The ''Førergarde'' ('leader guard' in Norwegian) was the personal guard of
Vidkun Quisling, the leader of the
puppet Norwegian government during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
The ''Førergarde'' was founded in April 1942. At first, it numbered about 150 people personally selected by Quisling from the members of
Hird, the paramilitary wing of the fascist
Nasjonal Samling party (NS). They were his most trusted fighters, also performing special tasks. Over time, the unit grew to the size of a company of 250-300 people. They were also recruited from the front veterans of the Volunteer
Norwegian Legion
Norwegian Legion ( no, Norske Legion, german: Freiwilligen-Legion Norwegen) was a Norwegian collaborationist formation of the Waffen-SS during World War II. It was formed in German-occupied Norway on 29 June 1941, in support of the war aims of ...
and SS-Polizei-Battaillon 506. On August 17, 1943, the Førergarde, together with the police and the Hird organization, formally joined the Norwegian Armed Forces.
The organization was headed by ''sveitfører'' Per Carlson (April 20, 1942 - April 1, 1944), Sverre Henschien (until February 1945) and ''sveitfører'' Sophus Kahrs (until May 9, 1945).
The members of the bodyguard wore a special oval silver badge with a black enamelled edge. At the top was the emblem of the NS party (St. Olaf's cross), on which sat an eagle with outstretched wings, and below the initials "VQ" in white.
See also
* NS Kamporganisasjon
*Operation Weserübung (the German code name for the attack on Norway and Denmark)
References
External links
Photos of the førergarde
Norway in World War II
Nasjonal Samling
1942 establishments in Norway
1945 disestablishments in Norway
Vidkun Quisling
German occupation of Norway
Collaboration with Nazi Germany
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