Den Kongelige Norske St. Olavs Orden - www.StOlav.com

NORWEGIAN MEDALS AND DECORATIONS

A Medal is an award given by a sovereign or national government to recognize the recipient's participation in a military campaign, royal coronation or other significant event and is usually award to all who participated in the event. Medals are also given to recognize long periods of service in the military, in government, or in a royal household. Medals are usually medallion in form and are worn on the left side of the chest, suspended from a colorful ribbon.

An Order is an institution, derived from the medieval monastic or secular orders of knighthood. Although originally closed fraternities, modern orders are honorific, having generally been created by a sovereign or head of state to reward meritorious service. An order is generally the highest honor a citizen may receive for a career or service of great distinction in the services of one's country. Membership in an order is generally granted by the sovereign or head of state, who is typically the "grand master" of the order. In the UK the King or Queen is the "Sovereign" of each order and the "Great [or Grand] Master" is a member of the Royal Family. Membership is usually limited to a specific, small number. Orders may have several classes of membership which are denoted by a variety of insignia or badges of rank and distinction. The badges are often referred to as "orders." The insignias typically are made of precious metals with enameled or jeweled designs.

The Official Rank of all Norwegian Decorations and Orders.

Established by Royal Decree of June 11, 1943 with Amendments

(Sorted by decending order of rank with the War Cross as the highest decoration and listed in both English and Norwegian)

King Oscar II’s Medal for Reward of Merit

"Kong Oscar IIs Medaille til Belønning for fortjenstlig Virksomhed"

Royal Household Medals in Silver and Gold

by King Haakon VII, King Olav V and King Harald V and bestowed by the Monarchs to members and servants of the Royal Court

Medal for Heroism in Silver

HM The King's Medal of Merit in Silver and Gold

Instituted by King Haakon VII on February 1st, 1908. Awarded for services in the fields of the arts, science and business and for distinguished public service. The medal is in silver or in gold. The obverse bears the portrait of the reigning King with his name and motto. The reverse bears a laurel wreath containing the engraved name of the recipient and the circumscription: "HM The King´s Medal of Merit". Awarded in silver for a lengthy period of especially meritorious service in public office or voluntary organizations or other socially beneficial activities, also for a distinguished personal contribution in private or public service, where the person concerned has made an active contribution at or outside the place of work, in general for not less than 40 years. May also be awarded to a member of the community whose life´s work can be an example to others. Awarded in gold in exceptional cases in recognition of a life´s work of national significance, as well as for pioneer endeavours in one or several areas of benefit to the nation, also in recognition of enduring work in the field of the arts, culture and science, and for social and humanitarian work of value to the community and of national significance, as well as for conspicuous merit in contributing in one or several areas of notable public significance, or for having contributed to progress of benefit to the community. The medal is worn on the left side of the breast on a ribbon in the same colours as the Norwegian banner, red with a yellow stripe in the centre. Applications for awards are addressed to HM The King and submitted through the Governor of the respective county.

Military Medals

Other Medals

Norwegian Medals

Oscar II (1872-1907)

Oscar II (1872-1907). Silver jubilee badge, 1897. Silver gilt and red enamel center. 19.1gr. 31x49mm. Only 12 awarded to royalty. 37 to the Norwegian royal household. Total of 49 awarded. Today only about 10 badges are known to exist. E.Areen.188. Per Thornit. pg. 98-100.

Medal for Heroic Deeds Oscar II, small type, silver. 

King Haakon VII (1905 - 1957)

Coronation medal 1906. Silver. 29mm. 1252 medals awarded. On tri-fold ribbon, either Austrian or Saxon. Per Thornit,pg.104-5.

