Europe 227
with the British on the Sweden question, though the British were the ones actually
blockading and seizing Swedish merchant vessels. The Swedes, under pressure from
food riots and torn internally, tried to negotiate a way out. They were largely unsuc-
cessful and conceded with a signed agreement on May 8.
Coding changes: Dropped from the dispute: 2 United States of America. Added to the
dispute: 220 France. Start Date changed from Missing. End Date changed from Missing.
MID#3802
Dispute Number: 3802
Date(s): May 15, 1940 to October 20, 1940
Participants: 200 United Kingdom/380 Sweden
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On May 15, 1940, during an Allied offensive against the Nazi-held
Norwegian port, Narvik, six British bombers flew into Swedish territory by a half
mile, and four bombs were dropped on Swedish soil. This was reported and assumed
to be a mistake. In July 1940, Sweden agreed to allow German soldiers and war mate-
rials transit through Swedish territory. Britain viewed this as a violation of Swedish
neutrality, which allowed Germany to take advantage of the new transit facilities in
order to launch attacks on Britain from its Norwegian bases. On October 20, while
Germany and Britain were engaged in an air battle over the channel, British planes
were forced down into neutral Swedish territory.
Coding changes: End Date changed from October 30, 1940.
200 United Kingdom/385 Norway
MID#3704
Dispute Number: 3704
Date(s): February 16, 1940 to March 25, 1940
Participants: 200 United Kingdom/385 Norway
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: There are two incidents in this dispute. First, British warships violated
Norway’s territorial waters while pursuing German ships and submarines. Then, shells
from a British warship firing at a German ship outside of Norwegian territorial waters
landed in Norwegian territory. Norway protested.
200 United Kingdom/390 Denmark
MID#3707
Dispute Number: 3707
Date(s): January 10, 1940 to March 20, 1940