Odd Lindbäck-Larsen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Odd Lindbäck-Larsen
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|---|---|
| Born | 21 April 1897 Kristiania, Norway |
| Died | 18 August 1975 (aged 78) Oslo, Norway |
| Service/ |
Norwegian Army |
| Years of service | 1918–1962 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | 6th Division (1936–1940) |
| Commands held | Agder Infantry Regiment (1946–1952) District Command North Norway (1952–1958) |
| Battles/wars | Norwegian Campaign: |
| Awards |  Commander with star of theRoyal Norwegian Order of St. Olav St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch Officier of the Légion d'honneur Commander of theSwedish Order of the Sword |
| Spouse(s) |
Dagny Kaspara Lund
(m. 1927) |
| Relations | Inger Haugan née Lindbäck Larsen (daughter)
Tore Lindbekk (son) Kirsten Reinertsen née Lindbäck Larsen (daughter) |
| Other work | War historian |
Odd Lindbäck-Larsen (born April 21, 1897 – died August 18, 1975) was an important Norwegian military officer. He also became a well-known historian who wrote about wars.
He played a key role in the Norwegian Campaign during World War II. This happened in Northern Norway. He served as the chief-of-staff for General Carl Gustav Fleischer. Sadly, he spent much of the war in German concentration camps. After the war, he continued his military career. He reached the high rank of major general. He also worked as a military diplomat in Stockholm, Sweden. Lindbäck-Larsen wrote several books about Norway's military history.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Odd Lindbäck-Larsen was born in Kristiania, Norway. His parents were Ludvig Martinius Larsen and Fanny Olivia Lindbäck. He finished high school at Oslo Cathedral School in 1915.
He then studied at the Norwegian Military Academy. He graduated from there in 1918. In 1921, he completed his studies at the Norwegian Military College. From 1922 to 1926, he worked with the general staff. He also spent time studying in Finland in 1926. Later, in 1933, he studied in Germany.
Odd Lindbäck-Larsen married Dagny Kaspara Lund on July 25, 1927. She worked as a telegraph operator. His son, Tore Lindbekk, born in 1933, became a sociologist and politician.
Military Career
Before World War II
From 1934 to 1936, Lindbäck-Larsen worked as a military attaché in Helsinki, Finland. This means he was a military expert working at an embassy. In 1936, he became the chief-of-staff for the 6th Division. This division was based in Northern Norway.
During World War II
The Norwegian Campaign
Odd Lindbäck-Larsen was very involved in the Norwegian Campaign. This was a major part of World War II in Norway. He served as the chief-of-staff for General Carl Gustav Fleischer. General Fleischer was the commander of the 6th Division. Lindbäck-Larsen was Fleischer's main helper and right-hand man.
The campaign ended on June 10, 1940. General Fleischer then left Norway for the United Kingdom. After this, Lindbäck-Larsen became the military chief-of-staff. He worked for Hans Gabrielsen, who was the County Governor of Finnmark. Lindbäck-Larsen took command of a Norwegian border guard force. This force included two infantry battalions and an artillery battery.
The Germans had allowed these border forces to stay in Eastern Finnmark. This was part of the agreement when Norway surrendered. The forces were meant to guard against the Soviet Union. There were plans to use these 1,600 to 1,700 men. The idea was to rebuild a strong Norwegian army in Finnmark. This army would be outside German control. However, the Germans ordered the border guard to be dissolved in July 1940.
Imprisonment by Germans
In November 1940, German forces arrested Lindbäck-Larsen. He remained imprisoned for the rest of the war. First, he was held at Møllergata 19 prison. Then, he was moved to Grini concentration camp in Norway. Finally, he was sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany.
Lindbäck-Larsen was never found guilty of any crime. The Germans saw him as a personal prisoner of Reichskommissar Josef Terboven. This was because Lindbäck-Larsen had disagreements with Terboven before his arrest.
After World War II
After the war ended, Lindbäck-Larsen continued his military career. From 1946 to 1952, he led the Agder Infantry Regiment. In 1952, he was promoted to Major General. He then became the commander-in-chief of District Command North Norway.
From 1958 to 1962, he served as a military attaché in Stockholm, Sweden. He received many honors for his service. In 1958, he was awarded the Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He also received the St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch. Other awards included Commander of the Swedish Order of the Sword and Officier of the Légion d'honneur from France.
Odd Lindbäck-Larsen also became a respected war historian. He wrote several books on military history. These included books about military psychology, the Norwegian Army in 1814, and the Norwegian Campaign in 1940.
He passed away in Oslo in August 1975.
