[John Vasco]

This is it in a nutshell:
'...The Telling:
OKW Directive signed by Hitler on 1st March 1940.
"The development of the situation in Scandinavia makes it necessary to prepare for the occupation of Denmark and Norway by formations of the Armed Forces ('Case Weser-exercise'). This would anticipate English action against Scandinavia and the Baltic, would secure our supplies of ore from Sweden, and would provide the Navy and Air Force with expanded bases for operations against England."
Source: Trevor-Roper: Hitler's War Directives
i.e. nothing at all to do with "securing Germany's exposed northern flank against possible invasion."...'


The above, far from demolishing the point in the book, makes the point exactly. That is, to see it in the overall broad context of the previous years, in so many words: 'I (Hitler) have taken Austria & Czechoslovakia. I have taken Poland by force in conjunction with the USSR.' Then you have the quoted OKW directive of 1st March 1940 which basically says the Scandinaviain countries are the next we go into. Reason? Secure supplies of ore from Sweden and provide the Navy and Air Force with expanded bases for operations against England. The person has quoted that. So it wasn't just a nice little holiday jaunt. It was the next planned campaign, period. And this person seeks to defend it, while shooting himself in the foot at the same time with their quote. Their final sentence of this section confirms it: '...i.e. nothing at all to do with "securing Germany's exposed northern flank against possible invasion...' What! Hoist by his own petard, as the expression goes. Blew their cover big time! Wake up and smell the coffee, Nick, FFS...