Order of the Cross of Liberty 4th Class - Finland

History

The Order of the Cross of Liberty was founded on March 4, 1918, upon the initiative of Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim. The Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela was commissioned to design the Order's insignia with the Old-Scandinavian Fylfot.

At its foundation there were seven classes: grand cross, cross of liberty (1st to 4th Class) and the medal of liberty (1st and 2nd Class). The decorations of the Order of the Cross of Liberty were initially conferred only in time of war. A decree was issued on 18 August 1944 enabling the decorations to be awarded in peacetime. Also in 1944, Mannerheim (1867–1951) was designated as Grand Master for life.

Decorations of the order were awarded in great numbers during the World War II, partly due to Marshal Mannerheim having issued an order that wounded soldiers were to be awarded for their sacrifice, and Finland has no separate decoration for wounded. The Cross of Liberty is usually reserved for commissioned officers, with the Medal of Liberty being awarded for soldiers of junior rank and NCOs.

The Cross of Liberty has a red ribbon when it is granted in wartime and a yellow ribbon when it is awarded in peacetime. Associated with the Cross of Liberty is the Mannerheim Cross.

Classes

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

• Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty (VR SR)
• Cross of Liberty, 1st Class with a grand star (neck order) (VR 1. rtk)
• Cross of Liberty, 1st Class (neck order) (VR 1)
• Cross of Liberty, 2nd Class (VR 2)
• Cross of Liberty, 3rd Class (VR 3)
• Cross of Liberty, 4th Class (VR 4)
• Medal of Liberty, 1st Class (VM 1)
• Medal for Merit, 1st Class (VR Am 1)
• Medal of Liberty, 2nd Class (VM 2)
• Medal for Merit, 2nd Class (VR Am 2)

Other special decorations awarded during the Second World War include: 

• Medal of Liberty 1st Class on Rosette Ribbon (only awarded once, to Field Marshal Mannerheim)
• Gold Medal of Merit; only awarded once, to General Waldemar Erfurth, 13 June 1944
• Cross of Mourning (VR sururisti); given to the nearest relative of a soldier killed in action
• Medal of Mourning (VM surumitali); given to the nearest relative of a person killed in non-military duty of war industry or national defence.

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  VR 1

   
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  VR 2

   
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  VR 3

   
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  VR 4

   
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  VR sururisti (Cross of Mourning)

The awards above are for civilian accomplishments, signaled by the blue color in the 3rd and 4th Classes, and in peacetime, as shown by the yellow ribbon. Awards for military accomplishments in the 3rd and 4th Classes have a dark gray color replacing the blue, and are awarded with a red ribbon in wartime.

In total the order has 55 distinct insignia. Due to the numerous ways of awarding it has been called "the most complex order in Europe".