A reference on Finnish military and civilian awards

By Ville Ruokonen

Vapaudenristin Ritarikunta - Order of the Cross of Liberty

Established March 4th, 1918. Awards designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Originally established to reward actions during the war of 1918 (Liberation War / Civil War). All military personnel and civilians, regardless of nationality, who had taken part in the war were eligible for the award. In 28th of January, 1919, the Grand Master of the Order (General Mannerheim) decided that no more awards were necessary, although the office of the Imperial German Baltic Division continued to hand out awards assigned to it until 1935.

The Order was re-established in December 8th, 1939, to honor meritorious conduct in the Winter War. It was made into a permanent order 16th Dec, 1940.

Description:

St. George's cross with enamel plating. Arms inset with a swastika with metallic finish. Heraldic rose from the Finnish coat of arms in the middle. In 1st and 2nd class crosses, enamel plating is white; military division 3rd and 4th class crosses have black enamel, whereas civil division has blue enamel. The swastika is gilded on all except 4th class crosses, which have silver finish. The heraldic rose is enamel in 1st and 2nd class, gilded metal in 3rd class and silver in 4th class. If awarded with a red cross, it is on top of the rose. The 1918, 1939 and 1941 issues have the year of the issue inscribed on the reverse.

Mounted in an gilded oak leaf wreath pin, with mailed arms holding swords in the military division. Civil division wreath is empty. If awarded with oak leaf, it is situated above the wreath (military division only). Military division crosses have a 'rosette' or swallow-tail ribbon. 4th class crosses have silver wreaths.

Generally speaking, the military division has a red ribbon with white stripes and the civil division an yellow ribbon with red stripes. 3rd and 4th class has the stripe near the middle of the ribbon rather than on the sides. On the 1918 issue, the ribbon for the military division 1st and 2nd class was yellow with red stripes.

On wearing: The Grand Cross is worn on a 10,2 cm (~4 in) wide ribbon, slung over the shoulder (cross hanging on the left side). 1st class is worn on the neck. Lower classes are worn on a ribbon bar.

The Medal of Liberty has a close-up of the head of the lion of the Finnish coat of arms and the words "URHEUDESTA - FÖR TAPPERHET" ('For gallantry' in Finnish and Swedish) around it. The reverse has an wreath pattern with the words "SUOMEN KANSALTA" (From the people of Finland) followed by the year of the issue. The 1st Class has a blue ribbon with white stripes along the edge. The 2nd Class has a red ribbon with yellow stripes. If awarded with a red cross, it is situated below the lion's head.

The classes of the Order of the Cross of Liberty, in descending order:

Grand Cross with swords

Grand Cross for civilian merit

Cross of Liberty, 1st Class

· with swords, oak leaf and breast star

· with swords and breast star

· with breast star

· with swords and oak leaf

· with swords

· without swords

Cross of Liberty, 2nd Class

· with swords and oak leaf

· with swords

· without swords

Cross of Liberty, 3rd Class

· with swords and oak leaf

· with swords

· without swords

Cross of Liberty, 4th Class

· with swords and oak leaf

· with swords

· without swords

Medal of Liberty, 1st Class

Medal of Merit of the Order of the Cross of Liberty, 1st Class

Medal of Liberty, 2nd Class

Medal of Merit of the Order of the Cross of Liberty, 2nd Class

Special awards:

Medal of Liberty 1st Class with rosette ribbon

Mannerheim Cross of the Cross of Liberty 1st Class

Mannerheim Cross of the Cross of Liberty 2nd Class

Golden Medal of Merit of the Order of the Cross of Liberty

Cross of Mourning (CoL 4th Class on a black ribbon)

Medal of Mourning (Medal of Merit 1st Class on a black ribbon)

The Medal of Liberty 1st Class with rosette ribbon has been awarded once, to General Mannerheim. Other rare awards include the Crosses given with diamonds; recipients HRH Kaiser Wilhelm II and Marshal C.G.E. Mannerheim (Grand Cross with diamonds and swords), Generalmajor Rüdiger von der Goltz and Konteradmiral Hugo Meurer (1st Class with diamonds and swords).

The Mannerheim Cross was instituted in 1941. The 1st class was awarded for extraordinary competence in command at army corps level. It was awarded twice, the first to Marshal Mannerheim and the second to General A.E. Heinrichs. The 2nd class was awarded for extraordinary achievement, whether commanding an unit or individually, without regard for rank. It has since become the most famous and revered Finnish award. Recipients were also given a money prize of 50,000 Finnish Marks. It has been awarded 191 times, with 4 repeat awards.

