Olaf Rye

Who was Olaf Rye?

Olaf Rye was a Norwegian-Danish military officer. He served as a major-general and played a decisive role in the 1849 Battle of Fredericia which broke the Schleswig-Holstein siege of the town. He died during this battle and is considered a Danish war hero. He is buried at the military Garrison Cemetery in Copenhagen..

His brother Johan Henrik Rye was a civil servant and politician in Norway.

Olaf is also the first known ski jumper. In 1809, he launched himself 9.5 metres in the air in front of an audience of other soldiers.