List of Norwegian flags explained
The following is a list of flags of entities named or related to Norway.
Kingdom of Norway
Royal standards
Flags of the Government
Other flags
Flags of the Military
Flags of the Navy
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| – present | Naval Jack | Norwegian flag in 1:1 proportions. |
| 2010 – present | Flag of the Chief of the Navy | Known as Inspector General until 2017. |
| – present | Rank Flag of Admirals | Naval ensign with 4 white stars in canton. |
| – present | Rank Flag of Vice Admirals | Naval ensign with 3 white stars in canton. |
| – present | Rank Flag of Rear Admirals | Naval ensign with 2 white star in canton. |
| – present | Rank Flag of Commodores | Naval ensign with 1 white star in canton. |
| – present | Rank Flag of Captains | Swallowtail with Norwegian stripe. |
| – present | Rank flag of a Norwegian Squadron Commander or Senior Officer | Pennant with Norwegian stripe. |
| – present | Rank Flag of Petty officers | Red pennant. |
| – present | Royal Norwegian Navy pennant Is a commissioning pennant and is used as a rank flag by those officers not possessing a separate rank flag. | Norwegian swallowtailed pennant. |
| 1905 – 2010 | Former flag of the Inspector General of the Navy | |
| – present | Flag used on land (Feltflagg) | Flown at Naval bases but not at sea. | |
Flags of the Army
The rank flags are also used by the Air Force and Home Guard.
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| – present | Flag of the Norwegian Army | Red field with the emblem of the Army in the center. |
| 1905 – present | Flag of the Chief of the Army | Known as Inspector General until 2017. |
| 1982 – present | Rank Flag of Generals | War flag with 4 golden stars in canton.
General Officers flag had 3 stars from 1905 to 1982. |
| 1982 – present | Rank Flag of Lieutenant Generals | War flag with 3 golden stars in canton.
Lieutenant General flag had 2 stars from 1905 to 1982. |
| 1982 – present | Rank Flag of Major Generals | War flag with 2 golden stars in canton.
Major Generals flag had 1 star from 1905 to 1982. |
| 1982 – present | Rank Flag of Brigadiers | War flag with 1 golden star in canton. |
| 1901 – 1905 | Former flag of the Inspector General | | |
Flags of the Air Force
The Air Force uses the same rank flags as the Army.
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| – present | Flag of the Royal Norwegian Air Force | Light blue field with the logo of the Air Force in the canton and the roundel of Norway. |
| 2010 – present | Flag of the Chief of the Air Force | War flag with golden winged coat of arms in canton. Known as Inspector General until 2017. |
| – 2010 | Former flag of the Inspector General of the Air Force | | |
Flags of the Coastal Artillery
The now obsolete Coastal artillery of Norway used to have separate rank flags.[1]
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1919 – 2002 | Flag of the Inspector General | |
| 1919 – 2002 | Flag of the Brigadier | |
| 1919 – 2002 | Flag of the Commodore | |
| 1919 – 2002 | Flag of the Commander Senior Grade | |
| 1919 – 2002 | Flag of the Commander | |
| 1919 – 2002 | Flag of the Captain | |
| 1919 – 2002 | Pennant of Subordinate officers | | |
Other flags
Military Standards
Home Guard Standards
Historical flags
These flags are no longer in use, except the merchant flag of 1821–1844, which was also used from 1899 until the present. Note: The Royal Standard of Norway is seen as the official flag of the Old Kingdom of Norway.