War Cross 1940

The Royal Norwegian Memorial Medal

100-Year Anniversary of the Royal Court

1905 - 2005

King Haakon VII - King Olav V - King Harald V

St. Olav's Medal

Instituted by King Haakon VII on March 17th, 1939. Awarded in recognition of "outstanding services rendered in connection with the spreading of information about Norway abroad and for strengthening the bonds between expatriate Norwegians and their home country". Remains the property of the recipient, whether a Norwegian or a foreign national. The medal is in silver, surmounted by the Royal Crown. On the obverse, the portrait of the reigning King with his name and motto. On the reverse, St. Olav´s cross. Above the medal, the monogram of the reigning King. It is worn on the left side of the breast with the ribbon of the Order of St.Olav. When awarded for services rendered in wartime the medal carries an oakleaf and ranks after the Order of St.Olav.

The War Cross in Spink & Son's case of issue. Post 1945 without sword.

Norway's Highest Decoration - The War Cross - "Krigskorset"

The War Cross was instituted by royal decree of May 23, 1945 (with amendments by royal decree of May 18, 1945) to be awarded for personal contribution in battle or similar activity to Norwegian or foreign civilians or military who in war have demonstrated exceptional personal courage or by leadership of troop, navy or air force unit.     

"Krigskorset ble innstiftet ved kgl res av 23 mai 1941 (med endring av kgl res av 18 mai 1945) til belønning for personlig innsats i kamp eller lignende til norske eller utenlandske sivile og militære som under krig på særlig fremragende måte har utmerket seg ved personlig tapperhet eller ved ledelsen av troppeavdeling, fartøy eller flyavdeling".

The War Cross is ranked first of all other orders and medals and is awarded by the King at the Government Minister Meeting. The decoration is the cross of Olav (St. Olav) in bronze with the national state arms in the center of the cross and with a ribbon in the colors of the flag with one or more swords attached. All awards after 1945 are without the sword (after the end of WW II in 1945).

"Krigskorset rangerer foran alle andre ordener og medaljer og utdeles av Kongen i statsråd. Dekorasjonen er Olavskorset i bronse med riksvåpenet i korsets midte og med bånd i flaggets farger forsynt med ett eller flere sverd. Etter 1945 er alle tildelinger med sverd".

Norwegian Citizens / Norske borgere (147)

The Armed Forces / Forsvaret (2)

• HKH Kronprins Olav,  03,  general,  41
• HM Kong Haakon VII,  72,  admiral,  41

The Army / Hæren (6)

• Fleischer,  Carl Gustav,  83,  generalmajor,  42 (PM
• Helset,  Olaf,  92,  generalmajor,  49
• Holmsen,  Sven,  13,  løytnant,  49 (PM
• Holtermann,  Hans Reidar,  95,  oberstløytnant,  42
• Lund,  Ove Christian Roll,  10,  kaptein,  42
• Pran,  Sigvardt Adelsten Rosenqvist,  98,  kaptein,  49

The National Guard / Hjemmestyrkene (1)

• Hansen,  Arnold,  12,  HS-mann,  45

"The Linge Companie" / Kp Linge (43)

