Figure 1.--This unit of the Nasjonal Samling Hirden is drilling in Oslo during the German occupation. The Germans invaded Norway (1940) and occupied it util they surrendderd to the allies (1945). Norway was ruled by the German Reichskommissariat Norwegen (Reich Commissariat of Norway). The Hirden was the NS parmilitary formation modelled on the NAZI Sturmabteilungen (SA). The NS and the Hirden assisted the Germans in the civil administration during the occupation.

Vidkun Quisling's fascist party, the Nasjonal Samling (NS), was the only political party permitted in Norway by the German occupation forces. Quisling saw himself as the Norwegian Hitler and wanted all the trappongs of the NAZI dictatorship. He commonly used words and symbols from the old Norse Viking era--just as the NAZIs did. As a result, Quisling formed a party para-military force--apeing the NAZI Sturmabteilungen (SA). Quisling's organization was called the Hirden, meaning 'birds'. Membership in the Hirden was compulsory for NS members. The group totald about 8,500 men and older teenagers. This included elderly men. Norway was a small country, but even in Norway, 8.500 was not a large number. The Hirden was disbanded after the War and many of members were prosecuted and convicted for treason and collaboration. Hirdvaktbataljonen was heavily involved in terrible attrocities. Hitler became convinced that the Allies were planning to invade and liberate Norway. as a result as he began building the Atlantic Wall, he devoted substantial resources to defensive instalations long the Norwegian coast. Toaccomplish this, the Germans brought in large numbers of forced laborers from Yugoslavia. The Hirden was used as part of the guard force for camps set up for the Yugosalv workers. There are reoorts that the Hirden guards were very brutal, even bybGerman standards. In addition to brutality at the camps, Reichskommissar for Norway Josef Terboven ordered the murder at Lager I Beisfjord (No. 1 camp Beisfjord) of 288 Norwegian political prisoners (July 18, 1942). There seem to be youth units, including a marine (navy) and girls unit. This is not unusua;, many European political parties had youth units. The Hitler Youth Movement began as a unit of the NAZI SA. The Hirden also played an important role in the arrest of Nowegian Jews (1942). Just as the NAZI SA founded the Hitler Youth movement, the Hirden founded the SN youth movement -- the Umgherden.

Created: 11:16 PM 10/27/2015
Last updated: 11:16 PM 10/27/2015