Birger Eriksen

Infobox Military Person
name=Birger Kristian Eriksen
lived=17 November, 1875 – 16 July, 1958
placeofbirth=Moskenes, Lofoten
placeofdeath=Oslo


caption=Birger Eriksen with the War Cross with sword, Légion d'honneur and Croix de guerre.
nickname=
allegiance=Norway
branch=Norwegian Army
serviceyears=?–1940
rank=Oberst (Colonel) of the Royal Norwegian Army
commands=Commander of:
• Tønsberg Fortifications (1915) [Fjeld 1999: 404]
• Agdenes Fortress (1915-1931)Fjeld 1999: 405]
• Bergen Fortress (1931-1933)
• Oscarsborg Fortress (1933-1940) [Fjeld 1999: 403]
unit=
battles=World War II:
• Battle of Drøbak Sound
awards=flagicon|Norway War Cross with swordFjeld 1999: 410] [The War Cross: [http://www.webstaff.no/851000%20Medal%20lists/Krigskorset.htm The War Cross with swords] no icon]
flagicon|France Croix de guerre
flagicon|France Légion d'honneur
family=Hans Eriksen (Grandfather), Casper Eriksen (Father)
laterwork=
portrayedby=
enteredservice=
currentlyresides=

Birger Kristian Eriksen 17 November 1875 - 16 July 1958)Jan Dagfinn Monssen website: [http://home.online.no/~jdmon/birgereriksen1.cfm Nordlendingen som senket "Blücher"] no icon] was a Norwegian officer (Oberst = Colonel) who was instrumental in stopping the first wave of "Gruppe 5" of the German invasion force outside Oslo.

Eriksen was born in Moskenes in Lofoten. He was the commander of Oscarsborg Fortress when Nazi Germany attacked Norway in the early hours of 9 April 1940. He gained lasting recognition for ordering the fortress under his command to open fire on the vanguard forces of Operation Weserübung and sinking the 14,000 ton heavy cruiser "Blücher".

Early life

Born in 1875 to a merchant family in Moskenes, Lofoten in North Norway, Birger Eriksen left home at age 12 to go to Kristiania (as Oslo was known as at the time) to study.

Military career

When Eriksen had completed high school he attended technical college in Berlin, Germany before returning home and starting his military career [ [http://norgeslexi.com/krigslex/e/e2.html#eriksen-birger Eriksen, Birger (Kristian)] , Norgeslexi.com no icon] at military college. At age 25 he had reached the rank of Kaptein (Captain) in the Norwegian Army.

Eriksen went home to Moskenes every summer to visit his mother until she passed away in 1936, having been a widow for fifty years.

In 1931 he reached the rank of Oberst (Colonel) and two years later he obtained the position of commander of Oscarsborg Fortress, a position he would hold until that fateful morning of 9 April, 1940.

Before his Oscarsborg command Eriksen had commanded the fortresses of Tønsberg, Agdenes and Bergen.

Post-WWII investigations

Although Eriksen was honoured for his efforts after the war, he also came under criticism by governmental investigators who felt he had surrendered his fortress sooner than had been necessary. Eriksen defended himself and stated that he had been acting under enormous pressure and that he had in fact opened fire against the German invaders contrary to standing Norwegian military orders to first fire warning shots at intruders.Kongsberg Defence Association: [http://www.kongsberg.net/forsvarsforeningen/frame.asp?Id=48592 Oberst Birger Kristian Eriksen] no icon]

In the following investigations by both the Investigative Commission of 1945 and the Military Investigative Commission of 1946 Eriksen was confirmed to have carried out his duties to the full during the German invasion.

Legacy

Birger Eriksen died as a celebrated war hero in 1958. The funeral service took place at Oslo New Crematorium and the urn with Eriksen's ashes was buried at Drøbak Church. Following a private initiative and the formation of a honorary comity, Eriksen's ashes were exhumed on 4 October 1977 and moved to the honorary burial ground of Vår Frelsers gravlund in Oslo.

The final recognition of Eriksen's efforts, and rebuttal of the early post-war criticisms of some of his actions, took place during the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. On 6 May, 1995 King Harald V unveiled a statue of Eriksen [National Fortresses of Norway: [http://www.verneplaner.no/?f=oscarsborg&id=50570&a=2 Statue of Birger Eriksen in the Main Fort at Oscarsborg] no icon] on the Borggården square at Oscarsborg's Main Fort, cementing the Colonel's position amongst the foremost Norwegian leaders of World War II.

Quotations

Awards

*War Cross with sword no icon - 16 November, 1945Fjeld 1999: 410]
*Croix de guerre fr icon - May 1946
*Légion d'honneur fr icon - May 1946

ee also

*List of Légion d'honneur recipients by name - E

Notes

Literature

* no icon