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The Home Defence Corps (Denmark)

Last modified: 2025-11-15 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: hjemmevaernet | danebrog |
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[Denmark military] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider

See also:

Introduction of the Corps

WIKIPEDIA translates it as "Home Guard", literally a better fit is the German word "Heimwehr".
The corps was established in 1949 in Odense, mainly by members of the Danish Resistance Movement. It had been an exclusively male affair until 1989, when the Lottekorpset, an organisation of unarmed females, was incorporated into The Home Defence Corps (Danish: Hjemmeværnet). In 2025 there had been some 13.000 active members and some 30.000 reservists, all unpayed staff, but salaries and travel expenses are compensated by the Danish state, if a guardian is in duty. Furthermore in higher ranks there is a staff of about 500 military employees. The corps in 2025 is divided into an army wing, a naval wing and an aerial wing.
On top is The Home Defence Command (Danish: Hjemmeværnskommandoen), led by a major general and a commissioner, always a MP. The former is in charge of training and equipment, the latter of recruiting, public relations and support by the people. Attached to the leaders is a staff with departments for ressources, planning and operations. The command is directly managed by the Danish Ministry of Defence.
Source: organigram
In the late 1980s the army wing was subdivided into seven territorial regions (Danish: landsdelregioner).
Those had been:
-1st Territorial Region (Northern Jutland) in Aalborg, subdivided into 6 districts with 31 area companies and 6 military police companies
-2nd Territorial Region (Middle Jutland) in Viborg, subdivided into 10 districts with 56 area companies and 11 military police companies
-3rd Territorial Region (Southern Jutland) in Haderslev, subdivided into 11 districts with 53 area companies and 11 military police companies
-4th Territorial Region (Funen) in Odense, subdivided into 5 districts with 32 area companies and 5 military police companies
-5th Territorial Region (Zealand) in Ringsted, subdivided into 9 districts and 50 area companies and 9 military police companies
-6th Territorial Region (Northern Zealand/Copenhagen) in Copenhagen, subdivided into 4 districts with 15 area companies and 4 military police companies
-7th Territorial Region (Bornholm), responsible for Bornholm, subdivided into 1 district with 5 area companies and 1 military police companies.
Every district had a staff company.

Around 2017 the number of regions was reduced to two. Currently there are only
-he Territorial Region West (Danish: Landsdelsregionen Vest), in charge of Jutland (Jylland) and Funen (Fyn), subdivided into 6 districts.
-The Territorial Region East (Danish: Landsdelsregionen Øst), in charge of Zealand (Sjælland), Lolland, Falster and Bornholm, also subdivided into 6 districts.
To both regions a Special Support and Reconnaisance Company (Danish: Særlig Støtte- og Rekognoscerings Kompagni / SSR) is attached.
Also attached to the army wing are The Police Home Defence Corps (Danish: Politihjemmeværnet) and The Infrastructure Home Defence Corps (Danish: Virksomhedshjemmeværnet).
The aerial wing is subdivided into two divisions and 28 squadrons.
The naval wing is subdivided into 37 "flotillas", having altogether 33 vessels and a small number of rubber boats.
Source:
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Nov 2025

Badges

[Badges of HG branches (DK) ] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Nov 2025

Perhaps every company and district has a proper badge and thus a proper colour, but I have evidence only of three units. Here I only give description of the badges of the command, the naval and aerial wing, and the two territorial regions:
Source: organigram (images from left to right)

Territorial Region West (Danish: Landsdelsregionen Vest):
On a dark red shield a crowned golden lion´s head with the cypher of King Christian 9 at its bottom end.

Territorial Region East (Danish: Landsdelsregionen Øst):
On a red shield a silver helm crested by blue plumes (ostriche feathers) and surrounded below by a green wreath. On the hauberk is the cypher of King Christian 9.

Aerial Wing (Danish: Flyverhjemmeværnet):
On a red shield three golden torch lights ordered 2:1. The shield is superimposing a pair of golden wings at top of the shield. The wings are superimposing a blue annulet with golden inscription "FHV" at top between the wings and "NE QUIS DOMI" (= no one at home) at bottom. The whole is surmounted by a royal crown in proper colour.

Naval Wing (Danish: Marinehjemmeværnet):
On a golden shield is a black viking ship at base and two red torch lights in fess on chief. The shield is surrounded by a blue oval with golden inscription "MARINE"/"HJEMME"/"VÆRNET". A golden anchor is in front at the bottom and behind at the top. The whole is surmounted by a royal crown in proper colour.

The Home Defence Command (Danish: Hjemmeværnskommandoen): A hand in proper colour holding a golden torch in pale with red flames, superimposing a brown axe with silver blade in bend and a brown assault rifle with silver barrel in bend sinister, all superimposing a golden laurel wreath with red berries and surmounted by a royal crown in proper colour.
This badge belongs also to the Home Defence Corps School (Hjemmeværnskole).
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Nov 2025

Flags

Flag of The Home Defence Command (Hjemmeværnskommandoen)

[Flag of Hjemmeværnskommandoen] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Nov 2025

The red flag is parted by an off-centred white cross. In canton is the badge of the command exclusively in gold. On lower hoist is a golden inscription: "HJEMMEVÆRNS / KOMMANDOEN".
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Nov 2025

Flag of Territorial Region West (Landsdelsregionen Vest)

[Flag of ] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Nov 2025

The red flag is parted by an off-centred white cross patty. In canton is the badge of the unit exclusively in gold. On lower hoist is a golden centred inscription: "LANDSDELSREGIONEN / VEST". On centre of the cross patty is the crowned cypher of Queen Margrethe 2.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Nov 2025

Flag of Territorial Region East (Landsdelsregionen Øst)

[Flag of ] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Nov 2025

The red flag is parted by an off-centred white cross patty. In canton is the badge of the unit exclusively in gold. On lower hoist is a golden centred inscription: "LANDSDELSREGIONEN / ØST". On centre of the cross patty is the crowned cypher of Queen Margrethe 2.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Nov 2025

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