434:
40:
249:
397:
200:, the decoration was awarded to soldiers for exceptional bravery, for the achievement of crucially important objectives by combat, or for especially successfully conducted operations. Unlike other awards associated with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the awarding of either class of the Mannerheim Cross was not influenced by the military rank of the recipient.
166:
military honour. A total of 191 people received the cross between 22 July 1941 and 7 May 1945, with six of the recipients receiving a cross twice. Available in two classes, the 1st class medal has only been awarded twice, with both recipients also having received the medal in the 2nd class. Although
350:
The awardees of the
Mannerheim Cross were predominately young, with 72 % of the awardees being 35 years of age or younger. Only 7 of the recipients were 51 or older, with the oldest recipient being Mannerheim himself. The crosses were awarded primarily to personnel from the army, with 159
387:
The purpose of the foundation, as laid out in its rules, is to support activities intended to keep up the nationalistic spirit of sacrifice and the national defensive will, while also supporting the
Knights of the Mannerheim Cross and their relatives.
203:
The cross is awarded as either
Mannerheim Cross of Liberty 1st Class or as Mannerheim Cross of Liberty 2nd Class. No special requirements differing from 2nd class were laid out for The Mannerheim Cross 1st Class. Within the
351:
recipients in the infantry. Five crosses were awarded to navy personnel, and a further 19 to air force personnel. Crosses were rarely awarded posthumously, with only six citations noting that the award was posthumous.
278:, who was awarded his cross on 3 August 1941 for destroying four enemy tanks with a sightless anti-tank gun taken from the enemy, by aiming the gun through its bore. The last cross was awarded to
208:
of
Finnish awards, the Mannerheim Cross 1st Class ranks 5th and the Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class ranks 9th. A recipient of the cross is called "Knight of the Mannerheim Cross".
1502:
911:
930:
1463:
1139:
340:
on 7 October 1941 after all the previous awardees had requested him to accept the award. The only other recipient of the
Mannerheim Cross 1st Class is
1487:
380:, resulted in a founding of the Foundation of the Knights of the Mannerheim Cross. The founding documents were signed on 5 March 1954, with the
904:
1367:
1046:
226:
The award was associated with a monetary prize in 1943. Originally planned to be a lifetime pension, the prize was eventually set at 50,000
61:"Exceptional bravery, for the achievement of crucially important objectives by combat, or for especially successfully conducted operations."
1497:
944:
359:
1492:
1375:
1243:
1066:
243:
433:
1439:
1211:
1187:
897:
824:
322:, who both received their second awards on 26 June 1944. These double-awardees were given a small clasp, consisting of two crossed
1327:
455:, General of Infantry, army commander and Chief of General Staff â 2nd Class on 5 February 1942, 1st Class on 31 December 1944
1423:
1415:
1293:
1176:
1447:
381:
212:
197:
1351:
1279:
1160:
1099:
1083:
921:
1359:
1151:
1107:
960:
446:
333:
189:
44:
Mannerheim Cross 1st Class (above) and 2nd Class (below). Crossed batons indicate a second award of a 2nd class cross.
1391:
1335:
1168:
1022:
39:
376:
The first gathering of the
Knights for the funeral of Mannerheim on 4 February 1951, where eight knights acted as
1219:
1115:
1431:
1407:
1383:
1195:
1054:
952:
401:
1286:
1091:
330:
186:
347:, who received it on 31 December 1944, following an earlier Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class on 5 February 1942.
1399:
1006:
998:
341:
248:
479:, Major-General, infantry division commander â 2nd Class on 14 September 1941, again on 16 October 1944
1319:
506:
358:, all surviving recipients of the Mannerheim Cross were invited annually on 6 December to Finland's
491:, Lieutenant-General, Chief Quartermaster General chief of operations at the GHQ â 18 November 1944
205:
282:
219:, albeit in different colors and with added decorative elements. The 1st class cross is worn as a
1227:
1123:
512:
464:
312:
279:
252:
416:
323:
263:
The
Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class has been awarded to 191 persons. The first cross was awarded to
1343:
820:
802:
548:
524:
427:
275:
563:, Captain, he was Knight of the Mannerheim Cross number 95 and last living of the 191 knights
1251:
1147:
1062:
1038:
990:
461:, Colonel, infantry regiment commander â 2nd Class on 1 March 1942, again on 16 October 1944
355:
336:, who accepted it together with a Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class from President of the Republic
256:
143:
135:
1259:
1131:
979:
554:
494:
889:
17:
1300:
1272:
1267:
536:
518:
452:
344:
308:
271:
1481:
1235:
1203:
1075:
542:
530:
384:
assenting to the founding and accepting the rules of the foundation on 8 March 1954.
