Øyvinn Øi (19 June 1901 in Hadsel, Vesterålen – 9 April 1940) was a Norwegian military officer during the outbreak of the Second World War.

Personal life

Øyvinn Øi was born in Hadsel, the son of lector Gunnar Øi and Thora, née Lind. In 1926 he married Aagot Hesselborg, with whom he had four children.

Career

After his examen artium Øi took an officer exam attending the Norwegian Military Academy. He also did military studies in France. Øi, a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in the general staff, became known to the general public for his lecture entitled "Det strategiske overfall" ('The Strategic Attack') to the officers' society,

Oslo Militære Samfund Oslo Militære Samfund ("Oslo Military Society") is a Norwegian society of military commissioned officers founded in 1825. The society has published the magazine ''Norsk Militært Tidsskrift ''Norsk Militært Tidsskrift'' ( en, Norwegian Milita ...

, 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, especially the social democrat newspaper '' Arbeiderbladet'', which 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.

References

1901 births 1940 deaths People from Hadsel Norwegian Military Academy alumni Norwegian expatriates in France Norwegian Army personnel of World War II Norwegian military personnel killed in World War II Deaths by firearm in Norway {{Norway-mil-bio-stub