Postal History

In 1941, the Norwegian government made an agreement with Germany that mail sent by Norwegian volunteers in the German forces had free Feldpost services. Postal rates of 20Rpf was charged for packages sent from Germany weighing 250gms to 1000gms, and 35 Ore fee for those posted in Norway.
Feldpost mail from units with open addresses were required to add the "Portofreie Dienstsache" notation, even when dispatching mail through Feldpost offices. All mail was censored. Normally Norwegian volunteers who were enlisted in Waffen-SS formations had their Feldpost mail inspected by SS examiners.
SS mail was examined and applied with circular "As" censor markings and/or sealing tapes. Commercial or Feldpost mail was also inspected and examined in Norway or Germany and bore the circular "Ao" (Oslo) or "Ab" (Berlin) markings.

Because of the lack of faith in the local post offices, in July 1942, a special postal service was established to serve the civilian and military occupation authorities. This service was the "Deutsche Dienstpost Norwegen," which remained in operation until May 1945. Censored control marks were applied in Norway for mail transferred from Feldpost to civil post office. They were 15mm circular marks with the letters "FN" (Feldpost Norwegen) and are found with numerals "1 through 5." They were used between September 1942 till January 1944. A 16mm circular "FN" routing stamp was used in northern Norway.

Norwegian Collaboration Stamps

The Norwegian postal administration issued stamps to support the Norwegian volunteers serving in the German forces.

On 1 August 1941, a red semi-postal stamp was issued. It illustrates a Norwegian Legionnaire with the Norwegian and Finnish flags waving in the background. The inscription reads the Norwegian Legion and has a postal value of 20 + 80 Ore. The surtax was added to benefit the Norwegian Legion. Only one hundred thousand stamps of this issue were printed.

Note: An essay in a form of souvenir sheet (105mm x 95mm) was printed but never issued. The stamp design is the same as the Norwegian Legion. It in horizontal format with the postal plus surtax value printed on the left side.

On 1 February 1941, a semi-postal stamp showing Quisling's portrait was issued by the post office with a postal value of 20 + 30 Ore.
The following day the same stamp was overprinted in dark-red "1-2-1942" to commemorate Quisling's first day in office as Prime Minister.
Very scarce and interesting cover that illustrates the two semi-postal issues of Quisling's portrait. The cover commemorates the first day of Quisling as Prime Minister. It has the Oslo first day postal cancel applied on both stamps.

In September 26, 1942 the Quisling semi-postal stamp was re-issued.,
On your left shows Quisling portrait stamp with an inscription for the 8th annual meeting of the National Unity Party.
The Norwegian National Unity Party was equivalent to the German NAZI party.
The surtax from the sale of these stamps aided relatives of soldiers killed in action.

On 12 October 1942, two regular postage stamps were issued by the post office. Both stamps depicted two earlier stamps. The first Norwegian stamp issued in 1855 is shown and next to it is the Quisling semi-postal stamp. One stamp (red) valued at 20Ore, and the other (green) valued at 30Ore. These stamps were issued to commemorate the European Postal Congress held at Vienna, October 1942. In 1942, the postal authorities issued official stamps for Quisling's civil service and military personnel. These stamps show the Norwegian Nazi Party Emblem and they were used till 1944.

Norwegian Frontkjemper Issues

On 2 August 1943, a red-brown semi-postal stamp with a 20 + 80 Ore value was issued. It shows a Viking warrior holding a shield emblazoned with a cross and the inscription Front Fighter. The surtax supported the Norwegian volunteer units. A badge showing the Front Fighter was issued to Norwegian veterans returning from the Eastern Front. Both Legion stamps were designed by Herald Damsleth and were valid until 15 May 1945. The letter shown is a first day cover issue for the Frontfighters semi-postal stamp, which incidentally shows the badge that was awarded to Norwegian Eastern Front volunteers (See Norwegian Legion Awards web section).

Two different slogan postmarks were used: a slogan with the inscription "BRUK FRONTKJEMPER FRIMERKET" (Purchase the Front Fighter stamp) and a flaming heart shape shield with the inscription "NORSK FRONT." The later slogan was posted for only the months of April and March 1945. On 1 February 1942, the Norwegian postal administration issued a red semi-postal stamp with a 20 + 30 Ore value.

Den Norske Legion Label

In 1942 a propaganda label commemorating the participation of the Norwegian Legion in the 1939-40 Finnish-Russo War was issued. It is more likely attributed to the formation of the Norwegian Legion already fighting in the Eastern Front. This yellow label shows a medallion with steel helmet in the center and the flags of Norway and Finland on opposite sides. The inscription reads "Den Norske Legion."

A small badge of the medallion was made and worn by family members who supported the Norwegian Legion.

Norwegian Postal Cover

The first day cover showing the Norwegian Legion semi-postal was mailed by a family member to a Norwegian Volunteer. The cover has been censored by German military authorities, with a blue "Gepruft Feldpostprufstelle" (Inspected Fieldpost Examiners Office).

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