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The “Frontkjemper” Badge |
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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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As many volunteers lost their Frontkjemper Badges during the war, it soon became evident that there would be a need for a replacement award. In March 1945 an order was placed with a jeweler in Norway for 2000 Frontkjemper Badges made of zinc. The first 1000 was delivered late March 1945. Very few of these zinc badges were issued, and the vast majority was found in in a stockpile after the war. The zinc award is identical to the silver badge on the front and with the very same details. The back side is different, it is unmarked and is always found with a wide pin.
After the war, it was issued another replacement in the mid 1960’s. This was intended for those that lost their awards during the Liberation of Norway and also for other reasons. This award was made 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. |
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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) |
