopia - it had from 1936 an Army and Airforce Military Mission in country; perhaps some Danish instructors with the Weapons delivery to team up with the Swedish MM. A joint unit being attacked would be a very good arguement for better preparation.

12 seconds should be good enough. The Bren did it in 10 seconds. Just adding a pistol grip to the design and maybe some improvements for mass production (using as much stamped rather than milled steel as possible) and we have a weapon that can be adopted as the standard LMG for all the Nordic countries.

 

[Driftless]

Very interesting thread!

 

[arctic warrior]

12 seconds should be good enough. The Bren did it in 10 seconds. Just adding a pistol grip to the design and maybe some improvements for mass production (using as much stamped rather than milled steel as possible) and we have a weapon that can be adopted as the standard LMG for all the Nordic countries.

Good but it don't come near the MG42 which I used in the Danish Armed Forces as the MG62; that would take a serious designchange as happened from MG34 to 42

 

[von Adler]

Good but it don't come near the MG42 which I used in the Danish Armed Forces as the MG62; that would take a serious designchange as happened from MG34 to 42

Of course not. But all the Nordic countries were part of the Franco-British LMG doctrinal school before ww2, to change that is to go into ASB territory. Only the Germans used belt-fed GPMGs on the squad level. And then we have the Americans and their rifle supremacy doctrine which disregarded the LMG and SMG (and pretty much the MG too).

The next question would be the HMG - Sweden, Finland and Norway used water-cooled belt-fed ones, while Denmark seemed to use the same magazine-fed Madsens with heavier barrels and mounted on tripods for HMG (the M29). OTL Norway adopted their new HMG 1929, Sweden 1936 and Denmark 1929. Finland just con´tinued to use their Maxims.

What are the chance of Denmark ditching the M29 for a belt-fed water-cooled HMG, perhaps FN-Browning like Sweden and Norway?

 

[arctic warrior]

Of course not. But all the Nordic countries were part of the Franco-British LMG doctrinal school before ww2, to change that is to go into ASB territory. Only the Germans used belt-fed GPMGs on the squad level. And then we have the Americans and their rifle supremacy doctrine which disregarded the LMG and SMG (and pretty much the MG too).

The next question would be the HMG - Sweden, Finland and Norway used water-cooled belt-fed ones, while Denmark seemed to use the same magazine-fed Madsens with heavier barrels and mounted on tripods for HMG (the M29). OTL Norway adopted their new HMG 1929, Sweden 1936 and Denmark 1929. Finland just con´tinued to use their Maxims.

What are the chance of Denmark ditching the M29 for a belt-fed water-cooled HMG, perhaps FN-Browning like Sweden and Norway?

Denmark ditching Madsen! They would need serious documentation for doing such or a better economy. Denmark as I expect the rest of Nordic countries still hadn't exited recession so resources were scarce in fact so scarce that a monoplane Fighter couldn't be bought in the USA as was the case of DDL buying Focke-Wulff Condor's and not DC-3's. The Military establishmen knew this and had been living with it since at least 1842 - even during the upcoming Schleswig Wars the General Staff knew they had to very economical.
Though at times the Armed Forces just weren't in the love of politicians - they just wouldn't spend the money in time. Prior to the Second Schleswig War the Army had wanted to build a real fortress at Dybbøl but didn't get the money for it instead getting a reduced amount that the Prussians pounded into rubble. The Navy was allowed to procure 1 Armoured Ship "Rolf Krake" and two smaller armoured Gunboats; during the war Denmark spend enought money to build the Dybbøl Fortress AND procure 5 Rolf Krake's to avoid Prussia getting its hands on mediocre armoured ships in Britain or France.. but of course Mr. Møller hadn't been born yet so nothing about "timely"..
Of course Venstre and Konservatives wanted to upgrade the Armed Forces but the Socialdemocratic Party got all the votes and wanted to use the cash on Workers and the Radikale Venstre didn't want ANY spending on Armed Forces at all.
So a way around Politicians not wanting to spend and recession.. difficult.

Still I think that the way to go is to somehow reinforce Stauning in his 1933-35 views and perhaps the saving grace would be the 1937 Easter Crisis - Denmarks been through a few - this one was about a Nazi Rally in Schlewig-Holstein attended by Adolph Hitler; During the rally he was asked "what about the German National Minority in Denmark" and Hitler just pointed to his rear in the direction of Denmarks which the local Nazis took as a sign of OK to march on Denmark. As they was about to Hitler denounced any such intentions and told them to stand down.
The reaction in Denmark was setting up a Police Reaction Force of 100 officers in the south of Jutland and during Defence negotiations two months later an Anti-Tank Regiment of two Motorized Battalions was born to be stationed on the Border with Germany. The Regiment distinguished itself during the few firefights during 9. April 1940.
So perhaps a real Easter Storm upon the Border which Hitler only stop once his minions is on Danish soil.. but there was 1937 an attempted bombing of the house of Minister of Defence Alsing Andersen and by 1938 a Nazi fired two blanks at Minister of Justice Steincke at Parliament.
Problem being these are late events even if the Easter Crisis gets a free run and the Min. Of Defences house is demolished.

