Norwegian " Tapper og Tro "

[Jan Arne S]

Hi All !
NS Tapper og Tro " (Brave and Loyal ) ( 1941 - 1945 )
This crosses where only awarded at one award for Norwegian Frontfighters that had voolentered in Wehrmacht and Waffen - SS when they come home from Eastern Front . Reichkommisar Terboven and Germans stopped the award of this crosses . They thinked it was enough with EK 2 , EK 1 and War Merit Crosses / Medal for the Norwegian Frontfighters . After the War this crosses where taken by the Norwegian Home Recistance and later given to the Home Recistance Museum .
For some years ago the Museum start to sell this crosses . Perhaps they had some money problems .
It is 3. classes of this "Tapper og Tro " cross .
3. class with ribbon and 1941 in center of cross .
2. class with ribbon and NS ( Norwegian Nazi Party ) raven in center of cross .
1. class with screwback / pins and NS raven in center .
" Halsorden " like the Knight Cross of Iron Cross .

Lillegutt

3. class front ( Own Colletion )

[Jan Arne S]

Tapper og Tro 3. class

3. class back

[Jan Arne S]

Tapper og Tro 2. class

" Tapper og Tro " 2. class front ( Own Collection )

[Jan Arne S]

Tapper og Tro 2. cl

" Tapper og Tro " 2. class back

[Jan Arne S]

"Tapper og Tro Halsorden"

Hi Gyus !
" Tapper og Tro " " Halsorden "
Only beleived to be awarded by Minister of Finance in Quslings Gowernment Prytz , who died in cancer february 1945 . This cross is like the Knight Cross of Iron Cross .

Lillegutt

[Hilton]

Fantasy piece

Sorry to be the one telling you that the one you have here are a fantasy piece put together of original components. But remove the falcons and you will have a scarce original first type T&T Halsorden. These 4 falcon T&Ts where made in Denmark in the 70-80ties by a well known silversmith, mostly he made type one 1 class, and first type 2 class but also some Ridderkors/halsorden. All components are original on these, and was sold to him by one of the most known weaponcollectors in Norway.

The Norwegian Defence museum did not sell these, but had them for exchange agains other interesting items. The museum have not ever had economical problems as they are administred directly under the Norwegian ministry of defence!

[Eric Stahlhut]

I remember that museum very well, mainly due to the fact that they sold militaria. I bought a nice German navy helmet and some minty officer's naval breast eagles. It must have been in the late 70's. Prices were very low.

[Tony Farrell]

What a bland, unimaginative but oddly attractive award. Am I correct in the assumption that they're all pukka, apart from the neck badge?

[Bergflak]

Tapper & Tro!

Wow! Confusion is ruling.
Hey Hilton, you seem to know your way around in the bush. Could you please tell us what is what in the world of T&T's? What orders are real and what types are phony?

[Hilton]

Here are a picture of the original issued T&T`s. There are 3 of the first type( Number 1,2 and 3 are of the first type) and 3 of the later type. The first types beeing produced in 1942/43, the second type in 1944 (actualy this was not produced as they are simply "recyckled" type ones). As mentioned before these medals was to be the Norwegian equavalent to the Iron cross. But after lots of discussion between the Norwegian (Quisling) goverment and the Reichkommisariat Norwegen it was concluded that this was not to be issued to Norwegian Frontfighters after all, the Germans ment it was more than enough with the EK. ( I have only seen this awarded 2 times, one 1 class and one 2 class, both awarded to members of "Germanske SS Norge")
Here are a picture of the original issued T&T`s. There are 3 of the first type( Number 1,2 and 3 are of the first type) and 3 of the later type. The first types beeing produced in 1942/43, the second type in 1944 (actualy this was not produced as they are simply "recyckled" type ones). As mentioned before these medals was to be the Norwegian equavalent to the Iron cross. But after lots of discussion between the Norwegian (Quisling) goverment and the Reichkommisariat Norwegen it was concluded that this was not to be issued to Norwegian Frontfighters after all, the Germans ment it was more than enough with the EK. ( I have only seen this awarded 2 times, one 1 class and one 2 class, both awarded to members of "Germanske SS Norge")

The Norwegians now had lots of medals they could not issue, so they decided that they would turn them into a political awards instead. They added the suneagle and removed the "1941" that was on the front of the award ( on some of the type 2 T&T you can still see traces of "1941"). This was done rather late in 1944 and I have only heard of one type 2 ever awarded (2 class) The type 2 RK is just a type 2, 2 class sewn onto a neckribbon of type 2 type.

The T&T was made by the firm "Corneliusen & Olsen" in Oslo (still making buttons and medals!) They where put in store and forgotten until the late 1970 ties where the whole lot was given to the Norwegian armed forces museum. Most of these awards where without ribbons.

All other types, including the 4 eagled one are fantasy pieces!

I hope that this has made things a liltle clearer.

I would have posted a picture here but I for some reason I cant! Can someone please advise me how to attatche an attachement!?

[Bergflak]

That explains it!

Hilton! I got your picture, and I will post a link to it. Thank you for enlightening us all. Now it stands a little clearer.

<img src=http://home.c2i.net/pcb123/attmedalje.jpg>

In case the picture doesn't show up, here is the link:

http://home.c2i.net/pcb123/attmedalje.jpg

[Jan Arne S]

Hi Hilton !
Can You show ous pics on back of this " Tapper og Tro " awards without ribbon and " Halsorden "?

Jan Arne

[Hilton]

T&amp;T reverse

All these awards have identical reverse sides, as can be seen clearly in the pictures you have posted earlier in this thread. There was only made one tool to produce these.

[Jan Arne S]

Hi Hilton !

Is pics of the awards You are showing from the book " Nasjonal Samlings Metallmerker 1934 - 45 " Author Ilmari Erko ?
Does the "Tapper & Tro " awards without ribbon have screws or prongs on back ?

Jan Arne

[Hilton]

T&amp;T

Yes the pictures are from Ilmari`s book, he is a close friend of mine.

The T&T`s can be found with both prongs (2 prongs) and with screwback (much similare to the ones used on the Hirdmembership badges), the ones with prongs being the most common.