296:
295:
A total of four persons have been awarded the
Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class twice. Both
406:
1014:
971:
796:
560:
365:
227:
174:
421:
396:
884:
287:
1455:
878:
500:
476:
412:
299:
267:
488:
458:
377:
337:
303:
231:
193:
482:
362:. By tradition they were the first guests to enter and greet the president.
319:
485:, Captain, fighter pilot â 2nd Class on 31 July 1943, again on 28 June 1944
368:, the last living Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, died on 1 November 2020.
177:, the last living Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, died on 1 November 2020.
449:, Field Marshal, Commander-in-Chief â 1st and 2nd Class on 7 October 1941
329:
The first recipient of the
Mannerheim Cross 1st Class was its namesake,
306:
received their second crosses on 16 October 1944. They were followed by
316:
264:
220:
169:
163:
89:
69:
539:, Lieutenant, later Captain, infantry company commander â 9 July 1944
438:
216:
835:
773:
771:
769:
598:
596:
594:
515:, Lieutenant-General, Commander of the Isthmus Forces â 26 June 1944
850:
708:
706:
473:, fighter pilot â 2nd Class on 26 April 1942, again on 28 June 1944
215:, the design of the Mannerheim Cross displays the Old Scandinavian
693:
691:
666:
664:
247:
503:, Colonel, infantry brigade and division commander â 22 July 1941
893:
627:
625:
623:
509:, General of Artillery, Inspector of Artillery â 8 January 1945
840:
437:
Memorial stone of
Mannerheim cross holder Jaakko Kolppanen in
527:, Lieutenant-General, army corps commander â 21 December 1944
400:
Knights of the Mannerheim Cross, from left to right: Captain
838:[The last Knight of the Mannerheim Cross has died].
836:"Viimeinen Mannerheim-ristin ritari Tuomas Gerdt on kuollut"
545:, General of Infantry, Minister of Defense â 2 December 1944
497:, Colonel, infantry regiment commander â 4 December 1944
817:
For Finland: Knights of the Mannerheim Cross 1941â1945
581:
579:
577:
945:
Argentine Nation to the Heroic Valour in Combat Cross
849:Ă
kerblom, Olle (cinematography) (6 September 2011) .
533:, Major-General, army corps commander â 3 August 1941
834:
KivimÀki, Petri; Strömberg, Jari (1 November 2020).
813:
Suomen puolesta: Mannerheim-ristin ritarit 1941â1945
1312:
937:
120:
112:
104:
96:
83:
75:
65:
57:
49:
32:
811:Hurmerinta, Ilmari; Viitanen, Jukka, eds. (1994).
795:
777:
760:
748:
736:
712:
697:
682:
670:
655:
643:
614:
602:
223:, while the 2nd class cross is worn on the chest.
852:Kunniamerkkien esittelyÀ [KunniamerkkejÀ]
631:
372:Foundation of the Knights of the Mannerheim Cross
931:List of highest military decorations by country
1464:Hero of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
905:
521:, Colonel, division commander â 3 August 1941
468:
8:
1228:Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword
885:List of all Knights of the Mannerheim Cross
173:, no crosses have been awarded since 1945.
1503:Military awards and decorations of Finland
912:
898:
890:
29:
1440:Order of the KaraÄorÄe's Star with Swords
196:on 16 December 1940. Associated with the
859:(in Finnish). Yle. Event occurs at 2:15
724:
585:
432:
395:
185:The honour, proposed by and named after
152:Mannerheim Cross of the Cross of Liberty
573:
7:
1188:Order of the White Eagle with swords
255:hands the Mannerheim Cross to cadet
800:[For Exceptional Bravery].
794:Huhtanen, Jarmo (8 November 2020).
