Battle for Kvam

Battle for Kvam
Part of the Norwegian Campaign of World War II

Battle of Kvam, 25–26 April 1940
Date25–26 April 1940
Location
Kvam, Norway
Result German victory
Belligerents
 United Kingdom
 Norway
 Germany
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom Bernard Paget
United Kingdom H. E. F. Smyth
(22 April–12:00pm 25 April)
United Kingdom A. L. Kent-Lemon
(12:00pm 25–26 April)
United Kingdom E.E.E. Cass
Norway Otto Ruge
Norway Jacob Hvinden Haug
Nazi Germany Richard Pellengahr
Strength

United Kingdom 15th Infantry Brigade

8,500

  • 1 mountain infantry battalion
  • 6 infantry battalions
  • 1 motorised infantry battalion
  • 2 artillery batteries
Casualties and losses
United Kingdom:
54 killed
Norway:
3 killed
light
3 civilians killed

The Battle for Kvam took place 25 and 26 April 1940, in the Gudbrandsdal Valley in the village of Kvam, Oppland (now known as Innlandet), Norway, between British, Norwegian, and German troops. The Germans were moving rapidly north up the river valley to conquer central Norway. In the battle, soldiers from 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment and the 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI), together with their Norwegian counterparts, held a rapidly advancing German army at bay for two days. It was one of the hardest-fought battles of the Norwegian Campaign.