As of: February 21, 2024, 2:14 p.m
By: Patrick Mayer
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NATO is now testing a possible emergency against the Russian army in Norway - a TV series has already played out the scenario.
Oslo – It's coming up soon.
Between March 5th and 14th, NATO will test its defense capability against Russia in Norway.
Moscow under autocrat Vladimir Putin is explicitly named as a possible aggressor in the large-scale exercise “Grand North 24”.
Aggressor Russia: NATO practices the defense of Norway at “Grand North 24”.
Norway has been identified by NATO as a possible weak point.
And so the defense of the 197 kilometer long Norwegian border on the Barents Sea is part of the large-scale maneuver “Steadfast Defender 24”.
A streaming series illustrates how strongly the Scandinavians take the scenario of a possible invasion: “Occupied” is available in the
arte
media library.
Briefly summarized: Russia occupies Norway in the TV series because it relies entirely on renewable energies and stops oil and gas production.
Which means Oslo is fictitiously violating trade agreements.
The parallels to Russian behavior in the real Ukraine war are disturbing.
“Are you ready to fight for Norway?” The fictional resistance fighter Stefan Christensen (left) and the series Prime Minister Jesper Berg.
© Screenshot arte media library
Streaming series “Occupied”: Russia occupies Norway
“It’s not unusual for the Russians to hold military maneuvers off our coast,” asks TV Prime Minister Jesper Berg, played by Norwegian Henrik Mestad, in the seventh episode of the first season.
“Yes, but they usually don’t have marines with landing capabilities,” a military man replies.
The country was already under administrative occupation beforehand, and the government's decisions are monitored from Moscow.
Oslo is accountable.
“The lives of thousands” were saved, says Berg, who refrains from military resistance.
The series, which aired in three seasons in Scandinavia between September 2015 and December 2019, was created in the context of the Russian invasion of Crimea and eastern Ukraine.
It illustrates concerns of the Scandinavians.
Norway was a heavily secured NATO outpost during the Cold War, and in neighboring Finland - formerly part of the Russian Empire - there have been concerns since the Winter War of 1939/40.
“Occupied” in the arte media library: Russians invade Norway
Things get tricky in the series when a reindeer herder finds run-over animals in the border area.
Namely in the largest Norwegian province in terms of area, Finnmark (Fylke).
“They were hit by multiple vehicles, heavy equipment.
The tracks indicate that they drove from the Russian side into Norwegian territory and then turned back,” explains a military politician Berg, who asks: “Tanks?”
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He continues to ask: “Isn’t it the case that the border is guarded around the clock?” Silence in the room.
Striking: The series project's backers include the official Norwegian Film Fund and a European Union media program, even though Norway is not part of the EU.
But because they wanted to collectively point out the Russian danger?
Speculation.
Finnmark (Fylke) |
|
Country: |
Norway |
Location: |
in the extreme north and northeast of Norway |
Resident: |
around 74,000 |
Area: |
48,637 km² |
Population density: |
1.5 inhabitants per km² |
Norway: Small army against possible threat from Russia
The reality at the beginning of 2024 is more serious than it has been for a long time.
“We are running out of time,” Norwegian commander Eirik Kristoffersen recently told the newspaper
Dagbladet
: “There is now a window of opportunity, which will last maybe one, two, maybe three years, during which we have to invest even more in secure defense. “Because: The military resources of the country, which is small in terms of population (5.5 million), are finite.
In February 2023, Norway ordered 54 new Leopard 2 A8 NOR main battle tanks, which will be produced by the German tank manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) in Munich.
But: The North Brigade near Bardufoss is the only Norwegian army brigade at all.
It is stationed not far from the Norwegian-Russian border with an estimated 110 CV 90 infantry fighting vehicles. And with just 36 Leopard 2A4NO main battle tanks, of which only 29 were operational as of February 21st, according to the
Global Firepower Index (GFP)
.
A combat brigade usually consists of up to 5,000 soldiers.
In total, the Norwegian land forces are said to only have around 7,800 soldiers.
Neighbor Russia: Norwegian commander warns his compatriots
The fjords do form natural barriers.
But these fjords would be even more difficult to defend if the Barents Sea was not controlled.
This is where Moscow's large northern fleet comes into play.
It has seven bases between the Bolshaya Lopatka naval base in the Sapadnaya Liza fjord and the city of Murmansk.
Among others, the large missile battle cruiser “Admiral Nakhimov”, the missile cruiser “Marshal Ustinov” and the missile destroyers “Admiral Tschabanenko” and “Admiral Ushakov” are part of the Northern Fleet.
The real commander Kristoffersen advised his compatriots to take precautions: “We recommend being able to survive without outside help for three days.”
Major NATO maneuver “Steadfast Defender 2024”: Parts of the 23rd Mountain Infantry Brigade from Bavaria are being relocated to the north of Norway.
© Screenshot bundeswehr.de
“Occupied” in the arte media library: Norway would have “no” chance against Russia
NATO partners should help with deterrence.
They will also send the 23rd Mountain Infantry Brigade “Bayern” from Bad Reichenhall to “Grand North 24”.
Striking: A graphic on the Bundeswehr website
(see the screenshot above)
shows that the German mountain troops are to be shipped to Narvik.
Because Norway would only be defended here, where the European route E6 is the only transport connection to the south to the big cities?
And where in the countryside between Ofotfjord and the Swedish border could a front fortification just eight kilometers wide be built?
Speculation.
Significantly: In the 10th episode of “Occupied”, Berg is asked what chances Norway would have against Russia.
He replies: “None.
Not alone.” Shortly afterwards, Moscow troops cross the Norwegian border in the film.
(pm)