• Andersen,  Sverre Kristoffer,  14,  fenrik,  47
• Aubert,  Andreas,  16,  fenrik,  47
• Bjørnaas,  Torfinn Johan,  19,  sersjant,  44
• Blindheim,  Svein,  16,  løytnant,  47
• Deinboll,  Peter Vogelius,  15,  fenrik,  42
• Dobloug,  Oddvar,  16,  kaptein,  47
• Eskeland,  Sigurd,  02,  løytnant,  44 (PM
• Fjeldstad,  Birger Johannes,  16,  fenrik,  47
• Gabrielsen,  Norman,  20,  fenrik,  47
• Gjems-Onstad,  Erik-Ørn,  22,  fenrik,  47
• Gram,  Gregers Winther Wulfsberg,  17,  fenrik,  43, 47 2 sv (PM
• Granlund,  Sverre,  18,  korporal,  42 (PM
• Gunleiksrud,  John,  09,  kaptein,  47
• Hansen,  Johan Henrik,  12,  fenrik,  47
• Haugland,  Knut Magne,  17,  løytnant,  43, 44 2 sv
• Haukelid,  Knut Anders,  11,  fenrik,  44, 47 2 sv
• Hop (Henriksen),  Henrik Martin,  18,  fenrik,  47
• Houlder,  William,  17,  løytnant,  47
• Johnsen,  Finn Bjørn,  17,  fenrik,  47
• Langmo,  Ruben,  20,  sersjant,  42
• Linge,  Martin Jensen,  94,  kaptein,  42 (PM
• Manus,  Maximo,  14,  løytnant,  43, 47 2 sv
• Olsen,  Martin,  20,  løytnant,  44
• Pettersen,  Louis,  19,  fenrik,  47
• Poulsson,  Jens-Anton,  18,  fenrik,  43
• Rasmussen,  Birger Braathen,  20,  fenrik,  47
• Risnes,  Harald Sjursen,  14,  kaptein,  47
• Rist,  Boy Roald,  12,  utskr fenrik,  46
• Ropstad,  Jens,  14,  løytnant,  42
• Rønneberg,  Joachim,  19,  fenrik,  43
• Skinnarland,  Einar,  20,  sersjant,  44, 47 2 sv
• Solnørdal,  Per,  19,  fenrik,  47
• Starheim,  Odd Kjell,  kaptein,  kaptein,  42 (PM)
• Stenersen,  Tor Greiner,  17,  løytnant,  44
• Sønsteby,  Gunnar Frithjof Turmann,  18,  kaptein,  46 3 sv
• Sørli,  Odd,  12,  fenrik,  43
• Tallaksen,  Johan Edvard,  18,  fenrik,  47 (PM
• Tronstad,  Leif,  03,  major,  47 (PM
• Vedaa,  Anton,  17,  fenrik,  46
• Wagle,  Ivar William,  14,  menig,  49 (PM
• Wiig-Andersen,  Gunnar,  19,  fenrik,  47
• Aarsæther,  Karl Johan,  20,  løytnant,  47
• Aarsæther,  Knut,  16,  løytnant,  47

The Navy / Marinen (20)

• Askim,  Petter,  81,  kommandør,  42
• Bøgeberg,  Knut,  12,  kapteinløytnant,  49
• Danielsen,  Per Edvard,  18,  løytnant,  42
• Herlofson,  Charles Oluf,  16,  kapteinløytnant,  45, 49 2 sv
• Horve,  Thore,  99,  orlogskaptein,  42
• Haavik,  Alf Christian,  10,  utskr løytnant,  43
• Jacobsen,  Thomas,  09,  kapteinløytnant,  43
• Marstrander,  Ernst Bryne,  08,  kapteinløytnant,  43 (PM
• Monsen,  Christian August,  07,  kapteinløytnant,  42
• Prebensen,  Axel Winge,  16,  løytnant,  43
• Røren,  Rolf Qvernheim,  14,  løytnant,  42
• Schau,  Øivind,  14,  løytnant,  42
• Steensland,  Inge,  23,  utskr fenrik,  46
• Storheill,  Skule Valentin,  07,  orlogskaptein,  42
• Sveen,  Arne Frithjof,  19,  løytnant,  49 2 sv
• Tamber,  Ragnvald Andreassen,  13,  løytnant,  42
• Ullring,  Ernst Gustav Adolf,  94,  kommandørkaptein,  42
• Ulstrup,  Johan Friederich Andreas Thaulow,  96,  kommandørkaptein,  42
• Valvatne,  Sigurd,  13,  løytnant,  44
• Østervold,  Sjur Normann,  13,  løytnant,  42

The Coast Guard / Kystartilleriet (2)

• Anderssen,  Andreas,  79,  kommandørkaptein,  45
• Eriksen,  Birger Kristian,  75,  oberst,  45

"The Shetland Group" / Shetlandsgjengen (12)

