Kilbotn
Encyclopedia
Kilbotn is a village in the municipality of Harstad
in Troms
county, Norway
. The population (2001) of the village is 332, but since 2002 it has been considered a part of the Harstad
urban area. The village is located about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of the center of the city of Harstad, along the Vågsfjorden
on the east side of Hinnøya
island. The villages of Fauskevåg
and Sørvik
a are just a few kilometres to the south of Kilbotn.
, Nazi Germany
used Kilbotn as a U-Boat
base. On 4 May 1945, the last air raid
of World War II in Europe took place when the Royal Navy
's Fleet Air Arm
attacked the Kilbotn anchorage with 44 aircraft from three offshore aircraft carriers in Operation Judgement
. The harbour contained a submarine depot ship
"Black Watch" with the unfortunate German submarine "U-711" moored alongside. The wreck of the Black Watch lies in Kilbotn harbour close to the wreck of the U-711.
Harstad
is the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
in Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The population (2001) of the village is 332, but since 2002 it has been considered a part of the Harstad
Harstad
is the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
urban area. The village is located about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of the center of the city of Harstad, along the Vågsfjorden
Vågsfjorden
Vågsfjorden is a fjord in the southern part of Troms county in North Norway. Situated between Norway's two largest islands, Hinnøya to the south and Senja to the north, the 46 kilometers long fjord is part of the municipalities of Harstad, Bjarkøy, Tranøy, Dyrøy, Ibestad and Skånland...
on the east side of Hinnøya
Hinnøya
-Geography and environment:Covering an area of , it is the fourth-largest island in the country, and the largest off the mainland. The western part of the island is in the Vesterålen district, while the southwestern part is in Lofoten. As of 2006, it had a population of 31,851, of which the only...
island. The villages of Fauskevåg
Fauskevåg
Fauskevåg is a village on the island Hinnøya that is located about south of the city of Harstad, within the municipality of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. The population of Fauskevåg is 341...
and Sørvik
Sørvik
Sørvik is a village approximately south of the city of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. Its population is about 451. The community includes a school, Sørvik Barne- og Ungdomsskole, housing grades 5 through 10; a kindergarten, Sørvik barnehage; and a retirement home, Sørvik eldrehjem...
a are just a few kilometres to the south of Kilbotn.
History
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
used Kilbotn as a U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
base. On 4 May 1945, the last air raid
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
of World War II in Europe took place when the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
attacked the Kilbotn anchorage with 44 aircraft from three offshore aircraft carriers in Operation Judgement
Operation Judgement, Kilbotn
Operation Judgement, Kilbotn was an operation carried out at the end of World War II by the Home Fleet of the Royal Navy in North Norway on May 4, 1945, when 44 aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm attacked a U-boat base five miles south of the town and port of Harstad. The attack was directed at vessels...
. The harbour contained a submarine depot ship
Depot ship
A depot ship is a ship which acts as a mobile or fixed base for other ships and submarines or supports a naval base. Depot ships may be specifically designed for their purpose or be converted from another purpose...
"Black Watch" with the unfortunate German submarine "U-711" moored alongside. The wreck of the Black Watch lies in Kilbotn harbour close to the wreck of the U-711.
External links
- http://www.kilbotn.com