Mannerheim Cross 1st Class (above) and 2nd Class (below). Crossed batons indicate a second award of a 2nd class cross.
Type
Medal, two classes
Awarded for
"Exceptional bravery, for the achievement of crucially important objectives by combat, or for especially successfully conducted operations."
Presented by
Finland
Eligibility
Military personnel
Status
Still active de jure[1]
First awarded
July 22, 1941
Last awarded
May 7, 1945
Total
197
Total recipients
191
The Mannerheim Cross (Finnish: Mannerheim-risti, Swedish: Mannerheimkorset), officially Mannerheim Cross of the Cross of Liberty (Finnish: Vapaudenristin Mannerheim-risti, Swedish: Frihetskorsets Mannerheimkors) is the most distinguished Finnish 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 still active de jure, no crosses have been awarded since 1945. Tuomas Gerdt, the last living Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, died on 1 November 2020.
The MannerheimCross (Finnish: Mannerheim-risti, Swedish: Mannerheimkorset), officially MannerheimCross of the Cross of Liberty (Finnish: Vapaudenristin...
Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (Swedish pronunciation: [kɑːɭ ˈɡɵ̂sːtav ˈěːmɪl ˈmânːɛrˌhɛjm], Finland Swedish: [kɑːrl ˈɡʉstɑv ˈeːmil ˈmɑnːærˌhejm] ;...
joint board. 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...
The MannerheimCross of the Cross of Liberty is the most distinguished Finnish military honour. Proposed by and named after Field Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim...
Brewster Buffalo fighter. One of the four double recipients of the MannerheimCross 2nd Class, Juutilainen was born in Lieksa, and died in Tuusula. His...
lieutenant general (Finnish: kenraaliluutnantti), a knight of the MannerheimCross and a member of the Jäger Movement. He participated in the Eastern...
The Mannerheim Line (Finnish: Mannerheim-linja, Swedish: Mannerheimlinjen) was a defensive fortification line on the Karelian Isthmus built by Finland...
September 1973) was a Finnish general of the infantry, Knight of the MannerheimCross and a member of the Jäger movement. He participated in the Eastern...
second person to receive the MannerheimCross, First Class. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Heinrichs was one of the military...
During World War II, he became one of the four double recipients of the MannerheimCross 2nd Class. His greatest achievement was the Finnish victory at the...
general, a member of the Jäger Movement and the recipient of the first MannerheimCross. He participated in the Eastern Front of World War I as a volunteer...
supported by Major General Antero Svensson, nominated Toikka for the MannerheimCross, which is Finland’s highest military decoration, in recognition of...
the Cross of Liberty Mannerheimcross (awarded 1941–1945) Order of the White Rose of Finland Order of the Lion of Finland Iron Cross Knight's Cross of...
battles on the Karelian Isthmus, he was awarded the Mannerheimcross. He also received the Grand Cross of the Royal Swedish Order of the Sword. After the...
Kaarlo Viljam Kajatsalo (28 September 1909 – 22 February 1988; surname until 1945 Salo) was a Finnish educator and politician, born in Vehkalahti. He was...
Bravery awards, in the form of a cross, star or medal on a ribbon; Distinguished service awards, in the form of a cross, star or medal on a ribbon; Campaign...
general. On November 18, 1944, Marshal Mannerheim made him a Knight of the MannerheimCross in Order of the Cross of Liberty. Airo was in the Mikkeli headquarters...
Karelian Isthmus. He received numerous awards, including the Finnish MannerheimCross during his service. Following the end of the Continuation War, he was...
Sibelius. Lauri Törni, born in Viipuri, a soldier and recipient of the MannerheimCross during the Continuation War, who later served with the German and American...
May 1922 – 1 November 2020) was a Finnish soldier and Knight of the MannerheimCross, numbered #95. He was born in Heinävesi. Gerdt, serving as a junior...
Finland Aaro Pajari (1897–1949), Major General and the Knight of the MannerheimCross Arvo Pohjannoro (1893–1963), Lutheran clergyman and politician Anders...
officer, the famed Finnish Major General Erkki Raappana, a Knight of the MannerheimCross, tasked with defeating the advancing Soviet units and recapturing the...
18 June 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021. "Tuomas Gerdt, won the MannerheimCross fighting for Finland against the Soviets – obituary". The Telegraph...
World War II. Organised the Mannerheim Line in the Karelian Peninsula. Karl Lennart Oesch Lieutenant General MannerheimCross Commander, II Corps Commander...
Jorma "Joppe" Karhunen (17 March 1913 – 18 January 2002) was a Finnish Air Force ace and an author. Karhunen scored 31.5 kills in World War II; 25.5 of...
Ylitornio – 27 December 1993, in Helsinki) was a Finnish major general and MannerheimCross Knight. He was the commander of the No. 24 Squadron and Flying Regiment...
Global Information