English: In the same year that Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany (1933), Vidkun Quisling formed the Nasjonal Samling, or National Union (Unity) Party in Norway. This party was styled after the German National Socialists (NSDAP under Hitler, and after the Germans invaded Norway became the only Norwegian party to be supported the Germans. Quisling assumed power as the new leader of Norway.

The Hird, or Rikshird, was a Norwegian form of the German SA or Storm Troopers. A loose translation of the ancient Norse hird would be "national or state follower." This black flag with a gold and red sun cross with upward pointing swords upon the two horizontal branches of the sun cross, was used by Rikshird collaboration forces during World War II, and is also in use today as a Neo-nazi symbol.

During the German occupation, each regiment in the Rikshird that used a flag would also have a specific emblem or the location of the regiment on the upper right quarter of the flag.