A True Viking

I spend a lot of time in Norway and I feel an affinity towards the country and its people. I would therefore like to briefly mention that 137 years ago today (August 3rd) , King Haakon VII, one of Norway’s most respected kings was born.

He is perhaps remembered above all else for the courageous decisions he made during World War II thus inspiring the men and women of Norway during that dark period.

On 9th April 1940, Norwegian forces faced a German naval detachment under orders to capture Oslo. The Norwegians stood firm against the invaders causing them to withdraw with heavy casualties. This gave the Royal family time to flee. A meeting between the king and a German diplomat later followed where Haakon refused to recognise Nazi sympathizer Vidkun Quisling as Prime Minister nor would he tell the Norwegian population to cease their opposition to the Nazis. This refusal and his threat to abdicate should the Norwegian government cooperate with the Germans was instrumental in uniting the Norwegian resistance throughout the 5 years of occupation. King Haakon and Queen Maud (a daughter of Britain's King Edward VII) fled to the UK where they spent the remainder of the war, making a jubilant return to Norway on 7th June 1945

Ecrivain Man