The ships of neutral Sweden acknowledged the transit of the main combatants in the normal shipping lanes in the North Sea, and reported on them in their normal routine to their maritime authorities. Swedish territory as well hosted individual ground-level coast watchers who were able to follow and report on movements in Swedish coastal waters. These observations were passed directly to Royal Navy intelligence by routine maritime diplomatic channels maintained by the British naval attaché in Stockholm. Thus, when "Bismarck" and her escort moved into the unoccupied fjords of German occupied Norway, for final coastal refuelling and topping off of ships' stores and supplies, the RAF (weather permitting) was able to keep a final watch on the location and timing of the German raider force. If the Germans were not aware of the specifics of the enemy's continuing intelligence coverage and surveillance, up to this point, they should have been generally aware of - and concluded - that the forces conducting the aerial surveillance had had the benefit of the prior surveillance and intelligence on the operation from its start.