Kalmar Union (1397 - 1537)
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1397 - 1523 | The "Banner of the realms", flag of the Kalmar Union. | The flag of the Kalmar Union was used in the triple union led by Denmark, which included Norway and Sweden. In a letter written by Eric of Pomerania dated from 1430, the "Banner of the realms" is described as "a red cross in a yellow field". |
| 1427 | Maritime flag | A flag captured from a Danish ship by Lübeck forces in 1427 showed the arms of Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Pomerania. The original flag was destroyed in World War II during an Allied bombing raid on Lübeck, but a 19th-century copy remains in Frederiksborg Palace, Denmark. | |
Denmark-Norway (1537 - 1814)
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1537 - 1814 | Dannebrogen, flag of Denmark-Norway. | From 1748 the only approved merchant flag. |
| 1731 - 1814 | Royal Standard of Denmark-Norway. | |
| 1696 - 1814 | State flag and naval ensign of Denmark-Norway. | |
| 1757 - 1814 | Denmark-Norway merchant flag used on distant waters. | Used south of Cape Finisterre. Flag was made to distinguish Danish-Norwegian ships from those of the Maltese Order. |
| 1796 - 1848 | The canton flag of Denmark-Norway. | Used by Danish and Norwegian ships sailing to the Danish West Indies. |
| 1600s | Norwegian Royal Standard used by some ships | Danish-Norwegian ship with royal flag in 1644 painting. | |
Kingdom of Norway (1814)
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1814 - 1821 | Flag of Norway | Unofficial alternative merchant flag used by some shippers to distinguish it from the flag of Denmark.
Based on the Dannebrog but with the lion from the Norwegian coat of arms in the canton. Merchant flag of Norway (1814–1821) during Sweden-Norway. On ships only north of Cape Finisterre, Spain. On longer distances the Swedish flag was used. |
| 1814 | State and naval ensign of Norway | |
| 1814 | Naval pennent of Norway | | |
Sweden-Norway (1814 - 1905)
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1815 – 1821 | Flag of Sweden, the alternative merchant flag of Norway | Used on ships south of Cape Finisterre, Spain. |
| 1818 – 1838 / 1838 - 1844 (optional) | Flag used by Norwegian ships south of Cape Finisterre, Spain. | From 1821 it was also used by Swedish ships there. |
| 1815 – 1844 | State flag, war flag and naval ensign of Norway and Sweden | |
| 1815 – 1844 | Royal standard of Norway and Sweden | |
| 1844 – 1905 | Union mark of Norway | Commonly informally referred to as the "herring salad". Removed from Norwegian merchant and state flags in 1899. |
| 1844 – 1905 | Naval Jack and diplomatic flag of Norway and Sweden | Also used as union mark in Swedish flags until 1 November 1905. |
| 1844 – 1898 | Merchant flag of Norway | The union mark was removed from the state flag after 1898. |
| 1844 – 1905 | War flag and naval ensign of Norway | |
| 1844 – 1905 | Royal Standard of Norway | | |
Other flags of Sweden-Norway (1815-1844)
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1815 - 1824 | Customs flag of Norway and Sweden | |
| 1824 – 1842 | Customs flag of Norway and Sweden | |
| 1836 – 1844 | Rear Admiral rank flag of Norway and Sweden | |
| 1836 – 1844 | Vice Admiral rank flag of Norway and Sweden | |
| 1836 – 1844 | Admiral rank flag of Norway and Sweden | |
| 1815 – 1844 | Commander of a Squadron rank flag of Norway and Sweden | |
| 1815 – 1844 | Commodore rank flag of Norway and Sweden | |
| 1815 – 1844 | Commissioning Pennant of Norway and Sweden | | |
Other flags of Sweden-Norway (1844-1905)
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| Image Missing | 1844 - 1899 | Customs flag of Norway | Norwegian state flag with union jack in canton and customs emblem on cross. |
| 1844 – 1854 | Commanding Admiral rank flag of Royal Norwegian Navy (separate from Royal Swedish Navy). | |
| 1875 – 1905 | Vice Admiral rank flag of Royal Norwegian Navy (separate from Royal Swedish Navy). | The State flag/Naval ensign was used as rank flag between 1858 and 1875. |
| 1844 – 1854 | Command (all admirals) rank flag of Royal Norwegian Navy (separate from Royal Swedish Navy). |
| 1875 – 1905 | Admiral rank flag of Royal Norwegian Navy (separate from Royal Swedish Navy). | The State flag/Naval ensign was used as rank flag between 1858 and 1875. |
| 1875 – 1905 | Vice Admiral rank flag of Royal Norwegian Navy (separate from Royal Swedish Navy). | The State flag/Naval ensign was used as rank flag between 1858 and 1875. |
| 1875 – 1905 | Rear Admiral rank flag ofof Royal Norwegian Navy (separate from Royal Swedish Navy). | The State flag/Naval ensign was used as rank flag between 1858 and 1875. |
| 1844 – 1858 | Commodore rank flag of Royal Norwegian Navy (separate from Royal Swedish Navy). | |
