Recruiting Posters and Frontkjemper Art

Quislings Government utilized posters for a wide variety of propaganda and information purposes from 1940 to 1945.  In addition to political propaganda, sports, art and general NS party posters, there was also printed a large number of now very well known posters with the purpose of recruiting Norwegian youth to military service on the Eastern Front. 

 

Here is a selection of some posters that were used.

The first recruitment poster interestingly had no resemblance to Waffen SS and showed a Norwegian soldier, wearing a Norwegian uniform and Norwegian M31 helmet.  Also note the Finnish flag in the background symbolizing that Den norske Legion would be a new Norwegian army fighting with the Finnish defending their country against the dreaded Russians.

 

This poster was printed in 1941 in two different sizes and printed in 100,000 pieces.  The artist was the famous NS painter Harald Damsleth.

 

This poster from 1941 is for the specialized Norwegian Skijäger Batalion.  The header says “Come with us northward!”, clearly stating that this unit was to fight in Finland against the Russians.  The SS runes on a German helmet gives no doubt  to what unit you would volunteer.

 

The Norwegian Skijäger Bataljon was almost exterminated on midsummer night 1944 when defending Finland against a Russian attack.

 

The poster was printed in 50,000 and painted by Harald Damsleth.

This poster is from 1942, and is also by Harald Damsleth. It shows a DNL soldier with his symbolic mirror image of a Viking.  The NS propaganda played on the viking theme and always tried to make historical links to this ancient era when Norway was a “superpower”.  Also note the Norwegian lion on the collar patch.

 

The poster says” Norwegians—Fight for Norway”, and it gives the address of the Norwegian volunteer office in Oslo.

 

This is probably the most known poster from WWII and was only printed in the small size of 31.5 x 48 cm and in 50,000.

Another recruitment poster for Norwegian Skijäger Batalion, this one from 1943.  It says “Guarding the Nordic border against the east”.  The propaganda is now referring to this unit as a SS unit.  Also notice the ski track running through the picture.  Another poster by Harald Damsleth printed in two different sizes of a 50,000 total.

Also from 1943, not really a recruitment poster, but showing a Norwegian volunteer nevertheless.  This poster was printed for monetary support to the Norwegian volunteers and says that donations can be given to the volunteer office in Oslo.

 

The soldier is wearing a SS camouflage helmet cover, and interestingly enough a Frw Legion Norwegen flag is visible in the background in spite that this unit had been disbanded when this poster was circulated.

 

Printed in 3 different sizes and in total of 50,000.  By Harald Damsleth.

The Norwegian SS volunteer and artist Finn Wigforss drew a number of famous drawings while he served in the Legion.  Many of which are depicted in Legionsminner and also in Wenn alle Bruder Schweigen.  Here are a few of his drawings.

“Vinternatt”

“Winter Night”

“Kameratskap”

“Camaraderie”

“Kampberedt”

“Battle Ready”