The Norwegian Armed Forces - Infantry - Navy - Air Force - National Guard
Military Division
The Royal Guard in front of the Castle in Oslo, Norway
The Collar of the Order Military Division
The Collar of the Order Military Division - 1906 version. This set was awarded to HM King Albert I of Belgium on February 20, 1910. Image courtesy of the Royal Military Museum of Brussels, Belgium.
HM King Haakon VII of Norway from 1905 to 1957 (b1872-d1957) and Grand Master of the Order of St. Olav in the capacity as the reigning monarch. The King can be seen wearing the Collar of St. Olav with the Badge military division attached. The two breast stars are the Grand Cross Star of St. Olav (below) and the Star of the British Garter (above).
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St. Olav Grand Cross Military version pre 1925 in J. Tostrup - Kristiania fitted case of issue with sash. The badge is made of 18 carat gold (750) and enamel by Court Jeweler J. Tostrup - Kristiania. The Star is made of silver sterling (925 S) with the cross in white enamel. Pre-1925 stars have multiple pinholes on the reverse surface. Post 1925 versions have on the reverse a plain/solid surface. This order was found in Los Angeles, CA indicating that it could have been awarded to a foreign recipient. The order was awarded between 1906 and 1925 by H.M. King Haakon VII. A few military versions were awarded during this period making it possible to trace it's provenance. To the left, the St. Olav Miniature Military version with two crossed swords in blue enamel pre 1925 in 18 carat gold reportedly manufactured by Spink & Son, Ltd. in London (no hallmarks). The difficult to find miniature was discovered in Montevideo, Uruguay indicating that it was made for a foreign recipient. (Note: The button is missing on the ribbon to make it a 100% correct match with the Grand Cross Class).
1906 Collar with an unofficial Grand Cross Breast Star with the British Garter. The Garter's motto "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" Shame of him who thinks evil of it. 1860 Badge Military division. (Image courtesy of the British Royal Collection, Windsor Castle)
Grand Cross Military Division
The three different versions from 1906 to 2004
To the left: 1906 version in gold with small lion on top of crown. Star covered with tiny holes on the reverse (silver reperce) and used until 1925.
Center: 1937 version in gold but with no small lion on top of crown. The Star with no tiny holes on the reverse.
To the right: 1957 version the current style as awarded in silver gilt, no lion on top of crown and with square "O" monograms between the cross arms. The prior versions have oval shaped "O" monograms. The Star with no tiny holes on the reverse.
All badges post 1937 bot the Commander and Grand Cross badges, are supposed to be the same shape except for some slight changes in manufacturing techniques over the years. The original dies for the Commander and Grand Cross badge broke however in 1961 and the new one came out with the squarer O's. This was not intended but accepted rather and have stayed like that ever since. There is no difference in the O's on the knight's badges or the GC breast star, at least not of the same proportion as with the Commander's badge. This has been confirmed by several of the Court Jeweler J. Tostrup's old jewellers who were there at the time.
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(From a private USA Collection)
1906 Military Grand Cross
1937 Military Grand Cross
1957 Military Grand Cross
The Royal Guard
Grand Cross Military - The versions of 1906 - 1937 and 1957 the current style. A rare trio since few military versions have been awarded of the Grand Cross. The version is recognized by the crossed swords in blue enamel (click on thumbnail image for more detail).
The Infantry
1961 current style Military Commander in silver gilt. (From a private USA collection)
Commander with Star Military Division
1957 - 2005
Considered by many to be one of the most impressive military orders due to it's appealing design and high quality workmanship, perhaps only surpassed by the design of the Swedish Order of the Sword. The military division of the Order is rarely bestowed.
The Chief of the Norwegian Armed Forces was until 1980 automatically awarded the Grand Cross Military version as the highest class. Since 1980 the Chief of the Armed Forces has instead been bestowed the Commander with Star Military version as the second highest class. The last Grand Cross recipient in this capacity was General Herman Fredrik Zeiner-Gundersen in 1977.
Commander with Star Military Division has been bestowed to the following Chiefs of the Norwegian Armed Forces since 1980:
General Sven Aage Hauge, Chief of Armed Forces ('82-'84), 1982
General Fredrik Vilhelm Bull-Hansen, Chief of Armed Forces ('84-'87), 1984
General Vigleik Eide, Chief of Armed Forces ('87-'89), 1988
Admiral Torolf Rein, Chief of Armed Forces ('89-'94), 1989
General Arne Solli, Chief of Armed Forces ('94-'99), 1995
General Sigurd Frisvold, Chief of Armed Forces ('99-today), 2000
Other Military Personnel awarded the Commander with Star Military version:
General Per Andreas Kleppe, 1988
Kontre-Admiral Andreas Sivert Farstad, 1996
General Sigurd Frisvold, 2000
Military Versions Rarely Bestowed
The current style of the Commander w/Star since 1957 is in silver gilt and is rarely bestowed. From 1974 until 2003; there were only 9 Norwegian recipients of the Commander with Star Military division and 17 Norwegian recipients of the Commander Class II Military division per the official records of the Chancery. In addition there were also some awards to foreign recipients.