| 1858 – 1875 | Commodore rank flag of Royal Norwegian Navy (separate from Royal Swedish Navy). | |
| 1844 – 1858 | Detachment Commander rank flag ofof Royal Norwegian Navy (separate from Royal Swedish Navy). | |
| 1858 – 1875 | Detachment Commander rank flag of Royal Norwegian Navy (separate from Royal Swedish Navy). | |
| 1875 – 1905 | Detachment Commander rank flag of Royal Norwegian Navy (separate from Royal Swedish Navy). | |
| 1844 – 1858 | Commissioning Pennant of Royal Norwegian Navy (separate from Royal Swedish Navy). | |
| 1901 – 1905 | Flag of the Minister of Defence of Norway (separate from the Swedish Naval Ministry) | |
| 1875 – 1905 | Flag of Harbor Police of Norway | | |
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 24 April 1940 – 8 May 1945 | Flag of the Reichskommissariat Norwegen | Same as the flag of Germany (1935–1945). |
| 5 February 1942 – 8 May 1945 | Possible alternative state flag or minister flag of the Quisling regime | State flag without the NS eagle insignia was more commonly flown. It was used as a car flag during the first parliament meeting in 1942. | |
Nasjonal Samling and collaborationists
Party Flags
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1933 – 8 May 1945 | Party flag of Nasjonal Samling. | Golden Nordic cross on red field. The flag of Nasjonal Samling was used by the party Nasjonal Samling between 1933 and 1945 and by the collaborationist Quisling regime from 1942 to 1945. Flags of NS were called Solkorsbanneret ("The sun cross banner"), the colors were based on the color scheme of the Coat of Arms of Norway. The party describes the sun cross as the symbol of the sun, which was carved into stone for several millenniums as a sign of the victory of light over darkness and the Nordic people's struggle for survival. The red field on the cross represents Nordic blood.The flag is almost identical to the Flag of Scania and the Flag of the Swedish-speaking Finns. |
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Nasjonal Samling party flag pennant | Used as a small car flag. |
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Ordinary NS Pennant, design 1 | Sun cross in gold on red canvas. Was used as car flag. It is also described as having the same conditions as Hirden's Sveit flags. |
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Ordinary NS Pennant, design 2 | Was used as car flag. Could also be used by any NS organisation. | |
Rikshirden (Hird of the realm)
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Rikshirden's fylking flag (Raven Banner) | Black raven on yellow canvas. Raven banners were used by Rikshirden and Unghirden as "Fylkingsflagg". "Fylking" means a group of people with a shared goal, either politically or militarily. The word is derived from a Shield wall. The NS party was heavily nationalistic and were inspired by symbols from the Viking Age, this included the raven banner which had been used by several Viking chieftains in Scandinavia. |
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Rikshirden's Sveit flag (Sveitflagget) | Sun Cross with swords in gold and red on black canvas which represents the black soil of Norway. The swords in the sun cross represent that the Hird is a militaristic organisation. The word "Sveit" is from Old Norse, meaning a team, gathering or herd of troops or Hirdmen. The flags of NS organisations sometimes contained text showing their division and location. The flags of Rikshirden used letters written in gold. |
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Rikshirden's Troop flag (Troppsflagget) | |
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Rikshirden's Team flag (Lagsflagget) | |
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Rikshirden's Staff banner (Stabsbanner) | | |
Unghirden (Youth Hird)
Unghirden was a branch of the youth organisation specialized for boys between 14 and 18. The flags of Unghirden was also used by the Guttehirden (Boys hird).
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Unghirden's fylking flag (Raven Banner) | Black raven on green canvas. |
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Unghirden's Sveit flag (Sveitflagget) | Sun cross with swords in gold and red on green canvas. The flags of Unghirden officially used letters written in silver, yet some flags used gold lettering. |
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Unghirden's Troop flag (Troppsflagget) | |
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Unghirden's Team flag (Lagsflagget) | | |
NS Ungdomsfylking (Youth organisation)
NS Ungdomsfylking was Nasjonal Samling's youth organisation for children and youth from 10 and 18. The flags of Ungdomsfylking was also used by the Gjentehirden (Girls hird) and the Småhirden (Small hird).