244:List of Mannerheim Cross recipients
25:
1376:Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
879:Information about the decoration
354:Starting from the presidency of
230:, approximately equivalent to a
38:
1488:Knights of the Mannerheim Cross
1328:Military Order of Maria Theresa
1212:Laureate Cross of St. Ferdinand
551:, Private, later Staff Sergeant
238:Knights of the Mannerheim Cross
156:Vapaudenristin Mannerheim-risti
1416:Castle of Good Hope Decoration
1177:Hero of the Russian Federation
778:Hurmerinta & Viitanen 1994
761:Hurmerinta & Viitanen 1994
749:Hurmerinta & Viitanen 1994
737:Hurmerinta & Viitanen 1994
713:Hurmerinta & Viitanen 1994
698:Hurmerinta & Viitanen 1994
683:Hurmerinta & Viitanen 1994
671:Hurmerinta & Viitanen 1994
656:Hurmerinta & Viitanen 1994
644:Hurmerinta & Viitanen 1994
615:Hurmerinta & Viitanen 1994
603:Hurmerinta & Viitanen 1994
326:, to be worn above the cross.
1:
922:military awards for gallantry
632:KivimÀki & Strömberg 2020
213:Order of the Cross of Liberty
198:Order of the Cross of Liberty
160:Frihetskorsets Mannerheimkors
1424:Vietnam Military Merit Medal
1352:Military Order of Max Joseph
1161:Order of the Tower and Sword
1100:Gold Medal of Military Valor
1084:Military Medal for Gallantry
819:] (in Finnish). Ajatus.
274:to be awarded the cross was
162:) is the most distinguished
1498:Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
1360:Military Order of St. Henry
1108:Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa
961:National Hero of Azerbaijan
270:on 22 July 1941. The first
192:, was introduced after the
33:Mannerheim Cross of Liberty
1519:
1493:Awards established in 1941
1169:Order of Michael the Brave
1148:War Order Virtuti Militari
1047:Cross of Honour for Valour
797:"Erinomaisesta urheudesta"
360:Independence Day Reception
241:
1411:(Second Spanish Republic)
1220:Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
1116:Military Order of William
928:
37:
1432:Hero of the Soviet Union
1408:Laureate Plate of Madrid
1384:Order of the Golden Kite
1371:(Kingdom of WĂŒrttemberg)
1196:Order of the Somali Star
953:National Hero of Armenia
211:Like the crosses of the
18:Mannerheim Cross Knights
1443:(Kingdom of Yugoslavia)
1152:Order KrzyĆŒa Wojskowego
1260:Order of the Gold Star
469:
447:Carl Gustaf Mannerheim
442:
430:
260:
159:
155:
147:
139:
1400:Grand Cross of Valour
1007:Order of Duke Domagoj
999:Order of August First
436:
399:
251:
1368:Military Merit Order
1355:(Kingdom of Bavaria)
1347:(Kingdom of Prussia)
1339:(Kingdom of Hungary)
1320:Order of Saint Louis
1183:(Russian Federation)
1363:(Kingdom of Saxony)
1323:(Kingdom of France)
751:, pp. 453â454.
382:Ministry of Justice
342:General of Infantry
334:C. G. E. Mannerheim
206:order of precedence
1392:Order of LÄÄplÄsis
465:Ilmari Juutilainen
443:
431:
313:Ilmari Juutilainen
280:Lieutenant Colonel
261:
259:in September 1942.
253:Marshal Mannerheim
234:'s annual salary.
79:Military personnel
53:Medal, two classes
1475:
1474:
1387:(Empire of Japan)
1331:(Austria-Hungary)
803:Helsingin Sanomat
658:, pp. 13â17.
646:, pp. 19â20.
525:Hjalmar Siilasvuo
190:Gustaf Mannerheim
128:
127:
16:(Redirected from
1510:
1468:
1460:
1452:
1451:(SFR Yugoslavia)
1448:Order of Freedom
1444:
1436:
1428:
1420:
1412:
1404:
1396:
1388:
1380:
1372:
1364:
1356:
1348:
1340:
1336:Medal of Bravery
1332:
1324:
1305:
1297:
1289:
1282:
1275:
1264:
1256:
1252:Order of Katonga
1248:
1240:
1232:
1224:
1216:
1208:
1200:
1192:
1184:
1173:
1165:
1157:
1144:
1136:
1128:
1120:
1112:
1104:
1096:
1088:
1080:
1072:
1063:Param Vir Chakra
1059:
1051:
1043:
1039:LĂ©gion d'honneur
1035:
1031:Mannerheim Cross
1027:
1023:Cross of Liberty
1019:
1011:
1003:
995:
991:Order of Bravery
987:
976:
968:
957:
949:
914:
907:
900:
891:
868:
866:
864:
845:
830:
807:
799:
781:
775:
764:
758:
752:
746:
740:
734:
728:
722:
716:
710:
701:
695:
686:
680:
674:
668:
659:
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647:
641:
635:
629:
618:
612:
606:
605:, pp. 9â10.