An earlier event was the chicanery of minority Danes in Nord Schleswig following the coming to power of Adoph Hitler though by 1934 he ordered the Danish Minority to be respected as citizens and the Stormtroops of the area being changed to "Kameradenschaft Schleswig".

An ongoing Nazi chicanery of Danish Minority in Schleswig and occasional intrusion over the Border by Stormtroopers along occational asassination attempts at Danish Politicians should do it.
Another way could be better economic situation though that may just backfire - why do anything we aren't lacking!

 

[steamboy]

Denmark is still going to be at best, an irritating trip wire that causes delays at best, although those delays could prove vital. I think the biggest advantage of a Nordic Union would be them going to the Nazi's 'Try anything and we cut off your iron ore' and when they make that threat. Mobilize to defend themselves.

 

[von Adler]

Madsen M24 (and the developed version with (quickly interchangable barrel, stamped steel parts and pistol grip in 6,5x55, say M37) would still be the main LMG of all the Nordic countries.

Yeah, Denmark will get occupied, but they can fight longer and better, deny the Germans a lot of stuff and the navy, air force and some troops evacuate to fight on.

 

[arctic warrior]

Denmark is still going to be at best, an irritating trip wire that causes delays at best, although those delays could prove vital. I think the biggest advantage of a Nordic Union would be them going to the Nazi's 'Try anything and we cut off your iron ore' and when they make that threat. Mobilize to defend themselves.

He-he annoying tripwire..
I exploited OTL in a TL where Denmark just defend Aalborg Airfield with OTL forces: the mentioned AA-Battery and Infantry Battalion. It could sink the German invasion of Norway.
Scania had barely any troops so the Infantry Coy Colonel Bennike took across the Sound 9 April wasn't interned but asked to defend Ljungbyhed AFB! As Sweden was afraid of the Invasion including them too.

Remember Germany was doing the Weserubung on a shoestring as both Heer and Luftwaffe wanted to conserve as much for the Campaign for France scheduled for 10 May and Luftwaffe kept ordering the Airunits West. Also too many downed Transports might upset the plans for conquest of the Netherlands.

An Engineers Officer drew up a plan of demolitions and floodings of Jutland making it way harder for the Germans to move up to Aalborg or just get ashore as they did. There was just about no Danish planning though by 1938 the Danish General Staff knew what forces the Germans would commit to Denmark including the Motorized Infantry.

Almost anything the Nordic countries are strengthened will make the Germans, Soviets and British think twice of invasion.

 

[arctic warrior]

Madsen M24 (and the developed version with (quickly interchangable barrel, stamped steel parts and pistol grip in 6,5x55, say M37) would still be the main LMG of all the Nordic countries.

Yeah, Denmark will get occupied, but they can fight longer and better, deny the Germans a lot of stuff and the navy, air force and some troops evacuate to fight on.

The thing is a lot comes down to planning - with available forces see my prior post - a lot could have been done. The General Staff knew where the attack was coming but made some wrong assumptions anyway and the Germans was ready to do the unorthodox like using Baltic Ferries to go to Falster knowing the Danes were up in Sjælland guarding Præstø Vig. German intelligence were faulty too: while only two unarmed Soldiers along the caretaker was at Masnedø Fortress guarding the Storebælt Bridge the Germans expected a manned fortress and used the Fallschirmjägers for the first operational jump. The airfield at Esbjerg was attacked because during 1938 Manuoeres it had housed the Navy Fighter Squadron by 9 April 1940 the AA-Battery there should have been moved to Aalborg but orders reversed so it stayed and defended the airfield - think how much it would have contributed at Aalborg.

 

[arctic warrior]

Just remembered - the Navy demobbed the Conscripts 8 April 1940!
Because of this there was no Coastal Artillery manned 9 April at Copenhagen and the armed Icebreaker Isbjørn had also been demobbed the day before leaving Copenhagen open.. just to top it all of the Commander Middelgrund Fortress had been moved to an Operational Command the day before because of Alert and his substitute had little time to acquait himself with the new surrounds..