Article about: Hi guys, today I received a medal of the NSB (Nationaal Socialistische Beweging - the Dutch National Socialist movement that collaborated with Germany during the war). Its prettyness made me
Hi guys, today I received a medal of the NSB (Nationaal Socialistische Beweging - the Dutch National Socialist movement that collaborated with Germany during the war).
Its prettyness made me wanted to share it. I hope it is in the right section, otherwise I apologise.
The medal itself was presented to NSB members that were taken into captivity by the Dutch government (during the start of the war in the Netherlands), after the invasion ended and turned into occupation.
On the front is a large Swastika under a Wolfsangel (wolf’s hook or wolf’s anchor), the latter being the symbol of the NSB.
Both are wreathed by roses and a chain.
The text says: Lotsverbondenheid (solidarity or shared fate) 10-14 Mei. 1940. Obviously emphasising the bond between Nazi Germany and the NSB.
The backside says:
DIETSCHERS EN DUITSERS meaning: DUTCHMEN AND GERMANS (although ‘Diets’ meaning ‘Middle Dutch’ a medieval name for West Germanic Dutchmen and their language, to which the NSB always gladly referred).
SAAMGEDREVEN DOOR HET LOT, VEREEND IN GEVAAR meaning: DRIVEN TOGETHER BY FATE, UNITED WHEN IN DANGER. With the last sentence enclosed with a small Wolfsangel and Swastika.
VERBONDEN IN DE TOEKOMST meaning: UNITED IN THE FUTURE.
The symbolism on the medal is significant for the attitude of the NSB during the later occupation.
The NSB was without a doubt the main collaborating force in the Netherlands but on the contrary to what most people then and now believed, they were completely against absolute German rule and with it the annexation of country, institutions, and armed forces. Hence the Wolfsangel covering the Swastika and the mentioning of Dietschers before Germans.
An attitude that really annoyed the Germans throughout the war, political distrust and intrigues caused most of combined Dutch/German projects (Napola/NPEA, forced labour organisations, draft into Kriegsmarine and even the formation of Dutch Waffen SS units) to become chaotic and mainly dysfunctional institutions.
To me a very nice piece of history.
Sorry for the long post, I hope to have added some nice history.
I love them too. Unfortunately the quality of the insignia is often very poor in my opinion. Thats’s why I liked this one so much, made of genuine, pre-war quality bronze...
I love them too. Unfortunately the quality of the insignia is often very poor in my opinion. Thats’s why I liked this one so much, made of genuine, pre-war quality bronze...
The NSB insignia in poor quality, perhaps the marching medals? The Mussert Cross is in my opinion one of the more aesthetic awards of the war. I collect the pins, leaflets and books.
Dutch German NSB medal
.
regards, Paul
by Aldo
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