Odd Lindbäck-Larsen
Encyclopedia
Odd Lindbäck-Larsen was a Norwegian military officer and war historian.
as the son of Ludvig Martinius Larsen and Fanny Olivia Lindbäck. He graduated
from Oslo Cathedral School in 1915, and from the Norwegian Military Academy
in 1918. He was a candidate at the general staff from 1922 to 1926, and adjoint from 1929 to 1933. He resided in Finland for the purpose of studies in 1926, and in Germany in 1933. He married telegraph operator Dagny Kaspara Lund in 1927.
in Helsinki
from 1934 to 1936. From 1936 he was the chief-of-staff at the 6th Division in Northern Norway.
in Northern Norway during the Second World War
as the chief-of-staff and right-hand man of General Carl Gustav Fleischer
, the commander of the 6th Division. Following the conclusion of the campaign on 10 June 1940 and the departure to exile in the United Kingdom
of General Carl Gustav Fleischer, Lindbäck-Larsen became the military chief-of-staff of Finnmark County Governor Hans Gabrielsen. In this respect Lindbäck-Larsen commanded a Norwegian border guard force of two infantry battalions and an artillery battery. The border forces had been allowed by the Germans in the capitulation agreement to remain stationed in Eastern Finnmark as a safe-guard against the Soviet Union
after the Norwegian capitulation. Plans were made by General Otto Ruge
to use the 1,600-1,700 men strong border guard to rebuild a Norwegian elite army in Finnmark, outside of German control. The border guard was however ordered to be dissolved by the Germans in July 1940.
prison, then at Grini concentration camp, and finally at Sachsenhausen concentration camp
in Germany. Lindbäck-Larsen was never convicted of anything and was referred to by the Germans as Reichskommissar
Josef Terboven
's personal prisoner, the two having clashed before Lindbäck-Larsen's arrest.
. He was decorated Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1958. He was also awarded the St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
and made a Commander of the Swedish Order of the Sword
and a Officier of the Légion d'honneur
. He wrote several books, including a book on military psychology , about the Norwegian Army in 1814 , and a book on the Norwegian Campaign in 1940 .
Early and personal life
Lindbäck-Larsen was born in KristianiaOslo
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...
as the son of Ludvig Martinius Larsen and Fanny Olivia Lindbäck. He graduated
Examen 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...
from Oslo Cathedral School in 1915, and from 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...
in 1918. He was a candidate at the general staff from 1922 to 1926, and adjoint from 1929 to 1933. He resided in Finland for the purpose of studies in 1926, and in Germany in 1933. He married telegraph operator Dagny Kaspara Lund in 1927.
Pre-war
Lindbäck-Larsen was a military attachéMilitary attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
from 1934 to 1936. From 1936 he was the chief-of-staff at the 6th Division in Northern Norway.
Norwegian Campaign and aftermath
Lindbäck-Larsen participated in the Norwegian CampaignNorwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
in Northern Norway during 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...
as the chief-of-staff and right-hand man of General Carl Gustav Fleischer
Carl Gustav Fleischer
Carl Gustav Fleischer KCB was a Norwegian general and the first land commander to win a major victory against the Germans in the Second World War...
, the commander of the 6th Division. Following the conclusion of the campaign on 10 June 1940 and the departure to exile in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
of General Carl Gustav Fleischer, Lindbäck-Larsen became the military chief-of-staff of Finnmark County Governor Hans Gabrielsen. In this respect Lindbäck-Larsen commanded a Norwegian border guard force of two infantry battalions and an artillery battery. The border forces had been allowed by the Germans in the capitulation agreement to remain stationed in Eastern Finnmark as a safe-guard against the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
after the Norwegian capitulation. Plans were made by General Otto Ruge
Otto Ruge
Otto Ruge was a Norwegian general. He was Commander-in-chief of the Royal Norwegian Armed Forces after Nazi Germany's assault on Norway in April 1940.-Background:...
to use the 1,600-1,700 men strong border guard to rebuild a Norwegian elite army in Finnmark, outside of German control. The border guard was however ordered to be dissolved by the Germans in July 1940.
Imprisonment
Lindbäck-Larsen was arrested by the Germans in November 1940 and incarcerated for the rest of the war, first at Møllergata 19Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
prison, then at Grini concentration camp, and finally at Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen or Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg was a Nazi concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany, used primarily for political prisoners from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in May, 1945. After World War II, when Oranienburg was in the Soviet Occupation Zone, the structure was used as an NKVD...
in Germany. Lindbäck-Larsen was never convicted of anything and was referred to by the Germans as Reichskommissar
Reichskommissar
Reichskommissar , in German history, was an official gubernatorial title used for various public offices during the period of the German Empire and the Nazi Third Reich....
Josef Terboven
Josef Terboven
Josef Antonius Heinrich Terboven was a Nazi leader, best known as the Reichskommissar during the German occupation of Norway.-Early life:...
's personal prisoner, the two having clashed before Lindbäck-Larsen's arrest.
Post-war
After the war he continued his military career. From 1946 to 1952 he was in charge of Agder Infantry Regiment. From 1952 he held the rank of Major General and was the commander-in-chief of District Command North Norway. From 1958 to 1962 he was a military attaché in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. He was decorated Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1958. He was also awarded the 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...
and made a Commander of the Swedish Order of the Sword
Order of the Sword
The Order of the Sword is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on February 23, 1748, together with the Order of the Seraphim and the Order of the Polar Star.Awarded to officers, and originally intended as an award for bravery and particularly long or useful service, it...
and a Officier of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. He wrote several books, including a book on military psychology , about the Norwegian Army in 1814 , and a book on the Norwegian Campaign in 1940 .