St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch
Encyclopedia
St. Olav's Medal with Oak Branch is a Norwegian military award, which was instituted by King Haakon VII of Norway
on 6 February 1942. In Norway
, the medal is considered as a separate award from the civilian St. Olav's Medal, which is awarded in recognition of "outstanding services rendered in connection with the spreading of information about Norway abroad and for strengthening the bonds between expatriate Norwegians and their home country".
Among the Norwegians war-medals the award is ranked as number two, after the War Cross but ahead of King Haakon VII's Freedom Cross. Of all orders and decorations in Norway, both military and civil it is ranked as number six, then after King Haakon VII's Cross of Liberty but at the same time before Medal for Heroic Deeds. The civilian St. Olav's Medal, however, is ranked as number nine. If a recipient should receive the medal twice or more, it was on 6 October 1943 decided that several branches could be added to the medal.
The Medal is made of silver, the tie contains the same colours which are to be found in the Norwegian flag. The Oak Branch symbolize patriotism, bravery and strength. The Medal also bears the inscription "HAAKON VII * KING OF NORWAY * EVERYTHING FOR NORWAY" (in Norwegian "Haakon VII * Norges Konge * Alt for Norge").
It has been awarded to 779 Norwegians, including one woman; a few non-Norwegian citizens have also received the medal.
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
on 6 February 1942. In Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, the medal is considered as a separate award from the civilian St. Olav's Medal, which is awarded in recognition of "outstanding services rendered in connection with the spreading of information about Norway abroad and for strengthening the bonds between expatriate Norwegians and their home country".
Among the Norwegians war-medals the award is ranked as number two, after the War Cross but ahead of King Haakon VII's Freedom Cross. Of all orders and decorations in Norway, both military and civil it is ranked as number six, then after King Haakon VII's Cross of Liberty but at the same time before Medal for Heroic Deeds. The civilian St. Olav's Medal, however, is ranked as number nine. If a recipient should receive the medal twice or more, it was on 6 October 1943 decided that several branches could be added to the medal.
The Medal is made of silver, the tie contains the same colours which are to be found in the Norwegian flag. The Oak Branch symbolize patriotism, bravery and strength. The Medal also bears the inscription "HAAKON VII * KING OF NORWAY * EVERYTHING FOR NORWAY" (in Norwegian "Haakon VII * Norges Konge * Alt for Norge").
It has been awarded to 779 Norwegians, including one woman; a few non-Norwegian citizens have also received the medal.