Akershus Fortress
Down by the harbour in Oslo lies Akershus Fortress, a medieval royal castle built in the 1600s as a seat for royal representatives. Its strategic location at the far end of the Oslo fjord made it an important part of the defence of Oslo in case of an attack from the fjord. During the Second World War between 9 february and 17 march 42, the german occupying power executed, on three occasions 42 norwegian citizens. On 9 and 10 February 28 people were executed as reprisals for the killing of the Norwegian state police chief, Karl Marthinsen, February 8, 1945. Marthinsen was shot down in his car just outside his home in Oslo on his way to work. In addition to these executions, three members of the Norwegian resistance movement were executed in August 1941. When Quisling was brought to justice after the war, he was imprisoned in the castle’s gunpowder tower. He was sentenced to death and executed at the gunpowder tower on October 24, 1945.
Current status: Preserved with museum. (2019).
Address: Akershus fästning, 0150 Oslo.
Get there: Walk from central Oslo.
Follow up in books: Greene, Jack, Massignani, Alessandro: Hitler Strikes North: The Nazi Invasion of Norway & Denmark, April 9, 1940 (2013).
Its location provides a good view towards Oslo fjord and Oslo harbor and is a popular destination for both Oslo residents and tourists. On the fortress there is also a "Home front museum" about the Second World War. At the place where Norwegian citizens were executed is a monument. However, there is nothing at the gunpowder tower that informs that Quisling was executed at this site. Simply because it doesn’t becomes a place for vorshiping. Quisling himself is buried in the family grave in Skien.