The Cross of Liberty has also been awarded to two cities (Vaasa and Mikkeli), the University of Helsinki, the Parliament of Finland and various other institutions. In an unique and moving gesture inspired by the letter of a front-line Lieutenant, on Mother's Day, 1942, Mannerheim awarded the Cross of Liberty to the mothers of Finland.

The Cross and Medal of Mourning were given to the next of kin of a serviceman killed in action or a person killed while working in a defense-related occupation, respectively. Note that recipients are not entitled to wear either of these awards. The Finnish Army didn't have wound badges, therefore the Cross of Liberty 4th class was awarded to wounded officers, and the Medal of Liberty 2nd class to wounded NCOs and privates.

Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun Ritarikunta - Order of the White Rose of Finland

The Order of the White Rose was established 28th of January, 1919 to replace the Order of the Cross of Liberty that was disestablished on the same date. Its intended purpose is to reward Finnish citizens and foreigners alike for deeds done to Finland's benefit. Also designed by Gallen-Kallela.

During wartime, gallantry under fire can also be rewarded. Crosses are then given with swords and medals with a bar. The battle in which the award was earned is then inscribed onto the bar. Awards of the order can be awarded with diamonds.

Classes of the Order of the White Rose in descending order:

Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose

· With swords, on neck-chain

· on neck-chain

· with swords

· without swords

Commander 1st Class

· with swords

· without swords

Commander (as above)

Knight 1st Class (as above)

Knight (as above)

Medal 1st Class with gold crosses and bar

Medal 1st Class with bar

Medal with bar

Medal 1st Class with gold crosses

Medal 1st Class

Medal

Bronze Medal of Merit has never been awarded.

The Grand Cross is typically awarded only to heads of state or persons of similar rank. Certain classes of the Order of the White Rose have been awarded very sparingly. Examples:

Grand Cross with diamonds and swords on neck-chain: 1 (Marshal Mannerheim)

Grand Cross with diamonds: 3 (Senator Stenroth, Minister Enckell, Prof. Jean Sibelius)

Only three Finns have been awarded the Grand Cross with swords; a handful of foreign officers such as Generaloberst Dietl have also received this award. There have been only two awards for Commander 1st Class with diamonds, and only one Commander with swords. All medals with bars were awarded for actions in Eastern Karelia during the 'unofficial' war in Russia 1918-1922.

Suomen Leijonan Ritarikunta - Order of the Lion of Finland

Established September 11th, 1942. For civilian and military merit, Finns and foreigners alike. During wartime, may be awarded with swords for military merit. The order was established to prevent inflation to the two preceding orders and to take into account deeds that wouldn't necessarily merit a Cross of Liberty or a White Rose. Unlike the two previous orders, the awards of the Lion of Finland were designed by Oskar Pihl.

Awards in descending rank:

Grand Cross

· with swords

· without swords

Commander 1st Class (as above)

Commander (as above)

[Pro Finlandia Medal]

Knight 1st Class (as above)

Knight (as above)

Cross of Merit (as above)

The Pro Finlandia Medal was established 10th Dec 1943. It can be awarded to authors and artists (first awarded to Mia Backman, actress and director, on 21st Feb 1945).

In ribbon bars, the following ribbon devices designate different grades:

Grand Cross: Rosette on a golden bar

Commander 1st Class: As above, bar is golden on the left side and silver on the right.

Commander: Rosette on a silver bar

Knight 1st Class: Rosette

Peacetime award rank requirements for Orders of the White Rose and Lion of Finland

The President of Finland customarily bestows awards from the two junior orders every Independence day based on suggestions sent by individual citizens or organizations public or private. Generally, the rank of an award is determined by the civilian merits achieved by the intended recipient. The following unofficial table describes what award an individual should receive, if there are no other factors to be taken into consideration.

All Finnish awards by rank

Following abbreviations are used:

CoL = Cross of Liberty MoL = Medal of Liberty

OWR = Order of the White Rose OLF = Order of the Lion of Finland

MC = Mannerheim Cross

GC = Grand Cross Cdr = Commander

Kn = Knight

Roman numerals are used to denote class. The internal ranking of awards applies to this table, unless otherwise mentioned.