600:
589:
583:
472:
425:
411:, Major General
410:
356:Martti Ahtisaari
324:marshal's batons
291:
148:Mannerheimkorset
140:Mannerheim-risti
132:Mannerheim Cross
121:Total recipients
42:
30:
21:
1518:
1517:
1513:
1512:
1511:
1509:
1508:
1507:
1478:
1477:
1476:
1471:
1466:
1458:
1450:
1442:
1434:
1427:(South Vietnam)
1426:
1418:
1410:
1402:
1394:
1386:
1378:
1370:
1362:
1354:
1346:
1338:
1330:
1322:
1308:
1304:(United States)
1303:
1292:
1285:
1278:
1270:
1262:
1254:
1246:
1238:
1230:
1222:
1214:
1206:
1198:
1190:
1182:
1171:
1163:
1155:
1142:
1134:
1132:Nishan-e-Haider
1126:
1118:
1110:
1102:
1094:
1086:
1078:
1070:
1057:
1055:Cross of Valour
1049:
1041:
1033:
1025:
1017:
1009:
1001:
993:
985:
980:Hero of Belarus
974:
966:
955:
947:
933:
924:
918:
881:(Mannerheim.fi)
875:
862:
860:
848:
833:
827:
810:
793:
790:
785:
784:
776:
767:
759:
755:
747:
743:
735:
731:
723:
719:
711:
704:
696:
689:
681:
677:
669:
662:
654:
650:
642:
638:
630:
621:
613:
609:
601:
592:
584:
575:
570:
555:Olavi Alakulppi
495:Adolf Ehrnrooth
426:, and Corporal
419:
404:
394:
392:Notable Knights
374:
292:on 7 May 1945.
285:
246:
240:
183:
45:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1516:
1514:
1506:
1505:
1500:
1495:
1490:
1480:
1479:
1473:
1472:
1470:
1469:
1461:
1459:(Ancient Rome)
1453:
1445:
1437:
1435:(Soviet Union)
1429:
1421:
1419:(South Africa)
1413:
1405:
1397:
1389:
1381:
1379:(Nazi Germany)
1373:
1365:
1357:
1349:
1344:Pour le MĂ©rite
1341:
1333:
1325:
1316:
1314:
1310:
1309:
1307:
1306:
1301:Medal of Honor
1298:
1290:
1283:
1276:
1273:United Kingdom
1268:Victoria Cross
1265:
1257:
1249:
1244:Medal of Honor
1241:
1233:
1225:
1217:
1209:
1207:(South Africa)
1201:
1193:
1185:
1174:
1166:
1158:
1145:
1140:Medal of Valor
1137:
1129:
1121:
1113:
1105:
1097:
1092:Medal of Valor
1089:
1081:
1076:Order of Fat'h
1073:
1060:
1052:
1044:
1036:
1028:
1020:
1012:
1004:
996:
988:
977:
969:
958:
950:
941:
939:
935:
934:
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925:
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917:
916:
909:
902:
894:
888:
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874:
873:External links
871:
870:
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789:
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783:
782:
780:, p. 487.
765:
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685:, p. 352.
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453:Erik Heinrichs
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345:Erik Heinrichs
242:Main article:
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150:), officially
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1236:Order of Rama
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1213:
1210:
1205:
1204:Nkwe ya Gauta
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1119:(Netherlands)
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1114:
1109:
1106:
1101:
1098:
1093:
1090:
1085:
1082:
1077:
1074:
1068:
1067:Ashoka Chakra
1064:
1061:
1056:
1053:
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1045:
1040:
1037:
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895:
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844:(in Finnish).
843:
842:
837:
832:
828:
826:951-9440-28-3
822:
818:
814:
809:
806:(in Finnish).
805:
804:
798:
792:
791:
787:
779:
774:
772:
770:
766:
763:, p. 21.
762:
757:
754:
750:
745:
742:
739:, p. 74.
