Kristian Løken
Kristian Rikardsen Løken (31 July 1884 – March 1961) was a highly decorated Norwegian military officer who served in the Belgian Force Publique from 1907 to 1917, fighting German colonial forces in East Africa from 1914 to 1917, and went on to command a Norwegian Army infantry brigade during the 1940 Norwegian campaign of the Second World War.
Kristian Rikardsen Løken | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Kongo-Løken |
| Born | 31 July 1884 Elverum, Norway |
| Died | March 1961 (aged 76) |
| Allegiance | Norway Congo Free State (1907-8) Belgium |
| Service/ | Norwegian Army Force Publique |
| Years of service | Norwegian Army: 1906-1954 Force Publique: 1907-1917 |
| Rank | Colonel (Norwegian Army) Commandant (Force Publique) |
| Unit | 6th Division |
| Commands held | 6th Division (acting commander) 6th District Command 6th Brigade 14th Infantry Regiment Battalion of the Force Publique |
| Battles/wars | First World War
Second World War
|
| Awards | St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch Defence Medal 1940–1945 Haakon VII Jubilee Medal 1905–1955 Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur Croix de guerre Knight of the Royal Order of the Lion Officer of the Order of Leopold II Knight of the Order of Leopold Knight of the Order of the Crown with palm Croix de guerre with palm Order of the African Star, Silver Medal 1914-1917 African Campaigns Commemorative Medal Commemorative Medal of the 1914–1918 War Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914–1918 Commemorative Medal of Congo |
| Spouse(s) |
Guldborg Noer (m. 1931) |
| Relations | Halvor Løken (brother) |
In 1943, Løken was one of 1,100 Norwegian officers arrested and sent as prisoners-of-war to Germany, only being released after the German capitulation in 1945.
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