The War Cross with Sword (Norwegian Bokmål: Krigskorset med sverd, Norwegian Nynorsk: Krigskrossen med sverd) is the highest ranking Norwegian gallantry decoration. It is awarded for extraordinary brave actions or extraordinary leadership during combat. A recipient deemed worthy of additional citations will receive up to an additional two swords on the medal ribbon in addition to the "standard" single sword. Additional citations are rare: Gunnar Sønsteby is the only person to have received the War Cross with three swords (more appropriately known as "War Cross with sword and two swords").
The medal was established on 23 May 1941 by royal resolution of King Haakon VII, who was in London with the government in exile due to the German occupation of Norway. At that time, "royal" awards were made (to members of the British Royal family for example) and awards could be made for meritorious activities not associated with combat (extraordinary achievements or contributions for Norway's cause and war effort): these were made without the sword. The statutes were amended on 18 May 1945, restricting awards to the actions of military personnel in combat situations, thus all subsequent decorations would to be "with sword".[3] At the same time, Haakon VII's Freedom Cross was established to replace the War Cross for civilian achievements.[4]
Awards of the War Cross ceased in 1949, but on 26 June 2009 the statutes were again revised to permit awards for actions after 1945.[5]
In 2022, the Norwegian Armed Forces commissioned Marcus Paus to write a major work to tell the stories of the War Cross recipients. The Armed Forces said the idea is that the work will be a major "identity-building and unifying" work for the armed forces.[6][7]
Boy Rist for outstanding efforts during the execution of special missions, as Leader for Polar Bear 1, Narvik.
Eiliv Austlid was awarded the citation on 2 October 2009, for actions in April 1940,[11] settling a case that had been discussed in the press for some time.[12] The new award raised the total number of persons awarded The War Cross to 275 and the total number of awards, which includes seven French military colours, to 282. It has been revealed that at least one soldier is being considered for the award after action with the International Security Assistance Forceinthe Afghanistan war.[13]
Lieutenant CommanderTrond André Bolle was awarded the War Cross with Sword (posthumously) on 21 January 2011. The decision was announced by the Minister of Defence, Grete Faremo, shortly after the cabinet session the same day.[14] Lt. Cmdr. Bolle receives the award for his actions and behaviour during his command of the Norwegian Special Operations Force Task Group II in support of Operation Enduring FreedominAfghanistan'sHelmand province from October 2005 to February 2006. According to the Minister of Defence, Lt. Cmdr Bolle performed "above and beyond the call of duty" on numerous occasions during this period, his leadership was described as "exemplary". Lieutenant Commander Trond André Bolle was killed in action on 27 June 2010, in an IED incident in Afghanistan's Faryab province. Three other soldiers, Christian Lian, Simen Tokle and Andreas Eldjarn were also killed in the incident, which happened on the road between Khwaja Gawhar and Almar Bazar. The vehicle was the fourth vehicle in a row of four vehicles. This award marks the first award of the War Cross with Sword for actions performed after the end of World War II. The award was presented on Veterans day (also Victory in Europe Day), 8 May 2011.[15]
ColonelEirik Johan Kristoffersen was awarded the citation on 8 April 2011, for outstanding leadership and bravery during operations in Afghanistan. The award was presented on Veterans day (also Victory in Europe Day), 8 May 2011.[16]
CaptainJørg LianofSpecial Forces FSK was awarded the citation on 8 April 2011, for outstanding leadership and bravery during operations in Afghanistan. The award was presented on Veterans day (also Victory in Europe Day), 8 May 2011.[16]
Lieutenant Lars Kristian Lauritzen for bravery and courage in combat during international operations in Afghanistan (ISAF) in 2007.[17]
Major Kristian Bergh Stang for particularly excellent courage and leadership in combat during international operations in Afghanistan (ISAF) in 2008.[17]
Marinejegerkommandoen operator Ken Andersen for "extraordinary courage" in two separate counter-terror operations in Kabul, Afghanistan, the first responding to the 2015 Park Palace guesthouse attack on 13 May 2015, the second in response to an attack on the Russian embassy on 6 October 2015.[18]
If not stated otherwise, all recipients were soldiers of the Polish Independent Highland Brigade (Samodzielna Brygada Strzelcow Podhalanskich), awarded 1942.
Lt-Cdr Sir Alexander "Sandy" Glen, DSC*, CBE (1964), KBE (1967), Czechoslovak War Cross, Patron's medal of the Royal Geographical Society (1940), the silver Polar medal (1942), and the Bruce medal of the Royal Society of Edinburgh[21]—whilst attached to the SOE
^Veritas, Royal Military Colleges Club of Canada, December 1999, p. 45
^ ab"No. 35660". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 1942. p. 3493. List of most British Army recipients, granting them permission to wear the decoration (referred to as the Norwegian Military Cross), on their British uniforms
^ ab"No. 35743". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 October 1942. p. 4450. List of most Royal Navy and Royal Marines recipients, granting them permission to wear the decoration (referred to as the Norwegian War Cross), on their British uniforms
^"No. 35731". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 October 1942. pp. 4343–4344. List of most Royal Air Force recipients, granting them permission to wear the decoration (referred to as the Norwegian War Cross), on their British uniforms
^"No. 35827". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 December 1942. p. 5506. Lists the remainder of the RAF recipients, granting them permission to wear the decoration (referred to as the Norwegian War Cross), on their British uniforms
