The “Frontkjemper” Badge

The Frontkjemper Badge is probably the most recognizable and well known of the awards given to the Norwegian SS volunteers.  To this date it is also the most desirable award among collectors of Norwegian SS volunteer regalia.  It was designed by the famous Norwegian artist Harald Damsleth, who also drew the majority of the Norwegian SS recruitment posters.

 

The Frontkjemper Badge was awarded based upon participation, not merits.  It is therefore very similar to the German Campaign Shields.  The requirements were simply that the recipient would have served on the frontline.  In spite of this, a few badges were awarded to Norwegians volunteers that for some reason or another never made it to the front.

 

The majority of the recipients were Norwegian volunteers.  But the award was also given to a few Germans as well as other nationalities that served alongside the Norwegian volunteers.

 

The Frontkjemper Badge was made of 830/1000 silver, only had one class and was hand made by Norwegian jewelers through a stamping process using several dies.  While the majority of recipients were SS volunteers, it was also given to volunteers in the Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, or other parts of the Wehrmacht. 

 

The award committee set up by Vidkun Quisling consisted of 3 people; a member from the Norwegian Legion (Bjørn Østring), a member from Waffen SS (Arne Tvedt) and the Frontkjemper office manager (Bjørn Noreger).

 

The award was to be worn on the recipients' left chest as a normal decoration and was also given out with a small miniature silver badge on a stickpin to be worn on civilian clothing.

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Text Box: Above is the obverse side of the Frontkjemper badge bearing the 830S W stamping. Below is the reverse side showing the silver stamp. This is the most desirable version of this award. (Rene Chavez collection) Text Box: On left is the rare award document for the Frontkjemper Badge. It has original signatures of Vidkun Quisling, Bjørn Noreger (manager of the Frontkjemper office) and Ørnulf Lundesgaard. (Private Collection)

As many volunteers lost their Frontkjemper Badges during or immediately after the war, it soon became evident that there would be a need for replacement awards.  It is said that the first replacement badge came already in 1947, although the exact year has not been established for sure.  This badge was made of zinc.  The reason for the choice of material is unknown since silver always have been readily available in Norway even during material shortages.  Zinc was also a common material to make badges and awards during the war, including Norwegian NS badges  The zinc badge has no stampings.  It has been speculated that the zinc badge may be a wartime production, but so far no proof of this has been found.   So the zinc badge is considered the first replacement Frontkjemper Badge.

 

In the 1960’s another replacement award was issued.  This time in silver and was produced in Germany under an order from the Norwegian Frontkjemper organization.  However, the front side of this badge has an almost “frosted” look to it, and back side is much different from the original award.  The backside is “finished” with a raised silver stamp,  and the pin carries a jewelers lock.
Text Box: Above a couple of period photos showing the Frontkjemper Badge in wear.

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Text Box: On right is the version with 830S silver stamping under the shield. (Private Collection). Text Box: Above is the so called 1947 replacement award in zinc. (Private Collection) Text Box: This is the 1960’s version of the Frontkjemper Badge. Notice the difference to the reverse side as opposed to the wartime badges. (Private Collection) Text Box: On left is the original wartime produced miniature Frontkjemper Badge for wear on civilian clothing, while on right is one of the early post war produced versions (about 1957). The wartime badge is slightly concave and has a longer pin. Also notice the different pin attachment. Several versions of the post war versions exists. (Private Collections)

The Frontkjemper Badge was also awarded to the Norwegian Red Cross Frontsisters serving on the Eastern Front.  The original intention was to issue a special Frontsøster (Frontsister) badge, and the badge itself was designed showing a Frontsister leaning over a wounded soldier.  This badge was never awarded or produced.  No Frontsisters has been able to recollect this badge, and also no photographic evidence exists to suggest that it was ever awarded.  But in spite of this,  the die for issuing this badge was produced and is today at the Armed Forces Museum in Oslo.  The Frontsøster Badges circulating in the collectors market are all post war reproductions and forgeries.

 

On left, the depiction of the Frontsøster Badge from “De Falt For Norge”  (April, 1945)
Text Box: On left is another variation of the version with 830S stamping under the shield. This version has the wide pin, and was previously thought to be a replacement award or repaired pin. It is now recognized as a pin variation and a 100% original wartime original. (Private Collection)