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Ungdomsfylking's Sveit flag (Sveitflagget) | Sun cross in gold and red on green canvas. The flags of Ungdomsfylking used letters written in silver. |
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Ungdomsfylking's Troop flag (Troppsflagget) | |
| 1930s – 8 May 1945 | Ungdomsfylking's Team flag (Lagsflagget) | | |
Kvinnehirden (Women's hird)
Kvinnehirden was a branch of the NS Kvinneorganisajonen. Despite being named a Hird, they were not officially part of the hird did not serve any military function, therefore their flags lacked the swords in the sun cross.
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1934 – 8 May 1945 | Kvinnehirden's Sveit flag (Sveitflagget) | Sun cross in gold and red on yellowish-white canvas. |
| 1934 – 8 May 1945 | Kvinnehirden's Troop flag (Troppsflagget) | |
| 1934 – 8 May 1945 | Kvinnehirden's Team flag (Lagsflagget) | | |
Kvinneorganisasjon (Women's organisation)
NS Kvinneorganisasjonen was an organisation for women connected to the party.
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1934 – 8 May 1945 | Kvinneorganisasjon's Fylkes flag (Fylkesflagget) | Sun cross in gold and red on sky blue canvas. |
| 1934 – 8 May 1945 | Kvinneorganisasjon's Krets flag (Kretsflagget) | "Krets" is a Norwegian word for a circle of people. |
| 1934 – 8 May 1945 | Kvinneorganisasjon's Team flag (Lagsflagget) | | |
Hirdmarinen (Hird Navy)
Hirdmarinen was the Hirden's naval branch meant to form the basis for the future Norwegian navy under Quisling's rule.[2]
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1942 – 8 May 1945 | Hirdmarinen's Ensign | Norwegian Ensign with Hirdmarinen's insginia inside blue on the cross. |
| 1942 – 8 May 1945 | Hirdmarinen's Naval Jack | Hirdmarinen Insignia on a blue square field. |
| 1942 – 8 May 1945 | Hirdmarinen's Command Leader rank flag | Hirdmarinen Insignia on a blue field. |
| 1942 – 8 May 1945 | Hirdmarinen's District Leader rank flag | Hirdmarinen Insignia and 4 pointed star in canton on a blue field. |
| 1942 – 8 May 1945 | Hirdmarinen's Regional Leader rank flag | Hirdmarinen Insignia on a blue Triangular swallowtail. |
| 1942 – 8 May 1945 | Hirdmarinen's Sveit Leader rank flag | Hirdmarinen Insignia on a blue pennant. |
| 1942 – 8 May 1945 | Hirdmarinen's Masthead pennant | Hirdmarinen Insignia on a blue swallowtailed pennant. |
| 1942 – 8 May 1945 | Hirdmarinen's Senior Officer rank flag | Ancor on a blue pennant. |
| 1942 – 8 May 1945 | Hirdmarinen's Troop and Team flag | Hirdmarinen Insignia on a blue triangular pennant. | |
Nasjonal Samling Labour Service
The NS Labour Service (NS Arbeidstjeneste) was one of the Nasjonal Samling party's special organisations. The Labour Service was meant to combat unemployment in Norway, similar to the German Reich Labour Service.
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| Summer 1940 – September 1940 | Administrative Councils Labour Service flag | The Labour Service in Norway during the occupation was started as a voluntary service by the Administrative Council in the summer of 1940. |
| September 1940 – 8 May 1945 | NS Arbeidstjeneste flag | The Labour Service was renamed and taken over by Nasjonal Samling in September 1940 and later made compulsory for young men in 1941. |
| September 1940 – 8 May 1945 | NS Arbeidstjeneste pennants | |
| 1940 – 8 May 1945 | NS Kvinnelig Arbeidstjeneste flag | The women's Labour Service was branch of NS-AT for females. | |
Flags of other Norwegian collaborationists
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 1942 – 8 May 1945 | Flag of Germanic SS Norway | Same flag as the Schutzstaffel. |
| 29 June 1941 - March 1943 | Standard of the Norwegian Legion | Norwegian flag with "The Norwegian Legion" written in Norwegian. |
| 1942 – 8 May 1945 | Standard of the Viken Battalion of the Norwegian Legion. |
| 29 June 1941 - March 1943 | Standard of the Police Company of the Norwegian Legion. | | |
Political flags
Ethnic group flags
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|
| 15 August 1986 - Current | Flag of the Sámi | The Sami flag is also commonly flown in pennant form.
