Birger Eriksen

Birger Kristian Eriksen
Birger Kristian Eriksen
Born	17 November 1875; Flakstad, Lofoten, Kingdom of Sweden and Norway
Died	16 July 1958 (aged 82); Oslo, Norway
Buried	Vår Frelsers gravlund, Oslo
Allegiance	Norway
Branch	Norwegian Army
Service years	1893–1940
Rank	Oberst (Colonel)
Commands	Coastal fortresses: Tønsberg Fortress (1915); Agdenes Fortress (1915–1931); Bergen Fortress (1931–1933); Oscarsborg Fortress (1933–1940);
Conflicts	World War II Norwegian campaign Battle of Drøbak Sound (POW); ; ;
Awards	War Cross with sword; Croix de Guerre; Légion d'honneur
Spouse	Christiane Sæhlie (m. 1903)
Relations	Hans Eriksen (grandfather), Casper Eriksen (father); Andreas Olsen Sæhlie (father-in-law)

Birger Kristian Eriksen (17 November 1875 – 16 July 1958) was a Norwegian military officer (with the rank of Oberst) who was instrumental in stopping the first wave of Gruppe 5 of the German invasion force outside Oslo. Eriksen was the commander of Oscarsborg Fortress when Nazi Germany attacked Norway in the early hours of 9 April 1940. He gained lasting recognition for ordering the fortress under his command to open fire on the vanguard forces of Operation Weserübung, sinking the 16,000-ton heavy cruiser Blücher.