Norwegian NS Nasjonal Samling Unghird Armband

Norwegian NS Unghird Armband

Hirden was an ideological, paramilitary special organization in the Norwegian fascist party National Assembly (NS) from 1934 to 1945. Hirden served as the party’s political troops, similar to the NSDAP party in National Socialist Germany. The organization originally consisted of the active core of the party, but membership in Hirden became mandatory for all NS members during World War II. It is usually estimated that there were about 8,500 members in Hirden, while NRK journalist Eirik Veum believes that a probable estimate may have been up to 20,000 after membership became mandatory for NS members in 1943, but many of these remained passive.

The Herden precursor was formed in 1933 under the name Special Department (SA) and was a voluntary organization for members of the National Assembly from 18 to 45 years. The Hirdmanns were officially defined as the political and ideological soldiers of the party, but mainly they served as watchmen during political meetings and speeches, after numerous attacks and conflicts with the Communist and then labor movement, which was also the main reason for the Hirden formation. After the occupation, however, Hirden was given new assignments and departments. Hird membership became mandatory for young, male party members from 1941, and later also for women and senior members, but the scheme was not fully implemented. All members wore uniform at events and in member service. The term shepherd was adopted in 1934 and was originally the medieval name of the bodyguards of kings and great men. The National Collection Shepherd had similar duties to the party’s and Hirden’s leader Vidkun Quisling. The shepherd was disbanded at the liberation in May 1945, and many members were convicted in the landslide settlement.