Initivoscare (talk | contribs) Undid revision 1052142847 by Initivoscare (talk) Tag: Undo |
This edit: 1) adds a reference to the Legion of Honour award that Nils Waltersen Aasen received; 2) adds links to Legion of Honour themed pages, a common feature of many Legion of Honour recipient Wikipedia pages; 3) Simplified the Legion of Honour reference, including converting the description of the order to English ("Chevalier"->"Knight"); 4) Corrects the existing "Norwegian American" reference, & extends it to the previously non-referenced Legion of Honour award fact |
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| known_for = Developed the modern hand grenade and land mine |
| known_for = Developed the modern hand grenade and land mine |
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| awards = [[File:Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg|40px]] [[Legion of Honour]] - Knight (1915) |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Aasen was born at [[Stadsbygd]] in [[Rissa, Norway]]. He graduated in 1903 from the Fortress-Artillery School for Non-Commissioned Officers ({{lang|no|Festningsartilleriets Underoffiserskole}}) at [[Oscarsborg Fortress]]. He started his experiments developing a hand grenade while serving as a sergeant at Oscarsborg. He was encouraged in his work by base commander and former defense minister [[Hans Georg Jacob Stang (minister of defence)|Hans Georg Stang]]. However, the Norwegian Department of Defense showed little interest in Aasen's prototype. He then formed Aasen's Grenade Company (''Det Aasenske Granatkompani'') in [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]], which produced and exported of his grenade throughout Europe. Apart from new types of explosives, trench mortars, airplane bombs and land mines he also created several inventions for civil use. However, it was the development and production of arms that would bring him his greatest success.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://arkivportalen.no/side/aktordetaljer?aktorId=no-a1450-01000001370060|title= Festningsartilleriets underoffiserskole|publisher= arkivportalen.no|access-date= January 1, 2017}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= |
Aasen was born at [[Stadsbygd]] in [[Rissa, Norway]]. He graduated in 1903 from the Fortress-Artillery School for Non-Commissioned Officers ({{lang|no|Festningsartilleriets Underoffiserskole}}) at [[Oscarsborg Fortress]]. He started his experiments developing a hand grenade while serving as a sergeant at Oscarsborg. He was encouraged in his work by base commander and former defense minister [[Hans Georg Jacob Stang (minister of defence)|Hans Georg Stang]]. However, the Norwegian Department of Defense showed little interest in Aasen's prototype. He then formed Aasen's Grenade Company (''Det Aasenske Granatkompani'') in [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]], which produced and exported of his grenade throughout Europe. Apart from new types of explosives, trench mortars, airplane bombs and land mines he also created several inventions for civil use. However, it was the development and production of arms that would bring him his greatest success.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://arkivportalen.no/side/aktordetaljer?aktorId=no-a1450-01000001370060|title= Festningsartilleriets underoffiserskole|publisher= arkivportalen.no|access-date= January 1, 2017}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="norwegianamerican_2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.norwegianamerican.com/business/innovation-history-norways-arms-magnate/|title=Innovation history: Norway's arms magnate|date=29 December 2016|publisher=Norwegian American (www.norwegianamerican.com)|author=Rasmus Falck|access-date=22 November 2022}}</ref> |
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Just prior to [[World War I]], Aasen developed an [[anti-personnel mine]] which was meant as a weapon of deterrence. The invention caused enthusiasm within the [[French Armed Forces|French military]] but did not see production before the war. During World War I, Aasen was given the task of producing hand grenades for the [[French Army]]. He would have 13 factories with 13,000 employees working throughout the war. |
Just prior to [[World War I]], Aasen developed an [[anti-personnel mine]] which was meant as a weapon of deterrence. The invention caused enthusiasm within the [[French Armed Forces|French military]] but did not see production before the war. During World War I, Aasen was given the task of producing hand grenades for the [[French Army]]. He would have 13 factories with 13,000 employees working throughout the war. |
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In 1917 his hand grenade was finally adopted by the Norwegian army, which later promoted him to premier-lieutenant (''Løytnant'').<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.side3.no/historie/norges-glemte-oppfinnerkonge/8480426.html|title= Norges glemte oppfinnerkonge|publisher |
In 1917 his hand grenade was finally adopted by the Norwegian army, which later promoted him to premier-lieutenant (''Løytnant'').<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.side3.no/historie/norges-glemte-oppfinnerkonge/8480426.html|title= Norges glemte oppfinnerkonge|publisher=historie/norges|date=31 August 2014|access-date=January 1, 2017}}</ref> |