Commander Badge Military version in 18 carat (750) gold (1937-1961)
Military Awards
Only independent since 1906, Norway has not had a long history of military action. As a country with a small population withouth a rigid social class system or an extensive military establishment, the awards of St. Olav have been few compared to those of other European countries.
A significant portion of all military awards are related to World War II when Norway was occupied by Germany from 1940 -1945.
The crossed blue enamel swords are also automatically added for awards to persons holding military appointments. The award does therefore not neccessarily indicate that the award has been bestowed for war service.
HM King Harald V in military galla uniform.
1860 - 1881 Military Badge
Swedish and French made Commander badges from 1860 - 1881. Some differences between the three are that the Swedish made versions have a more narrow crown and the color of the enamel swords are lighter compared to the French made version to the left. Another difference can be seen in the crossed enamel swords colors, the two being dark navy/black compared to the the blue color of the badge to the right.
French made 1860 Commander Badge in 18 carat gold (750). Image courtesy of Yuri Yashnev, Russia
1860 Commander Badge. (From a Swedish collection)
1860 Grand Cross Badge, Swedish made. (From a private British collection).
Reverse with motto" Ret og Sandhed" Justice and Truth. Size: 84 mm x 55 mm
Uniforms of the the Royal Norwegian Artillery Forces, General rank with decorations from the the 19th century period of the Union between the Kingdoms of Norway and Sweden.
Old Uniforms of the Royal Norwegian Artillery Forces with Royal Orders of the Sword and Sanct Olaf
Generals at the Royal Norwegian Artillery from the 1800's as illustrated in an old print by Lemerier, Paris, France. One general can be seen wearing the Knight Class of the Order of Sanct Olaf together with the Commander Class with Star of the Swedish Order of the Sword. Both Norwegian and Swedish orders were awarded to Norwegian citizens during the period of the Union between Norway and Sweden from 1814 to 1905. (From a private USA collection)
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1860 - 1881 Grand Cross Military Division
A rare Grand Cross Military Division of Sanct Olaf made by a Swedish jeweler Carlman. (From a private collection)
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1882-1905 Military Badge King Oscar II
King Oscar II Commander Badge Military division. Hallmark "J.T. 750" located on the suspension loop for court jeweler J.Tostrup, Kristiania. 750 is the European gold mark for 18 carat.
(Click on thumbnail below for a close up of the hallmark).
The crown on the 1882 version is more narrow than the 1860 version. The center lion stands raised on both feet, while the center lion of the 1860 version stands on only one foot and in a more forward leaning position. The crowns center stone is red for Norwegian made badges since 1882 while the center stone is green for Swedish made badges prior to 1882.
(Image courtesy of Mr. Sven Vik, Norway)
1860 Grand Cross Badge military division
1872 Sanct Olaf Grand Cross Star. (Image couresy of Mr. Sven Vik, Norway)
Knight Class 1 Military Division
Current style since 1957
The current style since 1957 of the Knight Class 1 Military Division. The Knight is made of silver gilt with two blue enameled crossed swords. The swords are only used for the Military Division of the Order. (From a private USA collection).
The most difficult insignia of the order to distinguish from the 1937 version
The 1957 Knight Class 1 vs. the 1937 version
The 1957 Knight Class 1 appears to be identical as the 1937 version of the same class, both with no small lion on top of the crown as for the 1906 version. The current 1957 version can be distinguished by the lighter yellow color since it is in silver gilt compared to the 1937 version in gold. The surface of the coat of arms, the center lion, for the 1957 version has a rougher surface compared to the 1937 with a smooth surface. The four "O"s in the cross arms are identical for both versions of the Knight. For the Grand Cross and Commander badge there is a significant difference with the "O"s in the cross arms being square for the 1957 version. The 1957 Knight has instead oval shaped "O" as for the 1937 version.
St. Olav Commander with Star Military
awarded to 2-Star General of the Soviet Union
The Russian 2-Star General, believed to be the later Marshal Kirill A. Meretskov, who was the commander of the 97,000-man Soviet 14th Army responsible for the WW II Karelian Front with Finland in October, 1944. Meretskov can bee seen wearing St. Olav in an unusual manner. The Commander Badge is worn below the medal bar instead of the required neck ribbon and the Star of the Order on the right side of the chest instead of on the correct left side. The Russian medal bar includes the highest destinction of the Soviet Union - The Order of Lenin - in gold to the left. The version of St. Olav as seen in the photo was awarded from 1937 - 1961. The award dates most likely to the period of 1946-1965 (pending verification).