738:
733:
730:
726:
725:Ă
kerblom 1959
721:
718:
715:, p. 10.
714:
709:
707:
703:
700:, p. 17.
699:
694:
692:
688:
684:
679:
676:
673:, p. 13.
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586:Huhtanen 2020
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556:
553:
550:
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544:
543:Rudolf Walden
541:
538:
535:
532:
531:Paavo Talvela
529:
526:
523:
520:
517:
514:
513:Lennart Oesch
511:
508:
507:Vilho Nenonen
505:
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331:Field Marshal
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297:General Major
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258:
257:Yrjö Keinonen
254:
250:
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237:
235:
233:
229:
228:Finnish marks
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209:
207:
201:
199:
195:
191:
188:
187:Field Marshal
180:
178:
176:
172:
171:
167:still active
165:
161:
157:
153:
149:
145:
141:
137:
133:
123:
119:
115:
111:
107:
103:
100:July 22, 1941
99:
97:First awarded
95:
92:
91:
87:Still active
86:
82:
78:
74:
71:
68:
64:
60:
56:
52:
48:
41:
36:
31:
19:
1179:
1154:(peacetime)
1150:(wartime) /
1069:(peacetime)
1065:(wartime) /
1030:
1015:Valour Cross
982:
975:(Bangladesh)
972:Bir Sreshtho
967:(Azerbaijan)
963:
861:. Retrieved
856:
851:
839:
816:
812:
801:
756:
744:
732:
720:
678:
651:
639:
610:
561:Tuomas Gerdt
470:Lentomestari
386:
375:
366:Tuomas Gerdt
364:
353:
349:
328:
309:Lentomestari
307:
302:and Colonel
294:
283:Viljo Laakso
262:
225:
210:
202:
184:
175:Tuomas Gerdt
168:
151:
131:
129:
105:Last awarded
88:
66:Presented by
1456:Grass Crown
1294:New Zealand
1223:(Sri Lanka)
948:(Argentina)
863:11 December
549:Vilho RÀttö
537:Lauri Törni
501:Ruben Lagus
477:Aaro Pajari
428:Vilho RÀttö
420: [
413:Aaro Pajari
405: [
402:Eero KivelÀ
378:pallbearers
300:Aaro Pajari
286: [
276:Vilho RÀttö
268:Ruben Lagus
181:Description
158:, Swedish:
108:May 7, 1945
76:Eligibility
58:Awarded for
1482:Categories
1403:(Rhodesia)
1239:(Thailand)
1164:(Portugal)
1135:(Pakistan)
1111:(Malaysia)
994:(Bulgaria)
857:Yle Areena
788:References
489:Aksel Airo
459:Martti Aho
441:, Finland.
417:Juho Pössi
415:, Captain
338:Risto Ryti
304:Martti Aho
232:lieutenant
194:Winter War
154:(Finnish:
1280:Australia
1263:(Ukraine)
1199:(Somalia)
1172:(Romania)
1124:War Cross
1087:(Ireland)
1050:(Germany)
1034:(Finland)
1026:(Estonia)
1018:(Denmark)
1010:(Croatia)
986:(Belarus)
956:(Armenia)
557:, Captain
483:Hans Wind
320:Hans Wind
1395:(Latvia)
1313:Obsolete
1255:(Uganda)
1247:(Turkey)
1231:(Sweden)
1191:(Serbia)
1156:(Poland)
1127:(Norway)
1095:(Israel)
1058:(Greece)
1042:(France)
920:Highest
1215:(Spain)
1103:(Italy)
1071:(India)
1002:(China)
938:Current
317:Captain
272:private
265:Colonel
221:necklet
170:de jure
164:Finnish
144:Swedish
136:Finnish
90:de jure
70:Finland
1287:Canada
1079:(Iran)
823:
439:Kannus
217:Fylfot
84:Status
1180:title
983:title
964:title
815:[
568:Notes
424:]
409:]
290:]
113:Total
27:Award
865:2020
821:ISBN
315:and
130:The
50:Type
841:Yle
124:191
116:197
1484::
855:.
768:^
705:^
690:^
663:^
622:^
593:^
576:^
467:,
422:fi
407:fi
288:fi
146::
142:,
138::
1296:)
1271:(
913:e
906:t
899:v
867:.
829:.
727:.
634:.
617:.
588:.
134:(
20:)
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