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Throughout his life he received a number of honorary degrees and awards for his inventions. Most notably, he was made an honorary colonel in the French Army, and a |
Throughout his life he received a number of honorary degrees and awards for his inventions. Most notably, he was made an honorary colonel in the French Army, and a [[Knight]] in [[France|France's]] [[Legion of Honour]] in 1915.<ref name="norwegianamerican_2016"/> Later, Aasen's personal fortune was greatly reduced as a result of bad financial speculations, and because he had never patented the rights to several of his inventions. He died from [[tuberculosis]] in [[Stoughton, Wisconsin]] at the age of 47.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://contributoroftheexplosives.weebly.com/about.html |title= Nils Waltersen Aasen's Life|publisher = weebly.com |
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|access-date= August 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fosna-folket.no/nyheter/article9977630.ece|title= Fosning ble styrtrik på dødelige oppfinnelser|publisher = fosna-folket.no |date= 3 August 2014|access-date= January 1, 2017 }}</ref> |
|access-date= August 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fosna-folket.no/nyheter/article9977630.ece|title= Fosning ble styrtrik på dødelige oppfinnelser|publisher = fosna-folket.no |date= 3 August 2014|access-date= January 1, 2017 }}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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==See also== |
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{{Portal|France}} |
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* [[Legion of Honour]] |
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* [[List of Légion d'honneur recipients by name (A)|List of Legion of Honour recipients by name (A)]] |
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* [[List of foreign recipients of the Légion d'Honneur by country|List of foreign recipients of the Legion of Honour by country]] |
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* [[Musée de la Légion d'honneur|Legion of Honour Museum]] |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
Revision as of 03:00, 22 November 2022
Nils Waltersen Aasen | |
---|---|
Born | Stadsbygd, Norway | March 30, 1878
Died | December 27, 1925 | (aged 47)
Nationality | Norwegian |
Occupation | Arms inventor |
Known for | Developed the modern hand grenade and land mine |
Awards | Legion of Honour - Knight (1915) |
Nils Waltersen Aasen (30 March 1878 – 27 December 1925) was a Norwegian arms inventor. He has been credited with having developed the modern hand grenade and land mine just prior to World War I.[1][2]
Biography
Aasen was born at Stadsbygd in Rissa, Norway. He graduated in 1903 from the Fortress-Artillery School for Non-Commissioned Officers (Festningsartilleriets Underoffiserskole) at Oscarsborg Fortress. He started his experiments developing a hand grenade while serving as a sergeant at Oscarsborg. He was encouraged in his work by base commander and former defense minister Hans Georg Stang. However, the Norwegian Department of Defense showed little interest in Aasen's prototype. He then formed Aasen's Grenade Company (Det Aasenske Granatkompani) in Copenhagen, Denmark, which produced and exported of his grenade throughout Europe. Apart from new types of explosives, trench mortars, airplane bombs and land mines he also created several inventions for civil use. However, it was the development and production of arms that would bring him his greatest success.[3][4]
Just prior to World War I, Aasen developed an anti-personnel mine which was meant as a weapon of deterrence. The invention caused enthusiasm within the French military but did not see production before the war. During World War I, Aasen was given the task of producing hand grenades for the French Army. He would have 13 factories with 13,000 employees working throughout the war. In 1917 his hand grenade was finally adopted by the Norwegian army, which later promoted him to premier-lieutenant (Løytnant).[5]
Throughout his life he received a number of honorary degrees and awards for his inventions. Most notably, he was made an honorary colonel in the French Army, and a Knight in France's Legion of Honour in 1915.[4] Later, Aasen's personal fortune was greatly reduced as a result of bad financial speculations, and because he had never patented the rights to several of his inventions. He died from tuberculosis in Stoughton, Wisconsin at the age of 47.[6][7]
Inventions
References
- ^ "Guide to the Archives of The Norwegian-American Historical Association" (PDF). The Norwegian-American Historical Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2006-08-10.
- ^ "Nils Waltersen Aasen". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
- ^ "Festningsartilleriets underoffiserskole". arkivportalen.no. Retrieved January 1, 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Rasmus Falck (29 December 2016). "Innovation history: Norway's arms magnate". Norwegian American (www.norwegianamerican.com). Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Norges glemte oppfinnerkonge". historie/norges. 31 August 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
- ^ "Nils Waltersen Aasen's Life". weebly.com. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
- ^ "Fosning ble styrtrik på dødelige oppfinnelser". fosna-folket.no. 3 August 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2017.