Odd Øyen
Encyclopedia
Odd Toralf Øyen was a Norwegian resistance member
and anaesthesiological physician.
at Riis in 1934. He enrolled in medicine studies in 1936, but his studies were interrupted by World War II
. He participated in the Battle of Midtskogen
on 10 April 1940, one day after Germany invaded Norway
. He had finished basic officer training in 1936, and holding the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1940 he continued to participate in battles north of Midtskogen, in Østerdalen
. Norway soon lost the battle phase of the Norwegian–German conflict, though, and entered a phase of occupation and secret resistance work.
In February 1944 Øyen became leader of weapons supply and stock of Milorg
's District 13, the district covering Norway's capital district
. The position was created by Oliver H. Langeland after some of the men handling weapon smuggling had been caught, most recently Mikael Hovhaugholen. Øyen's nom de guerre was "Gamle-Erik", a euphemism for Satan. His doublés were Olav Selvaag
and Hans Heyerdahl. Selvaag was asked to become weapons leader originally, and took over on 9 April 1945 when Øyen established a paramilitary base in Nordmarka
. Bror With
had also been asked, by Jens Christian Hauge
in 1943, but he rejected and instead volunteered to become a weapons manufacturer. He became best known for producing a hand grenade
, but also mass produced sten guns. All of this was highly illegal on Norwegian soil, and Øyen sometimes handled the weapons transport from production in Oslo to a testing site in Lommedalen
. The weapons drops and manufacture grew in importance from September 1944, when Milorg started its sabotage group Aks 13000
.
Øyen came close to being arrested on several occasions. In the summer of 1944, he was almost stopped in a German road control when transporting stenguns in a truck together with Asbjørn Pedersen and Bjørn Nicolaissen. In early 1945 Øyen spent the night at one of Milorg's secret offices, in the street Odins gate. The location had been unknowingly revealed when a random errand boy spotted a hidden weapon there and his friend about it in the presence of others. The office was raided by Gestapo
the night Øyen slept there; he left before the raid after receiving a phone call from an unknown caller at 0230hrs. After the war, when Øyen spoke to newly imprisoned ex-Kriminalrat
Siegfried Fehmer, Fehmer remarked dryly that "it was a pity I did not meet you earlier".
He resumed his medicine studies after the war and graduated in 1946. He was hired in the surgical department of Lillehammer Hospital in 1947. From 1948 to 1950 he worked in the anaesthesiological department at Rikshospitalet
from 1948 to 1950 and as chief physician and head of the anaesthesiological department at Aker Hospital from 1951 to 1984. He was also a consultant for the Norwegian Armed Forces Medical Corps and lectured in disaster medicine
at the University of Oslo
. He spent some time working abroad, notably in a field hospital from 1951 to 1952 during the Korean War
, as leader of the Norwegian sanitary company stationed in Suez from 1956 to 1957 after the Suez Crisis
, and as sanitary leader for United Nations Operation in the Congo
(intervening in the Congo Crisis
, Katanga
) in 1961. He was injured in Katanga in September 1961. He also served on an earthquake team in Turkey
and in Jordan
and Biafra
.
Øyen chaired Norsk anestesiologisk forening from 1958 to 1963. In 1972 he started an interest group called "Fritt Norge med NATO". In 1991 he was among 28 war veterans who in a petition warned the government to not sign an international convention that abolished the death penalty in times of war. Other petitioners were Tore Gjelsvik
, Oskar Hasselknippe
, Jens Chr. Hauge, Håkon Kyllingmark, Bjørn Rørholt
, Elisabeth Schweigaard Selmer
, Tor Skjønsberg
, Anne-Sofie Strømnæs, Gunnar Sønsteby
and Reidar Torp
.
He was decorated with the Defence Medal 1940–1945, St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
, Knight 1st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (1962) and Knight 1st class of the Swedish Order of Vasa
. He received the Order of Vasa for his actions in the Congo, reportedly the first non-Swedish citizen in about 150 years to receive the Order for actions in a military conflict. He died in January 1987 in Bærum
, and was buried in Stor-Elvdal
.
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
and anaesthesiological physician.
