The Attack, at one of the our countrys most prominent immigration suburbs, Romsaas on the hill above Oslo. Front page in VG, Norways biggest newspaper.

Working for western values with the Police at Stovner, the greatest policestation in Norway, founded by Knut Holen

A letter from the state Secretary in The Norwegian Minstry of Justice and Police, now chief of Norwegian Police Security

Unni's uncle Einar Ingvald Friis Skogstad/Woodstead (1913-1994) was an US Army tank driver in the allied landing in Normandy 1944. His nephew Arthur M. Woodstead (1947-2006) fought as an US Army sergeant in the Vietnam war and got the Purple Heart. He is buried at the National Memorial Cemetry of Arizona.

Unni HMS- and Quality Manager 2001, The Head of Quality at the Norwegian Institute for Energy Technology and Nuclear Research 2007.

Eystein Governmental grant holder/ State Scholar 2003

Eystein on BBC 2004, "Unfinished business", a history program by James Maw, produced by Neil George

The Norseman 1994

Our House

Common ancestors and our relatives in USA and Canada

Photos from the old folks at home

Pride and prejudice in norwegian publishing

"He is among the uttermost few who creates literature of great force and originality in our Contemporary-Norway" - leading newspaper Aftenposten on Eystein 1999.

Unni Friis Skogstad and Eystein Eggen, Head of Quality and Governmental grant holder, distant cousins, in 2001 (above) and just married four years later, before the norwegian parliament, the Stortinget

Bildetekst

Eystein Eggen, 6'1'', and our german sheperd Odin, 2'3'', but with long hair. Odins brother is watchdog at Bardufoss airport, way up in the norwegian north.

Reconciliation – a short summary in English

Unni’s father was a soldier in the Norwegian paratrooper company in Scotland in the period 1940–45. Eystein’s parents belonged to the Norwegian Nazi Party.

France has in reality also been divided for fifty years: between the heritage from the freedom fighters of Charles de Gaulle and the collaboration of Marechal Petain of Vichy.

For the first time in modern European history there is a reunion – a reconciliation.

It’s a while since we’ve talked to each other, Mr Eggen. What have you been up to during the long winter?

Delving into my family background – and with an exceptional result.

Tell me more!

Well, as you remember, the restoration of the Eggen family was very close to my heart. In the long run it became very tedious to see the family collapse during these years. This is of course due to my father passing away and to the Second World War. But the fact that these concerns are supported by higher powers was clearly shown when I met Norway’s most intelligent and most beautiful woman – who was, of course, a Skogstad.

Can you explain this in more detail?

The Skogstads are in a way the main part of the Eggen family. Both the Skogstads and the Eggens have the same male line, both originating from the blessed Esten (Eystein) in Åsen – the same Esten who was caught by the authorities during the big tax collection in 1528. But it was in the Skogstad branch of the family that literary abilities first appeared. It was there that family poetry first flourished in the poem from the early 1700s called En bondemann på isen går about a farmer walking on the ice In the same century one of the Skogstads had a book collection consisting of 365 books, which was quite unique among farmers at that time. When it transpired out that they were also artist blacksmiths and bear-hunters it was clear that we had here the perfect prototypes to get the Eggen family back on its feet. You only have to look at the singer’s pew in

Kvikne Church in the north Østerdalen valley, where the regiment blacksmith Esten Skogstad can be seen standing with his sabre drawn and wearing a tight-fitting red uniform.

In fact the gift of song has always been prevalent in the family – among both the Skogstads and the Eggens.

Unni and Eystein

Why didn’t you get to know each other earlier?

Because of the family’s literary communistic cover operation. It laid a smokescreen over all the former tough men in the family – as can be seen from the fanatical family resistance to my boyhood recollections described in Gutten fra Gimle.

But things have taken a new turn now?

Yes. In a way I have found the missing link – a dignified lady with experience of business, the former manager for Michelin’s quota of tyres for Norway, and currently the social democratic quality controller of the atomic reactor at Kjeller.

It seems that you’ve ended up in the best of hands!

Her name is Unni Skogstad. Not only is she a former equestrienne and dog-breeder, she also possesses the family’s sharp intellect to the highest degree as well as an almost musical writing talent – exactly what is so striking in both the Skogstads and the Eggens and that has led to the last-mentioned family having by far the most members in the Norwegian Authors’ Union. It is Unni’s mother who was born a Skogstad – Friis Skogstad.

Something of a coincidence!

You can say that again! And that’s only half the story. In addition Unni is in fact the girl from Gimle who has now met the boy from Gimle.

I thought there was only one of you?

