Narvik

Narvik (när`vĭk), city (1995 pop. 18,899), Nordland co., N Norway, an ice-free port on the Ofotfjord opposite the Lofoten Islands. It was founded (1887) as the Atlantic port for the Kiruna and Gällivare iron mines in Sweden and was known as Victoriahavn until 1898. The city is now a tourist center. In World War II, Narvik fell to the Germans when they invaded Norway on Apr. 9, 1940. To prevent the Germans from using Narvik as a shipping base for Swedish iron ore, a British expeditionary force briefly occupied (May 28–June 9, 1940) the port.

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Narvik

a port in N Norway: scene of two naval battles in 1940; exports iron ore from Kiruna and G?llivare (Sweden). Pop.: 18 542 (2004 est.)

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Narvik 

a city and port in Norway deep within the ice-free Ofotfjord in the fylke (county) of Nordland. Population, 13,300 (1970). The port functions all year and handles more than 20 million tons of freight. It exports iron ore (from Sweden), cellulose, and wood (from Finland). There is fishing and ship repair.

During World War II, Narvik was captured by a fascist German landing force on April 9 during the Norwegian operation of 1940. From April 14 to 18, British and then French and Polish troops were landed near Narvik. After stubborn fighting they captured the city on May 28. However, on June 8 they were evacuated when a difficult situation arose in France after a fascist German offensive.