Birger Kristian Eriksen | |
|---|---|
 Birger Eriksen some time after 1945 | |
| Born | 17 November 1875 Flakstad, Lofoten, Kingdom of Sweden and Norway |
| Died | 16 July 1958 (aged 82) Oslo, Norway |
| Buried | Vår Frelsers gravlund, Oslo |
| Allegiance |  Norway |
| Service | Norwegian Army |
| Years of service | 1893–1940 |
| Rank | Oberst (Colonel) |
| Commands | Coastal fortresses:
|
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | War Cross with sword[4][5] Croix de Guerre[4][6] Légion d'honneur[4][6] |
| Spouse(s) |
Christiane Sæhlie (m. 1903) |
| Relations | Hans Eriksen (grandfather), Casper Eriksen (father)[6] Andreas Olsen Sæhlie (father-in-law)[7] |
Birger Kristian Eriksen (17 November 1875 – 16 July 1958) was a Norwegian military officer (with the rank of Oberst) who was instrumental in stopping the first wave of Gruppe 5 of the German invasion force outside Oslo.
Eriksen 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, sinking the 16,000-ton heavy cruiser Blücher.
- ^ Fjeld, Odd T. (1999). Klar til strid - Kystartilleriet gjennom århundrene (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kystartilleriets Offisersforening. p. 404. ISBN 82-995208-0-0.
- ^ a b Fjeld 1999: 405
- ^ Fjeld 1999: 403
- ^ a b c Fjeld 1999: 410
- ^ "Krigskorset". Webstaff.no (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
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