Orders, decorations, and medals of Norway

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National Service Medal,
army version

This is a list of Norwegian orders and medals, in order of precedence. This list contains all medals approved for wearing on a Norwegian military uniform in ranked order.

Group 1: Awarded by or approved by H.M. The King[edit]

Those awards presented by or approved by the King of Norway are worn in an order of precedence established by Royal Decree of 11 June 1943, with subsequent additions.[1]

No. Ribbon Name in English[a] Note
1 Krigskorset med sverd War Cross With Sword
2 Medaljen for borgerdåd Medal for Outstanding Civic Service obsolete since 2004
3 St. Olavs Orden Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav all ranks and classes
4 Den Kongelige Norske Fortjenstorden Royal Norwegian Order of Merit all ranks and classes
5 Haakon VIIs Frihetskors Haakon VII Freedom Cross
6 St. Olavsmedaljen med ekegren St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
7 Medaljen for edel dåd Medal for Heroism in Gold
8 Kongens fortjenstmedalje King's Medal of Merit in Gold
9 St. Olavsmedaljen St. Olav's Medal
10 Krigsmedaljen War Medal without and with stars
11 Kongens fortjenstmedalje King's Medal of Merit
12 Forsvarets medalje for edel dåd Armed Forces Medal for Heroic Deeds
13 Haakon VIIs Frihetsmedalje King Haakon VII Freedom Medal
14 Medaljen for edel dåd Medal for Heroism in Silver
15 Medaljen for redningsdåd til sjøs Medal for Rescue at Sea
16 Nansenmedaljen for fremragende forskning Nansen Medal for Outstanding Research
17 Politiets hederskors Norwegian Police Cross of Honor equal in rank, listed by seniority
18 Sivilforsvarets hederskors Civil Defence Cross of Honor
19 Forsvarets hederskors Norwegian Defence Cross of Honour
20 Forsvarsmedaljen med laurbærgren Defence Service Medal with Laurel Branch
21 Politimedaljen med laurbærgren Police Service Medal with Laurel Branch
22 Sivilforsvarsmedaljen med laurbærgren Civil Defence Service Medal with Laurel Branch
23 Deltagermedaljen Defence Medal 1940 – 1945 without and with rosette
24 Heimevernets fortjenstmedalje Home Guard Medal of Merit
24a Hærens fortjenstmedalje Army Medal of Merit
24b Sjøforsvarets fortjenstmedalje Navy Medal of Merit
24c Luftforsvarets fortjenstmedalje Air Force Medal of Merit
24d Etterretningstjenestens fortjenstmedalje Intelligence Service Medal of Merit
25 Den norske Koreamedalje Norwegian Korea Medal
26 Maudheimmedaljen Maudheim Medal
27 Antarktismedaljen Antarctic Medal
28 H.M. Kongens erindringsmedalje H. M. The King's Commemorative Medal in Gold
29 Kongehusets 100-årsmedalje Royal House Centennial Medal
30 Kong Haakon VIIs minnemedalje King Haakon VII's Commemorative Medal in gold and silver
31 Kong Haakon VIIs jubileumsmedalje 1905–1930 King Haakon VII's 1905–1930 Jubilee Medal
32 Kong Haakon VIIs jubileumsmedalje 1905-1955 King Haakon VII's 1905–1955 Jubilee Medal
33 Haakon VIIs 70-årsmedalje King Haakon VII's 70th Anniversary Medal
34 Kong Haakon VIIs 100-årsmedalje King Haakon VII's Centennial Medal
35 Kong Olav Vs minnemedalje King Olav V's Commemorative Medal in gold and silver
36 Kong Olav Vs jubileumsmedalje 1957–1982 King Olav V's Anniversary Medal 1957-1982
37 Kong Olav Vs 100-årsmedalje King Olav V's 100th Anniversary Medal
38 Kong Harald Vs jubileumsmedalje 1991–2016 King Harald V's Jubilee Medal 1991-2016