1. OWR GC on neck-chain

2. CoL GC

3. OWR GC

4. OLF GC

5. MC I (1941)

6. CoL I w/ breast star

7. OWR Cdr I

8. OLF Cdr I

9. MC II (1941)

10. CoL I

11. OWR Cdr

12. OLF Cdr

13. Grand Merit Cross of Finnish Athletic Culture and Sport (1945)

14. Finnish Olympic Cross of Merit I (1951)

15. MoL I on rosette ribbon (awarded only to Mannerheim)

16. OWR Bronze Medal of Merit (never awarded)

17. CoL Golden Medal of Merit

18. CoL Mourning (may not be worn)

19. MoL Mourning (may not be worn)

20. CoL II

21. CoL III

22. CoL IV w/ swords

23. OWR Kn I

24. OLF Pro Finlandia Medal (1943)

25. OWR Medal of Merit (pre-1993)

26. CoL IV w/o swords

27. OWR Kn

28. OLF Kn

29. OWR Cross of Merit (post-1993)

30. OLF Cross of Merit

31. Finnish Red Cross Merit Cross (1931)

32. Life-saver Medal 1920

33. Finnish Olympic Cross of Merit II (1951)

34. MoL I

35. CoL Medal of Merit I

36. MoL II

37. CoL Medal of Merit II

38. Liberation War Commemorative Medal with Rose (1918)

39. OWR Medal I w/ gold crosses and bar

40. OWR Medal I w/ bar

41. Liberation War Comm. Medal (1918)

42. Winter War Comm. Medal (1940)

43. Continuation War Comm. Medal (1957)

44. Minesweeper Medal (1993)

45. OWR Medal I w/ gold crosses

46. OWR Medal I

47. OWR Medal

48. Military Merit Medal (1977)

49. Finnish Red Cross Silver Merit Medal (1931)

50. Pro Benignitate Humana Medal (1945)

51. Finnish Red Cross Bronze Merit Medal (1931)

52. Finnish Olympic Merit Medal 1951

53. War Invalid Association Medal of Merit (1958)

54. Police Merit Cross (1942)

55. Frontier Guard Merit Cross (1968)

56. Firefighter Medal (1942)

57. Golden Merit Cross of the Finnish Athletic Culture and Sport (1945)

58. Silver Merit Cross of the Finnish Athletic Culture and Sport (1945)

59. Civil Defense Medal with Bar I (1940)

60. Civil Defense Medal with Bar II (1940)

61. Bronze Medal with gold crosses of Finnish Athletic Culture and Sport (1945)

62. Civil Defense Medal I (1940)

63. Silver Medal of Finnish Athletic Culture of Sport (1945)

64. Frontier Guard Medal of Merit (1968)

65. Civil Defense Medal II (1940)

66. Cross of Merit for Prisoner Care (1957)

67. Reserve Officers' Association (RUL) Gold Medal of Merit w/ Bar (1981)

68. Guild Merit Medal (1981)

69. Reserve NCO Association (RAuL) Cross of Merit w/ Bar (1982)

70. RUL Gold Medal of Merit (1947)

71. RAuL Cross of Merit (1982)

72. Engineer Officers' Assoc. Medal of Merit w/ Bar (1976)

73. Soldier's Home Association Medal of Merit (1952)

74. Cadet Faculty Medal of Merit (1990)

75. Engineer Officers' Assoc. Medal of Merit (1976)

76. Work Safety Medal of Merit (1997)

77. Traffic Safety Medal of Merit (1988)

The following medals are not included in the official ranking, the order of precedence being left to the wearer to decide.

78. Soldier's Trade Union Medal of Merit w/ Bar

79. Soldier's Trade Union Medal of Merit

80. Medical Officer's Union Medal of Merit

81. Officer's Union Medal I

82. Officer's Union Medal II

The 82 previous awards were either founded or adopted by the Republic of Finland. The following awards for "other patriotic activities" are worn in the order of introduction.

Crosses and medals of the Civil Guard and Lotta Svärd organizations

Commemorative crosses of the Liberation War

Commemorative cross of the Winter War (only one may be worn)

Commemorative crosses of the Continuation War (two may be worn)

War Veteran's Assoc. Cross of Merit

Blue Cross with Sword and Bar

Finnish Civil Defense Association Cross of Merit

Blue Cross

Boy Soldier Cross

Blue Cross with pine branch insignia

RAuL Gold Merit Medal

RAuL Silver Merit Medal

RAuL Bronze Merit Medal

RUL Silver Merit Medal

RUL Bronze Merit Medal

Silver Guild Cross

Bronze Guild Cross

National Defense Medal (MPM) with swords

MPM w/ gold bar

MPM w/ silver bar

MPM w/ bronze bar

MPM

War Veterans Assoc. Merit Medal

In addition to the awards mentioned here, one (in uniform) or two (in civilian clothing) medals received from various national defense associations may be worn.

The Finnish Army has a number of regimental awards that are used as 'good conduct medals' of sorts. They are awarded to career officers, warrant officers and conscripts (rarely to the latter). Due to cutbacks in military spending, many units have been disbanded or incorporated into other units which has, in turn, caused the discontinuation of several awards. Several may be awarded to an officer, but only one may be worn at a time.