The colors of the Sámi flag are based on traditional Sámi costume, these colors are considered the Sámis (national) colors. The circular motif is derived from a sun/moon symbol which appears on many shaman's drums. |
| 1962 - 15 August 1986 | unofficial
Today associated with the Alta controversy. |
| 2007 – current | Flag of the Kven people | The flag was designed by the Swedish artist Bengt Johansson-Kÿrö. The flag shows a sun-rose, which is a common motif found on objects in Kvenland. |
| 29 December 2022 – current | Flag of the Forest Finns | Designed by the Norwegian couple Frédéric M. Lindboe and Bettina Gullhage. The flag depicts a traditional fertility symbol on a Nordic cross design. |
| 1978 – current | Flag of the Republic of Finnskogen (Republikken Finnskogen) | Republikken Finnskogen is a pseudo state which comprises the area known as Finnskogen in Solør, Norway and Värmland, Sweden. The Republic is established annually for 3 days in Svullrya, Norway in commemoration of the Skogfinndagene (Forest Finn days) cultural event. | |
Proposed flags of Norway
1814 proposals
[3] [4] [5]
1815 proposals
| Flag | Date | Proposed by | Description | Influence |
|---|
| 17 August 1815 | Peder Jacobsen Bøgvald | |
|
| 16 October 1815 | Niels Aall | | |
| 16 October 1815 | Flag committee of the Storting | Likely inspired the merchant flag used between 1818 and 1844. |
| |
1821 proposals
In 1821, a flag committee was deducted in the Storting to find a new merchant flag of Norway. 18 Proposals were put forward to be judged by the committee. On May 4, The Storting discussed and held the vote on what would become the Norwegian flag.
The original documents of 14 of the 18 flag proposals are stored in the Storting Archive. Proposal 4, 5, 9, and 17 are missing.
1836 union flag proposals
| Flag | Date | Proposed by | Description |
|---|
| 7 April 1836 | Jonas Anton Hielm | Proposed union mark of Sweden-Norway. |
| 7 April 1836 | Jonas Anton Hielm | Proposed merchant and state flags of Norway with union mark. |
| 7 April 1836 | Jonas Anton Hielm | Proposed merchant and state flags of Sweden with union mark. |
| 2 May 1836 | Peter Petersen | Proposed union naval ensigns for Sweden-Norway by minister of mining (Bergråd) Peter Petersen, who was Storting representative of Jarlsberg and Larvik. |
| 2 May 1836 | Peter Petersen | Proposed state flag and customs flag of Norway. |
| 2 May 1836 | Peter Petersen | | |
Dependent territory proposals
House flags of Norwegian freight companies
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Flags of the World. Norway - Coastal Artillery, 1914-2002. crwflags.com. en.
- Web site: National Library of Norway. Organisasjonsinstruks for hirdmarinen 1944. nb.no. no.
- Web site: Stortinget. Forslag til norsk flagg. 2022-09-10. Stortinget.no. 28 April 2021 . no.
- Web site: Store Norske Leksikon. Norges flagg. 2022-09-10. snl.no. 9 March 2022 . no.
- Web site: Flags of the World. Norway - flag proposals. crwflags.com. en.
- Web site: Eidsvoll 1814. Flagghistorien. 2022-09-10. eidsvoll1814.no. no.
- Web site: Fedrelandsvennen. 2013-01-21. Dette kunne blitt Norges flagg. 2022-09-10. fvn.no. no.
- Web site: NRK. 2014-05-03. Det norske flagg kunne vært grønt. 2022-09-10. nrk.no. no.
- Web site: Vest-Agder-museet. Flagget - Et nasjonalt symbol blir til. vestagdermuseet.no. no.
