European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 23, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Today s invaders carry cameras a Atlantic. Ocean .-4f\? a /4 Cannon with wooden wheels commands Oslo Harbor from a position below the fortress. Story and photos by Bill Walker staff writer the great Stone fortress of Akers Hus dominating the Harbor approach to the norwegian capital of Oslo stands As a Symbol of the Long and often difficult course of scandinavian history. Today the fortress is a Magnet for visitors who seek a panoramic View of the City and an intriguing look at the military history of a nation. Akers Hus was built in the 14th Century by King Haakon v Magnusson to secure his hold Over the land of the Vikings. Even before the last great stones in the battlements had been Laid the King s son in Law Duke Erik of Sweden attacked. Erik failed starting the legend of the invincibility of Akers Hus and helping the King carve his Niche in history. Today Haakon is revered As the ruler who made Oslo the Royal capital. And Akers Hus which was attacked nine times Over four centuries but was never conquered remains the Pride of the City. The fortress built atop a Steep Promontory called the Aker Neset remains under siege to this Day although the ghost of Haakon must chuckle at the mild mannered Gaggle of International invaders who breach the Citadel ramparts daily armed with nothing More threatening than automatic focus Nikon and Minolta. The fortress is the City s top attraction because of the Superb View of the Harbor from the sheer drop off facing Oslo fiord. In addition two military collections on the fortress Heights make Akers Hus a required Stop for the history minded visitor. The norwegian defense museum a few Hundred feet outside the main Walls of the fortress boasts one of Europe s outstanding military displays. The exhibits chronicle a martial tradition beginning with the Vikings and continuing for a thousand years through the heroic resistance of the country during the world War ii nazi occupation. The museum fills two floors of the former Royal norwegian Arsenal built in 1851 with red Brick siding and High ceiling interiors that Are reminiscent of the austrian military museum in Vienna. The museum is divided into the significant periods in norwegian history. First of these is the Viking Era roughly from 800-1300. The military system started by the Vikings called the Leiding required Farmers along the coast to provision and Man a Viking longboat for self defense. The Vikings were explorers and their Long Graceful Craft were durable enough to take them on forays along the european coast into the Mediterranean and even to Newfoundland where Leif Ericsson settled briefly in the year 1000. The period 1400 through the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, covers the centuries of struggles Between Norway Sweden and Denmark. The contest eventually was won by Sweden which became the leading nordic country. Norway and Denmark supported Napoleon and with the defeat of the French ruler Norway was 4 stripes Magazine february 23, 1989