It is one of the most northern towns in the world with a railroad connection. It connects to Kiruna, Sweden, but not to Allied success against German forces in World War II. The town was captured by the Germans early in their invasion of Norway, but it was sufficiently far from their bases that the Allies were able to recapture it. However, the German attack on France, and advances in Norway from the south meant that Narvik had to be abandoned in early June 1940.