It was named after Christian Frederik von Schalburg, commander of the Frikorps Danmark who was killed in combat operations in the Demyansk Pocket in 1942.

The cross was awarded to Schalburg Corps members for recognition of service against the Danish resistance movement and for those serving or killed in action in the Eastern Front.

According to military historians some of the unissued crosses were discovered in the Schalburg corps HQ after the retreat of the Germans in May 1945 and were kept as souvenirs by the Danish population.

Indeed, stories have widely circulated that they were given to members of the crowds that flocked the streets of Copenhagen in May 1945 after the liberation from German troops.

Enlisted men wore a cross painted in off-white color with golden outer edges.