Born in Kristiansand on 19 August while his father was working on Bjørnøya.
The family emigrated to the United States, but the Wall Street Crash forced his mother and the children back to Norway.
Worked first in the Sirdal molybdenum mines and then for three years as a deckhand at sea.
Served in the King’s Guard and entered the Engineer Corps officer school.
Took part in the Norwegian campaign during the German invasion.
Escaped across the border to Sweden after anti-German activity in occupied Norway.
Joined the Kvarstad attempt to reach Britain; captured after the Charente was scuttled.
Held for about 18 months as a Nacht und Nebel prisoner in Sonnenburg.
Transferred with the surviving Kvarstad prisoners to Sachsenhausen, escaping the later Sonnenburg massacre.
Evacuated from the camp system by the Swedish Red Cross White Buses operation.
Graduated from the Military Academy and became adjutant to Defence Minister Jens Christian Hauge.
Led Red Cross expeditions that located and repatriated the remains of Norwegian prisoners from Sonnenburg.
Served in the General Staff, with troops and in Norwegian military intelligence.
Served with the United Nations operation in the Congo.
Completed Russian language training ahead of service in the Soviet Union.
Military attaché in Moscow during the Cold War.
Appointed head of the UN office in the Norwegian Defence Command.
Fellow at Harvard’s Center for International Affairs.
Deputy Commandant of the NATO Defense College in Rome.
Major general and Commandant of Akershus Fortress; retired after 44 years of military service.
President of the Norwegian Red Cross.
Vice-President of the World Veterans Federation.
President of the World Veterans Federation; later Honorary President.
Awarded the Oslo Military Society Silver Badge of Honour.
Died in Oslo on 25 July, aged 88.
Principal source: Bjørn Egge, A Warrior for Peace, supplemented by original documents in the family archive.
Read the biography, explore the documented honours, or consult the sources.