The military rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union, "conferred personally by the Government of the USSR to the prominent and particularly distinguished persons from the Highest commanding staff", was established by a decree of Central Executive Comittee and Council of People's Comissars, September 22, 1935. The first five Marshals were, since November 20, 1935, People's Comissar of Defence Kliment E. Voroshilov, Chief of the (General) Staff of the Red Army Alexander I. Egorov and three commanders of Russian Civil War, namely Vasili K. Blucher, Semen M. Budenny and Mikhail N. Tukhachevski.
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St. Olav Commander Military
awarded to a German Colonel prior to WW II
A German infantry officer in the rank of Colonel "Oberst". The picture of the unidentified person was taken on 9/26/1938. The Colonel is wearing the St. Olav Commander Military Division of the type in use from 1906-1937. Other insignia is the pre 1939 Iron Cross 1st Class (WW I) and a Wound Badge in Silver. The Officer could have been a military attaché at the staff of the German Military Attaché to Scandinavia since 1937, Oberst von Uthmann.
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St. Olav Commander Military Division awarded in 1938
King Olav V
HM King Olav V with the Knight Class 2 Military Division
King Olav V can be seen wearing the Knight Class 2 Military Division in silver mounted on his medal bar. (The Knight in silver is the number 2 from the left). An unusual combination with the Grand Cross breast star and the Sash with Grand Cross Badge. The Knight Class 2 is preferred worn on the medal bar due to its smaller size and therefore more equal to the other medals.
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Crown Prince Harald (now King Harald V) with the Knight Class 2 Military Division
Crown Prince Harald can be seen wearing the Knight Class 2 Military Division in silver mounted on his medal bar. (The Knight in silver is the number 2 from the left). An unusual combination with the Grand Cross breast star and the Sash with Grand Cross Badge. The Knight Class 2 is preferred worn on the medal bar due to its smaller size and therefore more equal to the other medals.
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1906 Knight Class 2 Military Division in silver.
Knight Class 2 Military Division in silver
Despite being the lowest class of the Order, few have been awarded since most Knight's Class of the Order were awarded as Class 1 in gold.
Prince Oscar of Sweden and Norway wearing the Military Division of Sanct Olaf
Prince Oscar can be seen wearing the Grand Cross Military division of Sanct Olaf together with the breast Star of the Swedish Order of the Seraphim. The top portion of the Grand Cross Star of Sanct Olaf can be seen below.
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Knight Class 1 Military version 1882 -1906 King Oscar II.
Knight Military reverse with the motto "Ret og Sandhed" Justice and Truth.
Crown Prince Gustavus of Sweden and Norway wearing the 1882 Grand Cross Military Division
Crown Prince Gustavus can be seen wearing the 1882 Grand Cross Military division of Sanct Olaf together with the Grand Cross Star. The other Orders are the Swedish Star of the Order of the Seraphim and the Order of Carl XIII in a neck ribbon. (The picture is from 1895)
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King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway wearing the 1847 Military Division of Sanct Olaf
King Oscar I instituted on August 21, 1847 the Order of Sanct Olaf. The King can be seen wearing Sanct Olaf in a neck ribbon together with Stars of the Orders of the Seraphim (Sweden) and the Elephant (Denmark).
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1847 Commander Badge Military Division
King Oscar I instituted on August 21, 1847 the Order of Sanct Olaf. The 1st. version of the Military Commander and Grand Cross Badge can be seen to the left.
The main difference between the initial version and laters ones are the position and color of the two crossed swords. After 1860 the swords changed to navy colored enamel blades instead og gold and their position under the Crown changed.
Disclaimer: Please note that this is an informative for non-profit site presenting the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, it's history, insignia and Grand Cross awards of the Order since the 1847 inception. Every effort is made to provide a high quality and accurate presentation, however webmaster is not responsible for any inaccuracies in the information presented or links to other sites. Please contact webmaster with any queries, updates or corrections. Thanks. - Armand Knutsen, Webmaster, 2006
Den Kongelige Norske St. Olavs Orden ble stiftet av Kong Oscar I i 1847, og tildeles som «belønning for utmerkede fortjenster av fedrelandet og menneskeheten». St. Olavs Orden er oppkalt etter Norges helgenkonge, Olav den Hellige, og er inndelt i fem grader: Storkors, Kommandør med Stjerne, Kommandør, Ridder av 1. klasse og Ridder. Til ordenen hører det også et Kjede som H.M. Kongen kan tildele innehavere av Storkorset - in Norwegian.
