Frederik-Valdemar Olsen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Commander of the Southern Brigade (Southern Ruanda and Urundi) | |
| In office June 1916 – 1917 | |
| Commander of the Force Publique | |
| In office 22 November 1920 – September 1924 | |
| Preceded by | Philippe Molitor |
| Succeeded by | Paul Ermens |
| Governor of Congo-Kasaï | |
| In office September 1924 – April 1925 | |
| Preceded by | Alphonse Engels |
| Succeeded by | Alphonse Engels |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 May 1877 Kalundborg, Denmark |
| Died | 19 November 1962 (aged 85) Etterbeek, Belgium |
| Nationality | Danish, Belgian |
| Occupation | Officer, businessman |
Frederik-Valdemar Olsen (24 May 1877 – 19 November 1962) was a Danish soldier who became a general and commander in chief of the Belgian Congo Force Publique. He was born into a poor family, joined the Danish army, then in 1898 volunteered to serve in the Congo Free State. He rose quickly through the ranks, and in 1909–1910 played an important role in a stand-off with German and British forces disputing the eastern border of what was now the Belgian Congo. During World War I Olsen commanded a force that defended Northern Rhodesia against a German attack, then advanced from the south of Lake Kivu to take Tabora in what is now Tanzania. After the war he became commander of the Force Publique before retiring as a general in 1925. Olsen was then made general manager of the state-owned Congo River shipping line Unatra, later combined with railway lines to form Otraco. He retired from this position in 1947.