Norway 1941 ▶ Mountain Troops “Unternehmen Silberfuchs“ (2) Deutsche Gebirgsjäger Kirkenes Murmansk

172 Norway 1941 ▶ Mountain Troops Gebirgsjäger “Unternehmen Silberfuchs“ (Part 2) Kirkenes Murmansk - “Unternehmen Rentier“ / “Unternehmen Platinfuchs“ / “Unternehmen Polarfuchs“ / “Unternehmen Silberfuchs“ / “Unternehmen Nordlicht“ German History Archive ▶ Unternehmen Platinfuchs: Operation Platinum Fox began on 29 June 1941. The 2nd and 3rd Mountain Divisions under Dietl crossed the border together with some Finnish border units. Opposing them were the Soviet 14th and 52nd Divisions, as well as a whole series of ad hoc units formed during the course of the operation from marines of the Soviet Northern Fleet. The operation faced major difficulties from the beginning: the Arctic terrain was very difficult for ground troops and slowed the advance immensely. Furthermore, the Germans had no accurate maps and thus had to advance mostly through unknown terrain over open fields. Nevertheless, the advance was initially successful. The Germans w