Kristiansund is at a strategic position on the Norwegian southern coast.  The German Battle Group 4 consisting of, the cruiser Karlsruhe, a special service ship Tsingtau, 3 torpedo boats, 7 motor torpedo boats, and 1,100 troops.  This battle group left Wesermuende at 05:00 on April 8th.  At 03:45 on the 9th, the Group was right outside of Kristiansund Fjord, but was unable to enter because of heavy fog.  When the fog lifted a Norwegian aircraft sited the ships and batteries from Odderoy fired on the ships.  The smoke made it impossible for the group to land.
     Five German planes moved in and bombed the Gleodden and Odderoy batteries.  At 09:30 a German bomber group attacked the forts and the ships could finally enter Kristiansund.  By afternoon the city was secured.  On the 13th, they began to advance north the meet the troops from Stavanger.  The Norwegian resistance in the region, 240 officers and 2,900 men, were forced to surrender after dive bombers were committed at Evjemoen.  Germany now had control of southern Norway and could begin to concentrate its efforts in the north.