Mannerheim Cross

The honour was introduced after the Winter War and named after Field Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim. Associated with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the decoration was awarded to soldiers for exceptional bravery, for the achievement of crucially important objectives by combat, or for especially successfully conducted operations. A recipient of the cross is called "Knight of the Mannerheim Cross".

De jure the honour is still active and can be awarded to any Finnish soldier, although it is highly unlikely that this would be done during peacetime or even in a minor conflict (Decree 550/1946 on the Order of the Cross of Liberty). Within the order of precedence of Finnish awards, the Mannerheim Cross 1st Class ranks 5th and the Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class ranks 9th. Like the crosses of the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the design of the Mannerheim Cross displays the Old-Scandinavian Fylfot.

The Mannerheim Cross consists of two classes:

• Mannerheim Cross of Liberty 1st Class
• Mannerheim Cross of Liberty 2nd Class

The Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class was instituted as the universal award for exceptional bravery, for the achievement of crucially important objectives by combat, or for especially successfully conducted operations. The Cross could be awarded to any soldier of the Finnish Defence Forces, regardless of rank. The lack of a rank requirement, the emphasis on individual bravery, and the prize of 50,000 marks given to each recipient attracted considerable public attention to the award during the war. In 1942, the prize sum was equivalent to a lieutenant's annual salary. As the Mannerheim Cross was awarded most often in the 2nd class, this is usually meant when referring to the Mannerheim Cross.

The Mannerheim Cross 1st Class has only been awarded twice (see below), but no special requirements differing from 2nd class were laid out for it.

The only recipients of the Mannerheim Cross 1st Class are its namesake, Field Marshal C. G. E. Mannerheim, and General of Infantry Erik Heinrichs. Mannerheim thought it was somewhat odd for him to carry a decoration that was named after him, but decided to receive the Cross from President of the Republic Risto Ryti after all the previous awardees had requested him to accept it.

The Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class has been awarded to 191 persons, all during World War II. The first private to be awarded the cross was Vilho Rättö, for destroying four enemy tanks with an anti-tank gun taken from the enemy. Four persons have been awarded the Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class twice. As of 2011, Tuomas Gerdt (b. May 28, 1922) is the only Knight of the Mannerheim Cross still alive.

Since the presidency of Martti Ahtisaari, all surviving recipients of the Mannerheim Cross have been invited to the Independence Day Reception, hosted by the president. By tradition they are also the first guests to enter.

Other notable Knights

Knights of the Mannerheim Cross, from left to right: Captain Eero Kivelä (fi), Major General Aaro Pajari, Captain Juho Pössi (fi), Corporal Vilho Rättö

• Aksel Airo, Lieutenant-General, Chief Quartermaster General chief of operations at the GHQ – 18 November 1944
• Adolf Ehrnrooth, Colonel, infantry regiment commander – 4 December 1944
• Ruben Lagus, Colonel, infantry brigade and division commander – 22 July 1941
• Vilho Nenonen, General of Artillery, Inspector of Artillery – 8 January 1945
• Lennart Oesch, Lieutenant-General, Commander of the Isthmus Forces – 26 June 1944
• Erkki Raappana, Colonel, division commander – 3 August 1941
• Hjalmar Siilasvuo, Lieutenant-General, army corps commander – 21 December 1944
• Paavo Talvela, Major-General, army corps commander – 3 August 1941
• Lauri Törni, Lieutenant, infantry company commander – 9 July 1944
• Rudolf Walden, General of Infantry, Minister of Defense – 2 December 1944
• Vilho Rättö, Private
• Olavi Alakulppi, Captain

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Knights of the Mannerheim Cross.

• Information about the decoration (Mannerheim.fi)
• List of all Knights of the Mannerheim Cross