39 H.M. Kongens erindringsmedalje H. M. The King's Commemorative Medal in Silver
40 Forsvarsmedaljen Defence Service Medal without and with stars
41 Politimedaljen Police Service Medal without and with stars
42 Sivilforsvarsmedaljen Civil Defence Service Medal without and with stars
43 Forsvarets medalje for sårede i strid Wounded in Action Medal without and with stars
44 Forsvarets medalje for internasjonale operasjoner Armed Forces Medal for International Operations without and with stars, laurel branch, golden laurel branch
45 Politiets medalje for internasjonal tjeneste Police Medal for International Service without and with stars, laurel branch
46 Sivilforsvarets medalje for internasjonal tjeneste Civil Defence Medal for International Service without and with stars, laurel branch
47 Medal for Defence Service Abroad without and with rosette
47a Forsvarets innsatsmedalje – Saudi Arabia Medal for Defence Service Abroad - Saudi Arabia without and with rosette
47b Forsvarets innsatsmedalje – Balkan Medal for Defence Service Abroad - Balkans without and with rosette
47c Forsvarets innsatsmedalje med rosett – Afghanistan Medal for Defence Service Abroad with rosette – Afghanistan
48 Medals for Defence Operations Abroad
48a Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Kosovo-Serbia-Montenegro Medal for Defence Operations Abroad - Kosovo-Serbia-Montenegro
48b Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Active Endeavour Medal for Defence Operations Abroad - Operation Active Endeavour
48c Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Afghanistan Medal for Defence Operations Abroad - Afghanistan
48d Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Irak Medal for Defence Operations Abroad - Iraq
48e Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Baltic Accession Medal for Defence Operations Abroad - Operation Baltic Accession
48f Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Bosnia-Hercegovina Medal for Defence Operations Abroad - Bosnia-Herzegovina
48g Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Sudan Medal for Defence Operations Abroad - Sudan
48h Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Libanon Medal for Defence Operations Abroad - Lebanon
48i Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Tsjad Medal for Defence Operations Abroad - Chad
48j Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Somalia Medal for Defence Operations Abroad - Somalia
48k Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Libya Medal for Defence Operations Abroad - Libya
48l Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Syria Medal for Defence Operations Abroad – escorting the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons
48m Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Mali Medal for Defence Operations Abroad - Mali
48n Forsvarets operasjonsmedalje – Middelhavet Medal for Defence Operations Abroad – Mediterranean Sea
49 National Service Medal
49a Hærens vernedyktighetsmedalje National Service Medal - Army without and with stars
49b Sjøforsvarets vernedyktighetsmedalje National Service Medal - Navy without and with stars
49c Luftforsvarets vernedyktighetsmedalje National Service Medal - Air Force without and with stars
49d Heimevernets vernedyktighetsmedalje National Service Medal - National Guard without and with stars
For obvious reasons not worn on uniform:
Forsvarets medalje for falne i strid Killed in Action Medal

