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Hirden

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For the historical concept, see Hird.

Hirden
The insignia of the Hirden

Vidkun Quisling and Oliver Møystad inspecting Rikshirden.
Organization overview
Formed1940
Dissolved1945
TypeParamilitary
JurisdictionGerman-occupied Norway
HeadquartersHirdens hus, Oslo
Parent organizationNasjonal Samling

Hirden[1] (the hird) was a uniformed paramilitary organisation during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, modelled the same way as the German Sturmabteilungen.[2]

Overview

Vidkun Quisling's fascist party Nasjonal Samling frequently used words and symbols from the old Norse Viking era. During the Second World War, membership was compulsory for all Nasjonal Samling members. In total, about 8,500 Norwegians were members of Hirden during the war. The organisation was dissolved after the liberation, and many of its former members were prosecuted and convicted for treason and collaboration.

History

During the German occupation Hirden got a more military slant. The intention was that it should form the nucleus of a future Norwegian Nazi army, and a "hirdmarine" (Hirden navy)[3] and a "Hirdens flykorps"(Hirden's air force corps)[4] were created in 1942 in addition to the real Hirden, Rikshirden. However, many Hirden members volunteered to Norwegian military units in the war on Nazi German side or served as guards in the various prison camps. Hirden had a broad mandate to conduct operations against dissidents, independent of all police authorities, many of which included the use of violence.[5]

A 2014 Dagsavisen article said that "8 of 10” prisoners “died in the prison camps where Hirden performed guard duty under the leadership of SS".[6]

List of Hirden branches

Main Hirden organisations

Insignia Flag Name Period Description
Rikshirden
(National Hirden or Hirden of the realm)		 1933-1945 Rikshirden is the most important Hirden organisation and usually the one referred to by just "Hirden". Rikshirden was responible for ensuring the security of NS party members and Quisling regime officials.
Hirdvaktbataljonen
(Hirden Guard Battalion)		 1942-1943 Shortlived Hirden branch which primarily served guard duty at prison lairs, including foreign prisons. After the branch was dissolved, many of the members joined SS-vaktbatalijon (SS Guard battalion).
Førergarde
(Leader guard)		 1942-1945 The persoanl guards of the party leader (fører); Vidkun Quisling. The guard was made up of 150 handpicked voluntary recruits. They served much the same purpose as the former Royal Guards.
Hirdens Flykorps
(Hirden Air Force Corps)		 1942-1945 Hirdens Flykorps was meant to form the basis for a future Norwegian air force. Most members eventually joined the German Luftwaffe. The fleet was rather basic, only featuring some primary glider aircraft.
Hirdmarinen
(Hirden Navy)		 1942-1945 Hirdmarinen was meant to form the basis for a future Norwegian navy. Most members eventually joined the German Kriegsmarine. The fleet was small, featuring only a couple small sailboats.
Hirdens Alarmenheter
(Hirdens Alarm Units)		 1943-1945 Operated guard duty and helped Statspolitiet as part of the "armed forces of the realm".
Hirdens Bedriftsvern
(Hirdens Corporate Protection)		 1943-1945 Armed forces supposed to protect industry and state institutions against sabotage.
Hirdbataljonen
(Hirden Battalion)		 1945 Military mobilization of NS members.
Insignia Flag Name Period Description
Kvinnehirden
(Womens Hirden)		 1934-1945 Kvinnehirden was a branch of the NS Kvinneorganisajonen (NS Womens Organisation). Despite being named a Hird, they were not officially part of the proper Hirden and did not serve any military function and instead provided Sanitation, therefore their flags and emblems lacked the swords in the sun cross.
Germanic SS Norway 1941-1945 Originally called Norges SS (Norways SS). GSSN was formally a subdivision of the Hirden, but very controversial within the NS party due to its close ties to Germany as a defacto branch of Allgemeine SS.

Youth organisations with Hirden names

Insignia Flag Name Period Description
Unghirden
(Youth Hirden)		 1934-1945 Branch of NS Ungdomsfylking (NS Youth League), intended for boys between 14-18. It was largely modeled after the German Hitler Youth.
Guttehirden
(Boys Hirden)		 1934-1945 Branch of NS Ungdomsfylking (NS Youth League), intended for boys between 10-15.
Jentehirden / Gjentehirden
(Girls Hirden)		 1934-1945 Branch of NS Ungdomsfylking (NS Youth League), intended for girls between 15-21.
Småhirden
(Small Hirden)		 1934-1945 Branch of NS Ungdomsfylking (NS Youth League), intended for girls between 9-15.
  • Uniform of the naval hird, Hirdmarinen.
    Uniform of the naval hird, Hirdmarinen.
  • Uniform of the female hird, Kvinnehirden.
    Uniform of the female hird, Kvinnehirden.
  • Vidkun Quisling on the rostrum speaks to Hirden in Halden.
    Vidkun Quisling on the rostrum speaks to Hirden in Halden.
  • Hirden spectacle march to be greeted by Quisling.
    Hirden spectacle march to be greeted by Quisling.
  • Hirden women march up Oslo's main street.
    Hirden women march up Oslo's main street.
  • Quisling speaks to Hirden after oath has been given to him.
    Quisling speaks to Hirden after oath has been given to him.

Ranks and rank insignia

Rank insignia
Insignia Rank Translation Comparative rank
in the Wehrmacht
Hirdfører
Overste hirdsjef Senior hird chief
Regimentsfører Regimental commander
Nestregimentsfører Second regimental commander
Fylkingfører Wedge leader
Sveitfører District leader
Nestsveitfører Second district leader
Troppfører Troop commander
Underfører
Kommandersersjant Commander sergeant
Kvartermester Quartermaster
Overlagfører Senior squad leader
Furer Leader
Lagfører Squad leader
Mannskap
Nestlagfører Second squad leader
Speider Scout
Nestspeider Second scout
Hirdmann Hird man
Source:[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ NRK (30 May 2012). "Stiller ut fargefoto frå 30-talet". Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  2. ^ Erik Veum page 33
  3. ^ Veum pp. 92–98
  4. ^ Veum 98–106
  5. ^ Veum
  6. ^ Pål Nygaard (18 November 2014). "2. Verdenskrig: Etter krigen benektet alle i Vegvesenet at de hadde noe med de jugoslaviske fangene å gjøre. - Kunne de stoppet massedrap?" [World War Two: After the war, everyone in the Public Roads Administration denied involvement with the Jugoslavian prisoners. - Could they have stopped mass murder?]. Dagsavisen. p. 6. Pål Nygaard - Forsker, senter for profesjonsstudier, HiOA (...) 8 av 10 døde i leirene hvor Hirden sto vakt under ledelse av SS.
  7. ^ Hvad enhver NS-mann bør vite - side 5 Retrieved 2017-02-05.

Sources

  • Eirik Veum: Nådeløse nordmenn - Hirden, Kagge Forlag, Oslo 2013, (in Norwegian) ISBN 978-82-489-1451-8
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