Bonjour a tous ,
some days ago read this interesting article in the web and decided to share it with all members.

In spring 1963 the President Urho Kekkonen of Finland asked for the Grand Chancellery of the White Rose of Finland to change the model of the chain of the grand cross. The swastika of the chain was supposed to be changed to some other heraldic figure, although it has been the original design since 1918.

The reason for this was that as the President visited France in late September 1962, he awarded de Gaulle the grand cross of the White Rose of Finland with chain. de Gaulle, who was the 11^th head of the state receiving this recognition (total of 13 awarded before the change of the design), carried the award politely in the ceremony in the Elyse Palace during this same visit, but covered under his dress coat, so that only part of the chain was visible. President Kekkonen mentioned later in one private letter that he noticed de Gaulle being a bit embarrassed.

Finally the design of the chain was changed and in the Celebration of the Independence Day 6.12.1963 it was seen first time carried by President Kekkonen. The new design had the swastika replaced by branches of the fir tree. This change caused a lot of discussion especially in the media and some authorities suggested that the design of the Order of the Cross of Liberty must be changes as well, as it carries also the swastika, but this demand was torpedoed and the design is still the same.

Later there has been some speculations, and some believe that de Gaulle wore the award under the tailcoat just not to be overdressed compared to his visitor, who didn’t carry any neck chain at all. So the reason for covering the chain was just politeness, and President Kekkonen misunderstood de Gaulle’s body language.
These chains are, according to the rules of the Order, supposed to be sent back to the Chancellery when the recipient passes away, so de Gaulle’s Grand Cross was sent back to Finland in 1971. The original example with swastikas was finally sent back to Paris in 1990 and is in the Liberation Museum among de Gaulle’s other awards.


Two Presidents in the Elyse Palace

The original version with the swastika. The later version.

Amicalement, Harri.

Dear Harry

King Boudouin of Belgium also send his collar back to recieve the new version in 1963

I think the 1st model of king Boudouin has been this month in an auction in Finland.

Guy

Hi Guy,
thanks for comment. Yes, I think you mean the one for sale by Finnmedals. It is not mentioned whose chain it is, but you already made conclusion and you might be right. The seller is not willing to publish the name of the original recepient.

Amicalement, Harri.

Hello again,

just checked the Finnmedals pages and what they are offering is the 2nd model chain, i.e. with the fir three branches.
The starting price seems to be 24 000 euros.
Anyway, here's the link for those, who are interested:
http://www.finnmedals.net/epages/Kaupat.sf/en_GB/?ViewObjectID=14312049

Cordialement, Harri.