Royal Family Orders[edit]

Royal Family order of King Haakon VII

These are not worn on military uniform.

Group 2: Foreign state decorations[edit]

Decorations that are awarded or approved by foreign heads of state. They are ranked as follows: British, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Swedish, other countries are ranked alphabetically by their name in French.

Group 3: Decorations of UN, NATO, EU, OSCE and similar[edit]

Decorations from international operations led by UN, NATO and other international organisations. The Multinational Force and Observers Medal is also placed in this group, so was the formerly approved PLANELM Medal. Medals are ranked by the year a mission started, oldest first.

Group 4: Other Norwegian decorations[edit]

No. Ribbon Name in English[a] Note
1 Norsk Militært Tidsskrifts medalje for besvarelse av prisoppgave Norwegian Military Journal's Medal for Answering a Prize Thesis
2 Medaljen for lang og tro tjeneste Royal Norwegian Society for Development's Medal for Long and Faithful Service
3 Sjømilitære Samfunds medalje for besvarelse av prisoppgave Naval Society's Medal for Answering a Prize Thesis
4 Det frivillige Skyttervesens fortjenstmedalje Norwegian Civilian Marksmanship Association's Medal of Merit
5 Sjømilitære Samfunds fortjenstmedalje Naval Society's Medal of Merit
6 Norges Røde Kors hederstegn Norwegian Red Cross' Badge of Honour
7 Norske Reserveoffiserers Forbunds hederstegn Norwegian Reserve Officers' Federation's Badge of Honour without or with golden laurel branch
8 Norges Skytterforbunds hederstegn Norwegian Shooting Association's Badge of Honour
9 Norges militære kameratforbunds hederstegn Norwegian Federation of Military Comrade Associations's Badge of Honour
10 Norges Forsvarsforenings verneidrettsmedalje The Norwegian Defense Association's Defense Sports Medal
11 Det frivillige Skyttervesens hederstegn Norwegian Civilian Marksmanship Association's Badge of Honour
12 Krigsdeltagerforbundets hederstegn War Participants' Association's Badge of Honour
13 Hans Majestet Kongens Gardes medalje His Majesty The King's Guard's Medal gold, silver, bronze
14 De Norske Officerers Rideklubs hederstegn The Norwegian Officers Riding Club's Badge of Honour
15 Norges Forsvarsforenings hederstegn The Norwegian Defense Association's Badge of Honour, and Honorary membership same ribbon
16 Tysklandsbrigadens veteranmedalje German Brigade Veterans Medal
17 Norges Lotteforbunds hederstegn The Norwegian Lotte Association's Badge of Honour
18 Fredsprismedaljen 1988 UN's Peace Prize Medal 1988
19 Norges Veteranforbund for Internasjonale Operasjoners hederstegn Norwegian Veterans' Association for International Operations' Badge of Honour gold, silver, bronze
20 Oslo Militære Samfunds hederstegn Oslo Military Society's Badge of Honour gold, silver, bronze
21 Luftmilitært Samfunds hederstegn Air Force Society's Badge of Honour
22 Norsk Aero Klubbs hederstegn Norwegian Aero Club's Badge of Honour
23 Politiets Afghanistanmedalje Police Afghanistan Medal
24 Hakon Hansens gullmedalje Hakon Hansen's Gold Medal
25 Forsvarets seniorforbunds hederstegn The Defense Seniors Association' Badge of Honour
26 Brigadeveteranforbundet Hederstegn Brigade Veterans Association's Badge of Honour

Group 5: Other foreign decorations[edit]

Foreign awards that do not fall into any of the groups above can be approved for use on Norwegian military uniform upon application. The order of wear as for group 2.

Group 6: Medals awarded for military skills[edit]

Since 2008, the old medals were no longer approved worn on military uniform, and got replaced by the following medals in 2012:

Military medals of skills[edit]

These decorations are most often divided in three classes: bronze, silver and gold. They are most often awarded as metal badges, but if the gold requirements are met over several years a medal is awarded:

Since 2008, the above medals are no longer approved worn on military uniform. The requirements for these medals can be a part of earning the current military medals

Civilian medals of skills[edit]

These share most of the characteristics of the badges and medals awarded for military skills, but the requirements may vary more:

Since 2008, the above medals are no longer approved worn on military uniform. The requirements for these medals can be a part of earning the current military medals.

Additional civilian skills medal no longer approved worn on military uniform:

Foreign medals of skills[edit]

Foreign military and civilian skill medals are generally not permitted to be used on Norwegian military uniforms, unless permission has been applied and granted. Such skill medals then rank very last, after all other awards and skill marks.

The following foreign skill mark is approved:

Unit citations[edit]

The Norwegian Armed Forces does not have any unit citations.

Norwegian personnel who have fought in departments that have been honored with a foreign unit citation or unit award and who have received a ribbon as a sign of this, are allowed to wear these on Norwegian military uniform, but then separate from other ribbon stripes and located below these.

Unit citations in the form of ribbons are not worn with medals.

Examples of foreign unit citations given to Norwegian personnel:

No longer awarded[edit]

Star of the Order of the Norwegian lion

The following obsolete awards are no longer approved on military uniform:

The Military cross, in both versions, are since 2014 no longer approved worn on military uniform. Personnel still serving got it converted to other medals. Similarly has the Medal for International Operations with Golden Laurel Branch been converted for personnel still serving.

Approved worn on military uniform in the years 1961–1981:

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b Original Norwegian name as mouse-over text on the ribbon.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Norwegian Decorations". royalcourt.no. The Royal House of Norway. Retrieved 27 February 2023.

External links[edit]