Nirodbaran

Talks with Sri Aurobindo

Volume 1

10 December 1938 – 14 January 1941

10 April 1940

Purani: It seems that Germany collected all its navy, merchant ships and trawlers to carry its army to Norway. And the British navy is firing on them.

Sri Aurobindo: If the whole German fleet is out and gets attacked and intercepted by England, then it will be Germany that will have to turn back. Hitherto the Germany navy has not proved itself superior to the British navy. But it depends on what proportion of the navy is there. If it is only a part or if they have to collect it from various places, then it will be difficult for them. Of course, if the French fleet is also there, then it will be all right. If they had possessed foresight, they would have gathered their fleet nearby. It seems they knew that Germany thought of making some such move. At least Denmark and Norway ought to have known. It is their imbecility that is responsible. If they knew, they should have made some secret agreement with the Allies.

Satyendra: Germany has given the fine reason that if it hadn’t taken these countries, the Allies would have done it. So it has taken them under its protection.

Sri Aurobindo (laughing): Too entire a protection.

Purani: If England occupies part of Norway …

Sri Aurobindo: That depends on her sea-power. If she can, it will be a tremendous economic blockade of Germany.

Purani: And then the Allies can try to invade Germany through this front.

Sri Aurobindo: That is difficult because just as they have the Siegfried Line in the west, the Germans have here the Kiel.

Evening

Nirodbaran: It is reported that about five of England’s destroyers were damaged and one ran ashore, while there were few losses on the German side.

Sri Aurobindo: It couldn’t have been a big battle then and the battle must have been near the shore.