Early life and World War II
He was born in Oslo as a son of Lieutenant Colonel Toralf Øyen (1878–1963) and Elia Haugros (1876–1951). He took his examen artiumExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
at Riis in 1934. He enrolled in medicine studies in 1936, but his studies were interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He participated in the Battle of Midtskogen
Battle of Midtskogen
The Battle of Midtskogen was the battle fought on the night between 9 and 10 April 1940 during the Second World War between a German raiding party and an improvised Norwegian force. the site of the battle was Midtskogen farm, situated approximately west of the town Elverum at the mouth of the...
on 10 April 1940, one day after Germany invaded Norway
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
. He had finished basic officer training in 1936, and holding the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1940 he continued to participate in battles north of Midtskogen, in Østerdalen
Østerdalen
Østerdalen is a valley and traditional district in Hedmark County, in Eastern Norway. It consisting of the municipalities Rendalen, Alvdal, Folldal,Tynset, Tolga and Os in the north, Elverum, Stor-Elvdal, Engerdal, Trysil and Åmot in the south.-Geography:...
. Norway soon lost the battle phase of the Norwegian–German conflict, though, and entered a phase of occupation and secret resistance work.
In February 1944 Øyen became leader of weapons supply and stock of Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
's District 13, the district covering Norway's capital district
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. The position was created by Oliver H. Langeland after some of the men handling weapon smuggling had been caught, most recently Mikael Hovhaugholen. Øyen's nom de guerre was "Gamle-Erik", a euphemism for Satan. His doublés were Olav Selvaag
Olav Selvaag
Olav Selvaag was a Norwegian engineer and residential contractor, known for his innovative approach to designing and building affordable housing in the post-war era.-Biography:...
and Hans Heyerdahl. Selvaag was asked to become weapons leader originally, and took over on 9 April 1945 when Øyen established a paramilitary base in Nordmarka
Nordmarka
Nordmarka is the mostly forested region which makes up the northern part of Oslo, Norway. The area called "Nordmarka" also extends into the municipalities of Hole, Ringerike, Lunner, Jevnaker and Nittedal. It is the largest part of the Marka borough. The forests are popular sites for hiking and...
. Bror With
Bror With
Bror With , born in Norway's capital Kristiania, was a mechanical engineer, inventor and industrialist. He graduated in 1925 from the Norwegian Institute of Technology....
had also been asked, by Jens Christian Hauge
Jens Christian Hauge
Jens Christian Hauge , often written Jens Chr. Hauge, was a Norwegian World War II resistance figure and politician who was the leader of the secret military organization Milorg during WWII...
in 1943, but he rejected and instead volunteered to become a weapons manufacturer. He became best known for producing a hand grenade
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
, but also mass produced sten guns. All of this was highly illegal on Norwegian soil, and Øyen sometimes handled the weapons transport from production in Oslo to a testing site in Lommedalen
Lommedalen
Lommedalen is a picturesque, rural community in a small valley in Bærum municipality, in the county of Akershus, Norway. The population is about 3000 people. Its name is derived from the river Lomma, which, after joining with Isielva, forms Sandvikselva. Another explantion of the name, is by the...
. The weapons drops and manufacture grew in importance from September 1944, when Milorg started its sabotage group Aks 13000
Aks 13000
Aks 13000 or Aks 13 was a sabotage squad which existed from 1944 to 1945, during parts of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany in World War II. It was a part of the Norwegian resistance movement, specifically Milorg....
.
Øyen came close to being arrested on several occasions. In the summer of 1944, he was almost stopped in a German road control when transporting stenguns in a truck together with Asbjørn Pedersen and Bjørn Nicolaissen. In early 1945 Øyen spent the night at one of Milorg's secret offices, in the street Odins gate. The location had been unknowingly revealed when a random errand boy spotted a hidden weapon there and his friend about it in the presence of others. The office was raided by Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
the night Øyen slept there; he left before the raid after receiving a phone call from an unknown caller at 0230hrs. After the war, when Øyen spoke to newly imprisoned ex-Kriminalrat
Kriminalpolizei
is the standard term for the criminal investigation agency within the police forces of Germany, Austria and the German-speaking cantons of Switzerland. In Nazi Germany during 1936, the Kripo became the Criminal Police Department for the entire Reich...
Siegfried Fehmer, Fehmer remarked dryly that "it was a pity I did not meet you earlier".
