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THE HISTORY OF THE TREE
Page 71
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This is the 60th Norwegian Christmas tree to grace Trafalgar Square It is a gift. from Norway, in memory of British assistance in the Second World War. The ill-equipped British expeditionary force evacuated Norway after a desperate struggle and 400,000 Germans occupied the country until the end of the war) This campaign was marked by tales of real heroism For example. the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Glowworm, badly damaged by enemy fire, rammed the German heavy cruiser the Admiral Hipper. The collision ripped 30m of armour plating from the Hipper, which responded by firing a close-range salvo at the Glowworm The destroyer sank, although Helmuth Heye, Hipper's captain, positioned the Koper so that sea currents drew Glowworm's few survivors through the icy waters to his ship.
Heye sent a message to the Royal Navy via the Red Cross, praising the bravery of Glowworm's commander and crew. This is said to have contributed to Lieutenant Commander Gerard Roope posthumously receiving the first Victoria Cross of the war.
Churchill's newly founded Commando force also attacked German forces in Norway. A successful raid on the port of Vaago prompted Hitler to divert an extra 30,000 troops to the country.