Hello everybody,
enclosed a picture of 2nd class Mannerheim Cross of the Order of Liberty, Finland's highest military decoration of bravery. Only 191 awarded during 1941-45. The backround figure is Fieldmarchal Mannerheim himself.



Best Regards, Harri.

Hi Harri and Hendrik,

There is a 1st class, but that have been only awarded twice to the Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal Mannerheim and General of Infantry Erik Heinrichs.

The Cross (both 2nd and 1st Class) has, as said by Harri, become the most distinguished military award in Finland.
The Second Class of the award was instituted as the universal award for extraordinary bravery, for the achievement of extraordinarily important objectives by combat, or for especially well conducted operations. The Cross could be awarded to any soldier of the Finnish Defence Forces, regardless of rank.

Cheers.

Ch.

Hello Hendrik and Christophe,
and also thaks for Christophe for clarifying the question of Hendrik.
Yes, 2nd class is considered being the highest award for personal bravery and it is open for all ranks. Peculiar feature is that the cross is not actually awarded to the person, he is just nominated to be allowed to carry the cross and they were nominated Knights of the Mannerheim Cross. He also received a certain sum of money, 50 000 FIM, which at that time was the same as a lieutenant earned in a year.
Two recepeints received this cross twice and as a sign of this, they carried a device of crossed bars of Marchal over the cross.
Of the 191 recepeints only 3 is still alive.

Cordialement, Harri

Dear Harri

The Royal Army Museum in Brussels has some pieces of this order





Guy

Hello,
and thanks for Guy for the fine photos of Cross of Liberty 3rd Class (on top) and 4th Class (bottom). Both awarded for military person as the civil ribbon is yellow with two narrow red stripes. Civil versions are also without the swords on the suspension device (symbolism from Carelian coat-of-arms) and the black parts of the cross are usually blue. Both classes can be awarded with silver oak leaf device attached vertically above the wreath.
There exists also special versions with black ribbon (Cross of Mourning) for family members of a soldier killed in action and a version with enamelled red cross on the rosetta on the center piece of the cross (for medica personnel).
Crosses have at the back either year 1918 (Civil War of Finland), 1939 (The Winter War) or 1941 (starting year of the Continuation War 1941-45).

Cordialement, Harri .