Øyvinn Øi
Øyvinn Øi | |
---|---|
![]() Captain Øyvinn Øi some time between 1935 and 1940. | |
Born | 19 June 1901 |
Died | 9 April 1940 | (aged 38)
Allegiance | Norway |
Service/ | Norwegian Army |
Years of service | –1940 |
Rank | Captain |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Øyvinn Øi (19 June 1901 in Hadsel Municipality in Vesterålen – 9 April 1940) was a Norwegian military officer during the outbreak of the Second World War.
Personal life
[edit]Øyvinn Øi was born in Hadsel Municipality, the son of lector Gunnar Øi and Thora, née Lind. In 1926 he married Aagot Hesselborg, with whom he had four children.[1]
Career
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Minnest%C3%B8tte_Jar_%28januar_2023%29.jpg/220px-Minnest%C3%B8tte_Jar_%28januar_2023%29.jpg)
After his examen artium Øi took an officer exam attending the Norwegian Military Academy. He also did military studies in France.[1] Øi, a captain in the general staff, became known to the general public for his lecture entitled "Det strategiske overfall" ('The Strategic Attack') to the officers' society, Oslo Militære Samfund, on 6 March 1939.[2] In this lecture, Øi stated that Norway had inadequate defences and was vulnerable to a foreign attack. This caused a stir in some groups, especially the social democrat newspaper Arbeiderbladet, which came close to accusing him of treason.[3]
Norway was indeed invaded when Operation Weserübung reached the country on 9 April 1940. Øi was killed on the same day at a road block set up by German forces at Grorud.[3] He had volunteered to go on a mission to Oslo on behalf of the Norwegian general staff after the staff had evacuated from the Norwegian capital.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Ording, Arne; Johnson, Gudrun; Garder, Johan (1951). Våre falne 1939-1945 (in Norwegian). Vol. 4. Oslo: Norwegian government. p. 564.
- ^ "Oslo Militære Samfunds historie". Oslo Militære Samfund (in Norwegian). Retrieved 5 February 2009.
- ^ a b Aspheim, Odd V. (1995). "Øi, Øyvinn". In Dahl, Hans Fredrik (ed.). Norsk krigsleksikon 1940-45. Oslo: Cappelen. Retrieved 11 September 2008.