Øyvinn Øi
Encyclopedia
Øyvinn Øi was a Norwegian
military officer during the outbreak of the Second World War
.
, the son of lector
Gunnar Øi and Thora, née Lind. In 1926 he married Aagot Hesselborg, with whom he had four children.
Øi took an officer exam attending the Norwegian Military Academy
. He also did military studies in France
.
Øi, a captain in the general staff, first became to the general public after giving a lecture entitled "Det strategiske overfall" ('The Strategic Attack') to the officers' society, Oslo Militære Samfund
, on 6 March 1939. In this lecture, Øi stated that Norway had inadequate defences and was vulnerable to a foreign attack. This caused a stir in some groups and the social democrat newspaper Arbeiderbladet came close to accusing him of treason
.
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
. 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.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
military officer during the outbreak of the Second World War
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...
.
Personal life
Øyvinn Øi was born in HadselHadsel
Hadsel is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Vesterålen traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Stokmarknes, and the other village on the island of Hadseløya is Melbu. Hadsel was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
, the son of lector
Lector
Lector is a Latin term for one who reads, whether aloud or not. In modern languages the word has come to take various forms, as either a development or a loan, such as , , and . It has various specialized uses:...
Gunnar Øi and Thora, née Lind. In 1926 he married Aagot Hesselborg, with whom he had four children.
Career
After 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...
Øi took an officer exam attending the Norwegian Military Academy
Norwegian Military Academy
The Norwegian Army Academy was established in 1750. It is the oldest university-level educational institution in Norway, and one of the oldest active military academies in the world. Krigsskolen primarily educates officers for the Norwegian Army. There are separate academies for the Royal...
. He also did military studies in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Øi, a captain in the general staff, first became to the general public after giving a lecture entitled "Det strategiske overfall" ('The Strategic Attack') to the officers' society, Oslo Militære Samfund
Oslo Militære Samfund
Oslo Militære Samfund is a society founded in 1825. The society has published the magazine Norsk Militært Tidsskrift since 1835. Its location at Myntgt. 3 in Oslo was built in 1878, and designed by architect Wilhelm von Hanno....
, on 6 March 1939. In this lecture, Øi stated that Norway had inadequate defences and was vulnerable to a foreign attack. This caused a stir in some groups and the social democrat newspaper Arbeiderbladet came close to accusing him of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
.
Norway was indeed invaded when Operation Weserübung
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...
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
Grorud
Grorud is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway.The borough contains the Ammerud, Grorud, Kalbakken, Rødtvet, Nordtvet and Romsås areas. Traditionally a borough inhabited by the working class, Grorud has in the last few decades had a great influx of immigrants. 40% of the population are first or...
. He had volunteered to go on a mission to Oslo
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...
on behalf of the Norwegian general staff after the staff had evacuated from the Norwegian capital.