Olav V
The 'People's King' who led Norway through war and peace, earning boundless affection by riding the tram and shoveling his own driveway.
1903–1991 (age 88)·King of Norway from 1957 to 1991·Birthday: July 2·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Olav V, born Prince Alexander of Denmark in 1903, became the very embodiment of Norwegian modesty and solidarity. His father, the future King Haakon VII, was elected to the new Norwegian throne, and Olav grew into his role as crown prince with a distinctly un-royal touch. His defining moment came during World War II, when he accompanied his father and the government into exile in London, serving as a vital link to Allied military leadership and a steadfast symbol of resistance for the occupied nation. Upon ascending the throne in 1957, he consciously cultivated an image of simplicity. In the oil crisis of 1973, when driving was banned on Sundays, he was photographed taking the tram to a ski outing, skis on his shoulder. He was often seen shoveling snow at his royal lodge. This unpretentious demeanor, combined with his visible athleticism as an Olympic sailor and his steady hand during the Cold War, forged an unparalleled bond with his citizens, who cherished him as 'Folkekongen'—the People's King—until his death in 1991.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Olav was born in 1903, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Olav Was Born
The biggest hits of 1903
Olav's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1903Born
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Started school
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1916Became a teenager
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Could drive
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Could vote
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1924Turned 21
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1933Turned 30
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1943Turned 40
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 50
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 60
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 70
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 80
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Died at 88
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
Key Achievements
- Served as a crucial figure in Norway's government-in-exile during World War II, acting as a military advisor and national symbol of resistance.
- Won a gold medal in sailing (6-meter class) at the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Olympics as crown prince.
- Presided over a period of immense economic growth and social development in Norway following the discovery of North Sea oil.
Did You Know?
During the 1973 energy crisis, he famously took public transportation, leading to the nickname 'The Tram King' for that day.
He was an accomplished ski jumper in his youth and remained an avid skier into old age.
He was the last surviving grandchild of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom.
“We will stand firm until the day comes when we can return to a free Norway.”