In a sense. But I represent only part of the Second World War’s fighting parties. Unni represents the other. Her father was from the Faroe Islands. He was a paratrooper in the Norwegian Brigade in Scotland in the period 1940–45, later becoming captain of the Gimlemoen army camp near Kristiansand where Unni grew up. But just imagine that I met a woman who is not only from the same family but also the daughter of a soldier in General Fleischer’s army! It’s just so incredible that I think I must let her tell you about it herself.

Well, Unni. Eystein has now given us an ecstatic testimony about his own rebirth in the family. How do you experience it?

I had the privilege of first getting to know Eystein through his autobiography Gutten fra Gimle, which is by the way an unusually well-written book and an honest and sensitive portrayal. But what impressed me most about Eystein was the great courage he had shown and his ability and willingness to fight alone if necessary.

The book made a great impression on me. I actually recognised very much from my own childhood. It was very clear to me that there were no winners of the war.

According to Eystein you are a soldier’s daughter?

I read Eystein’s book about General Fleischer with great interest – Generalen. Fleischer was highly respected among his soldiers. I feel that the book makes an excellent contribution to the General and his men regaining their honour.

I was somewhat surprised when I saw that Eystein had taken the artistic liberty of letting the General die in the Faroe Islands. He says it was to give him an honourable death on Norwegian soil. My father is unfortunately dead, but I know this would have made a huge impression on him.

Your father was on the winning side. How can you claim that the war had no winners?

I can claim this both for personal reasons and on the basis of the political guidelines that have been set. My father was one of those who emerged from the war reasonably well after five years of elite training without seeing any fighting. They were kept back greatly against their will. The uncertainty must have been an enormous strain since it continued over five years. We who were the children of these soldiers lived with the harm this imposed on them.

I also have the impression that after the war strong military models were somewhat unpopular. This led to people hardly daring to give recognition to the efforts made by many Norwegian men during the war. I was extremely surprised when I only found one picture of General Fleischer at the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum – and his name wasn’t even mentioned on it.

Do you still feel like a persecuted author, Eystein Eggen?

No. Not unless the Norwegian Centre Party are put in charge of the Ministry of Culture again! But joking apart and burying my repressions, the fact is that together with Unni I feel an intense driving power and a deep need to contribute to healing the wounds of the past. Reality is more fantastic than the wildest novel, so I am now writing a book about love.

Eystein Eggen’s website

Documentation page about Eystein Eggen

Tittel for denne teksten

Dobbel-klikk her for å skrive inn tekst eller sette inn bilde.

It’s a while since we’ve talked to each other, Mr Eggen. What have you been up to during the long winter?

Delving into my family background – and with an exceptional result.

Tell me more!

Well, as you remember, the restoration of the Eggen family was very close to my heart. In the long run it became very tedious to see the family collapse during these years. This is of course due to my father passing away and to the Second World War. But the fact that these concerns are supported by higher powers was clearly shown when I met Norway’s most intelligent and most beautiful woman – who was, of course, a Skogstad.

Esten Skogstad 1739 (Copyright Unni Friis Skogstad)

Can you explain this in more detail?

The Skogstads are in a way the main part of the Eggen family. Both the Skogstads and the Eggens have the same male line, both originating from the blessed Esten (Eystein) in Åsen in Vingelen – the same Esten who was caught by the authorities during the big tax collection in 1528. But it was in the Skogstad branch of the family that literary abilities first appeared. It was there that family poetry first flourished in the poem from the early 1700s called En bondemann på isen går about a farmer walking on the ice In the same century one of the Skogstads had a book collection consisting of 365 books, which was quite unique among farmers at that time. When it transpired out that they were also artist blacksmiths and bear-hunters it was clear that we had here the perfect prototypes to get the Eggen family back on its feet. You only have to look at the singer’s pew in Kvikne Church in the north Østerdalen valley, where the regiment blacksmith Esten Skogstad can be seen standing with his sabre drawn and wearing a tight-fitting uniform. In fact the gift of song has always been prevalent in the family – among both the Skogstads and the Eggens.

Why didn’t you get to know each other earlier?

Because of the family’s literary communistic cover operation. It laid a smokescreen over all the former tough men in the family – as can be seen from the fanatical family resistance to my boyhood recollections described in Gutten fra Gimle.

Norwegian mountain troops from the crack regiment I/IR12. Norwegian spearhead in the allied counter-attack against Narvik april 1940. Eystein Eggens father, Eil Eggen (1915-1984) second from right.

But things have taken a new turn now?

Yes. In a way I have found the missing link – a dignified lady with experience of business, the former manager for Michelin’s quota of tyres for Norway, and currently the social democratic quality controller of the atomic reactor at Kjeller.

