www.avrosys.nu - Copyright-free Scandinavian Archive Prints

Norway as seen by 19th Century Artists

Akershus, Oslo. Drawing by L. Skramstad.

The first work on the castle started around the late 1290.

The fortress has successfully survived many sieges, primarily by Swedish forces. In the early 17th Century, the fortress was modernized  under the reign of  King Christian IV, and got the appearance of a renaissance castle.

The Germans surrendered at Akershus Fortress on 11 May 1945.

The fortress has never been successfully captured by any foreign enemy. It surrendered without combat to Nazi Germany in 1940 when the Norwegian government evacuated the capital in the face of the German assault on Denmark and Norway. During World War II, several people were executed here by the Nazis. After the war, eight Norwegian traitors who had been tried for war crimes and sentenced to death were also executed at the fortress. Among those executed was Vidkun Quisling.

Akershus fortress is still a military area, but is open to the public daily. In addition to the castle, the Norwegian Armed Forces museum and the Norwegian Resistance museum can be visited there. The Norwegian Ministry of Defence and Defence Staff Norway (armed forces headquarters) have a joint modern headquarter in the eastern part of Akershus Fortress.

Below: Akershus in 2005. Photo:Tomasz Sienicki.

This drawing, scanned in the very large size mentioned above is sold as a JPG-file for € 5 or $ 5. Mail me at henriksson@avrosys.nu. Ref. no 100772.