• Bjørge,  Håkon Særsten,  20,  utskr ledn dekksmann,  46
• Bjørnøy,  Palmer Olavson,  18,  utskr dekksmann,  43
• Blystad,  Per,  11,  utskr kvartermester,  42 (PM
• Eidsheim,  Ingvald Olsen,  09,  utskr løytnant,  46
• Grotle,  Baard Olav,  17,  utskr kvartermester,  42
• Hansen,  Realf Joakim,  15,  utskr ledn dekksmann,  46
• Ingebrigtsen,  Martinius,  15,  utskr ledn dekksmann,  46
• Johannesen,  Ingolf Johan,  19,  utskr dekksmann,  46
• Klaussen,  Gunnar,  18,  utskr dekksmann,  46
• Larsen,  Leif Andreas,  06,  utskr kvartermester,  42, 43 2 sv
• Ovesen,  Harald,  16,  utskr dekksmann,  46
• Sundt,  Rolf Carsten Paal,  20,  utskr ledn dekksmann,  46

The Air Force / Flyvåpenet (30)

• Berg,  Rolf Arne,  17,  oberstløytnant,  45
• Bugge,  Hans Andreas,  06,  kaptein,  42 (PM
• Bærevahr-Hansen,  Hans Thorvald,  20,  kvartermester,  42
• Christensen,  Constantin Arnold,  11,  kvartermester,  42
• Christie,  Johan Koren,  09,  major,  44
• Christie,  Werner Hosewinckel,  17,  major,  45
• Eriksen,  Marius,  22,  løytnant,  43
• Giørtz,  Fridtjov Sæverud,  21,  fenrik,  43
• Gran,  Martin Yngvar,  17,  major,  45
• Grønmark,  Olai Julius,  08,  major,  45
• Halle,  Gunnar,  07,  major,  44
• Heglund,  Sven,  18,  kaptein,  43, 45 2 sv
• Hertzberg,  Jens Skjeldrup,  09,  kaptein,  42 (PM
• Hysing-Dahl,  Per,  20,  løytnant,  47
• Høverstad,  Gunnar,  22,  løytnant,  47 (PM
• Haabjørn,  Erik,  19,  major,  44
• Lambrechts,  Finn,  00,  kaptein,  42
• Lea,  Per Waage,  07,  kapteinløytnant,  42
• Lindaas,  Knut,  21,  fenrik,  46 (PM
• Mehre,  Helge Olrik,  11,  major,  42
• Mohr,  Wilhelm,  17,  major,  42
• Næss,  Agnar,  11,  kvartermester,  42
• Offerdal,  Haakon,  11,  løytnant,  42
• Rønningen,  Hans Kristian,  62,  løytnant,  42
• Spang,  Helner Gustav Einar Grundt,  20,  kaptein,  45
• Stenwig,  Kåre Johannes,  16,  kaptein,  44
• Sverdrup,  Einar,  95,  oberstløytnant,  42 (PM
• Tingulstad,  Bjørn Stray,  14,  løytnant,  42 (PM
• Tradin,  Rolf Torbjørn,  13,  løytnant,  47 (PM
• Vikholt,  Hallvard Kjell,  16,  kaptein,  45

Special Intelligence Service (12)

• Clifton,  Hans Bruu,  15,  fenrik,  48
• Danielsen,  Edvard Christian,  88,  kommandørkaptein,  43
• Fougner,  Kristian,  19,  fenrik,  43
• Johansen,  Einar,  15,  fenrik,  43
• Kristoffersen,  John,  08,  kaptein,  44
• Monsen,  Mads Olaf,  12,  utskr fenrik,  46
• Munthe-Kaas,  Hugo Conrad,  22,  sersjant,  43
• Olsen,  Oluf Reed,  18,  løytnant,  44
• Olsen,  Otto,  18,  soldat,  44
• Rørholt,  Bjørn Arnold,  19,  løytnant,  43
• Raaby (Pettersen),  Torstein,  18,  fenrik, &n