It seems that you’ve ended up in the best of hands!

Her name is Unni Skogstad. Not only is she a former equestrienne and dog-breeder, she also possesses the family’s sharp intellect to the highest degree as well as an almost musical writing talent – exactly what is so striking in both the Skogstads and the Eggens and that has led to the last-mentioned family having by far the most members in the Norwegian Authors’ Union. It is Unni’s mother who was born a Skogstad – Friis Skogstad.

Something of a coincidence!

You can say that again! And that’s only half the story. In addition Unni is in fact the girl from Gimle who has now met the boy from Gimle.

Gimlemoen

Quislings Gimle

Eystein Eggen before Quislings Gimle. For pre-war endorsement of major Vidkun Quisling and all the other fascists of Norway and Europe in "Tidens Tegn" ("Times Token"), second largest newspaper of Norway, see some facsimiles on Volapuk Cultural forum, 71,113,116,117,118,119, 123,125,127,132,134,135,136,138,139,140

"The Moon is down", John Steinbeck wrote on occupied Norway. In norwegian finance it was up all night. Here is "A gentleman on new roads" from autumn 1942, by Eysteins publisher Aschehoug (W. Nygaard). For more on norwegian fascist finance, see above links.

I thought there was only one of you?

In a sense. But I represent only part of the Second World War’s fighting parties. Unni represents the other. Her father was from the Faroe Islands. He was a paratrooper in the Norwegian Brigade in Scotland in the period 1940–45, later becoming captain of the Gimlemoen army camp near Kristiansand where Unni grew up. But just imagine that I met a woman who is not only from the same family but also the daughter of a soldier in General Fleischer’s army! It’s just so incredible that I think I must let her tell you about it herself.

Well, Unni. Eystein has now given us an ecstatic testimony about his own rebirth in the family. How do you experience it?

I had the privilege of first getting to know Eystein through his autobiography Gutten fra Gimle, which is by the way an unusually well-written book and an honest and sensitive portrayal. But what impressed me most about Eystein was the great courage he had shown and his ability and willingness to fight alone if necessary.

The book made a great impression on me. I actually recognised very much from my own childhood. It was very clear to me that there were no winners of the war.

Norwegian edition of The Boy from Gimle by Eystein Eggen. "The most candid in print", says Professor Einar Haugen, University of Wisconsin and Harvard University, see Volapuk page 198 ".

German invasion of Norway 1940: 145,146,147,148,149,150. Norwegian interview with Adolf Hitler 1923, with answer in Hitlers handwriting:176

"Eystein Eggen has given us an honest, valuable and awakening book which concerns everyone," the norwegian Air Force general Werner Christie, former fighter pilot in the british RAF, wrote. For documenatation and other reviews, see Volapuk, pages 2 to 64, for the truth about Eystein's grandfather, 65, 80, 84. Home and handwritten note of captain John Karlsen on 103

According to Eystein you are a soldier’s daughter?

I read Eystein’s book about General Fleischer with great interest – Generalen. Fleischer was highly respected among his soldiers. I feel that the book makes an excellent contribution to the General and his men regaining their honour.

I was somewhat surprised when I saw that Eystein had taken the artistic liberty of letting the General die in the Faroe Islands. He says it was to give him an honourable death on Norwegian soil. My father is unfortunately dead, but I know this would have made a huge impression on him.

Your father was on the winning side. How can you claim that the war had no winners?

I can claim this both for personal reasons and on the basis of the political guidelines that have been set. My father was one of those who emerged from the war reasonably well after five years of elite training without seeing any fighting. They were kept back greatly against their will. The uncertainty must have been an enormous strain since it continued over five years. We who were the children of these soldiers lived with the harm this imposed on them.

I also have the impression that after the war strong military models were somewhat unpopular. This led to people hardly daring to give recognition to the efforts made by many Norwegian men during the war. I was extremely surprised when I only found one picture of General Fleischer at the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum – and his name wasn’t even mentioned on it.

The Norwegian Parachute Company on parade at Gimlemoen, may 1945. Sergeant major John Karlsen presenting his troop to H.R.H. Crownprince Olav of Norway, later king Olav V. Captain Edward Dycker, the company's first head: "I would have chosen Karlsen. He can lead anybody, anywhere." The company was then taken over by captain , later major-general, Ole Jacob Bangstad: "Karlsen was one of the few I have known who demanded more from himself than from others." As private parachutist, later professor, Kåre Rodahl called to mind in his memoirs: The whaler Karlsen got us over the hill. (Copyright: Unni Friis Skogstad).

Eystein Eggen

Eystein nov 86sm