Post-war life and career
Øyen met his future wife while doing resistance work. At first they did not know each others' names, only noms de guerre. He was married to Dagny Udberg (1916–1991) from February 1951.He resumed his medicine studies after the war and graduated in 1946. He was hired in the surgical department of Lillehammer Hospital in 1947. From 1948 to 1950 he worked in the anaesthesiological department at Rikshospitalet
Rikshospitalet
Rikshospitalet is located in Oslo, Norway. From January 1, 2009, the hospital is part of Oslo University Hospital....
from 1948 to 1950 and as chief physician and head of the anaesthesiological department at Aker Hospital from 1951 to 1984. He was also a consultant for the Norwegian Armed Forces Medical Corps and lectured in disaster medicine
Disaster medicine
Disaster medicine is the area of physician medical specialization serving the dual areas of providing medical care to disaster survivors and providing medically related disaster preparation, disaster planning, disaster response and disaster recovery leadership throughout the disaster life cycle...
at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. He spent some time working abroad, notably in a field hospital from 1951 to 1952 during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, as leader of the Norwegian sanitary company stationed in Suez from 1956 to 1957 after the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
, and as sanitary leader for United Nations Operation in the Congo
United Nations Operation in the Congo
Opération des Nations unies au Congo, abbreviated ONUC, was a United Nations peacekeeping force in Congo that was established after United Nations Security Council Resolution 143 of July 14, 1960...
(intervening in the Congo Crisis
Congo Crisis
The Congo Crisis was a period of turmoil in the First Republic of the Congo that began with national independence from Belgium and ended with the seizing of power by Joseph Mobutu...
, Katanga
State of Katanga
Katanga was a breakaway state proclaimed on 11 July 1960 separating itself from the newly independent Democratic Republic of the Congo. In revolt against the new government of Patrice Lumumba in July, Katanga declared independence under Moise Tshombe, leader of the local CONAKAT party...
) in 1961. He was injured in Katanga in September 1961. He also served on an earthquake team in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and Biafra
Biafra
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a secessionist state in south-eastern Nigeria that existed from 30 May 1967 to 15 January 1970, taking its name from the Bight of Biafra . The inhabitants were mostly the Igbo people who led the secession due to economic, ethnic, cultural and religious...
.
Øyen chaired Norsk anestesiologisk forening from 1958 to 1963. In 1972 he started an interest group called "Fritt Norge med NATO". In 1991 he was among 28 war veterans who in a petition warned the government to not sign an international convention that abolished the death penalty in times of war. Other petitioners were Tore Gjelsvik
Tore Gjelsvik
Tore Gjelsvik was a Norwegian geologist and polar explorer. He headed the Norwegian Polar Institute from 1960 to 1983, and played an important role in the Norwegian resistance during World War II.-Personal life:...
, Oskar Hasselknippe
Oskar Hasselknippe
Oskar Hasselknippe was a Norwegian newspaper editor. He is known for his work in the Norwegian resistance movement and as editor of Verdens Gang during its swift ascent among Norwegian newspapers....
, Jens Chr. Hauge, Håkon Kyllingmark, Bjørn Rørholt
Bjørn Rørholt
Bjørn Arnold Rørholt was a Norwegian engineer, military officer, Secret Intelligence Service agent and resistance member during World War II.-Early life:...
, Elisabeth Schweigaard Selmer
Elisabeth Schweigaard Selmer
Ragnhild Elisabeth Schweigaard Selmer was a Norwegian jurist and politician for the Conservative Party.-Personal life:...
, Tor Skjønsberg
Tor Skjønsberg
Tor Vangen Skjønsberg was a Norwegian resistance leader, by education he was a lawyer.In 1941 Tor Skjønsberg called for a meeting "Grimelundsmøtet" which is considered the start of organized resistance in Norway....
, Anne-Sofie Strømnæs, Gunnar Sønsteby
Gunnar Sønsteby
Gunnar Fridtjof Thurmann Sønsteby DSO was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement during the German occupation of Norway in World War II...
and Reidar Torp
Reidar Torp
Reidar Torp is a Norwegian military officer.He was born in Sarpsborg. A son of politician Oscar Torp, he fled Norway on the cruiser HMS Devonshire on 7 June 1940, together with the royal family, the cabinet and other important personnel...
.
He was decorated with the Defence Medal 1940–1945, St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
St. Olav's Medal with Oak Branch is a Norwegian military award, which was instituted by King Haakon VII of Norway on 6 February 1942. In Norway, the medal is considered as a separate award from the civilian St...
, Knight 1st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (1962) and Knight 1st class of the Swedish Order of Vasa
Order of Vasa
The Royal Order of Vasa was a Swedish Royal order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III of Sweden...
. He received the Order of Vasa for his actions in the Congo, reportedly the first non-Swedish citizen in about 150 years to receive the Order for actions in a military conflict. He died in January 1987 in Bærum
Bærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
, and was buried in Stor-Elvdal
Stor-Elvdal
Stor-Elvdal is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Koppang....
.