Mannerheim Cross

The Mannerheim Cross (Finnish Mannerheim - risti, Swedish Mannerheimkorset ) is a military award of the Finnish State.

It was founded on 16 December 1940, Regulation of the Finnish President Kyösti Kallio and after the commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim, named. The Mannerheim Cross was an additional decoration for 1940 wiedergestifteten Order of Liberty Cross. It can be awarded " in time of war, regardless of military rank for bravery, for decisive actions in battle and for honorable troop leadership " a Finnish soldier.

The Mannerheim Cross had two classes: I. was a neck decoration and II a cross slot. The religious character of the first class was a narrow Tatzenkreuz, which was black enamelled and whose arms bore a golden swastika straight; in the center medallion there was the symbol of the Finnish White Rose. The Order was hanging on a golden oval oak wreath, emerged two curved arms with swords from both sides, and was worn on a red ribbon, each with a white stripe on both sides. The plug- cross of the second class had the oak wreath as a frame of the center medallions. The only difference between the Mannerheim Cross and the Order of Liberty Cross was the color of the enamel: the Cross of Liberty was enamelled white or blue, and in the classes: the Cross of Liberty had four classes and could be imparted without the oak wreath.

The Mannerheim Cross First Class was awarded only twice: at Mannerheim himself (1941, at the same time he received the second class with marshal's batons as a special decoration) and the Infantry General Axel Erik Heinrichs (1944). The Mannerheim Cross II class was given a total of 191mal to 1945; four soldiers were honored twice. Twice were Major General Aaro Olavi Pajari ( commander of an Infantry Division ), Colonel Martti Johannes Aho ( commander of an infantry regiment ), Warrant Officer Eino Ilmari Juutilainen ( fighter pilot ) and Captain Hans Wind excellent ( fighter pilot ).

The second award was obtained crossed batons as additional decoration. With the award of the Order of the Excellent ( Mannerheim Ristin ritari ) was allowed as a Knight of the Mannerheim Cross Order's call and also received 50,000 Finnmark.

Other well-known bearer of the Mannerheim Cross

  • Aksel Airo, Lieutenant General, Chief of Operations of the General Staff
  • Adolf Ehrnrooth, Colonel, Commander of an infantry regiment
  • Vilho Petter Nenonen, General of Artillery, Chief of Artillery
  • Karl Lennart Oesch, Lieutenant General, Commander of the Isthmus troops
  • Paavo Talvela, Major General, commanding a corps
  • Lauri Törni, lieutenant, commander of an infantry company
  • Rudolf Walden, General of Infantry, Defence Minister of Finland
  • Hjalmar Siilasvuo, Lieutenant General, commander of a corps
  • Erkki Raappana, Colonel, Commander of an Infantry Division
General of the Artillery (Germany) General of the Infantry
543991
de