Mannerheim Cross
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The Mannerheim Cross of the Cross of Liberty (Mannerheim-risti / Mannerheimkorset) is a Finnish military decoration introduced after the Winter War and named after Marshal Mannerheim. The award was introduced into the Order of the Cross of Liberty and a bearer of the cross is called a Knight of the Mannerheim Cross. While the 1st class is the 5th and the 2nd class the 9th in the order of precedence of Finnish awards, the Mannerheim Cross 2nd class has become the most distinguished military award in Finland.
Mannerheim Cross 1st class was awarded for "extraordinary competence in command at army corps level". Its only recipients are marshal C.G.E. Mannerheim and general Erik Heinrichs.
The Second Class of the award was instituted as the universal award for extraordinary achievement individually or in command, regardless of rank. The lack of a rank requirement and the prize of 50,000 FIM to each recipient attracted considerable public attention to the award during the war. Consequently, when people refer to the Mannerheim Cross, they usually mean the second class.
Mannerheim Cross Second Class was awarded to 191 persons. Four persons have been awarded it twice.
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Notable Knights of the Mannerheim Cross
- 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)
- Erik Heinrichs, General of Infantry, army commander and Chief of General Staff - (31 December 1944)
- Vilho Petter Nenonen, General of Artillery, Inspector of Artillery - (8 January 1945)
- Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, Field Marshal, Commander-in-Chief - (7 October 1941)
- Ruben Lagus, Colonel, infantry brigade and division commander - (22 July 1941)
- Karl Lennart Oesch, Lieutenant-General, Commander of the Isthmus Forces - (26 June 1944)
- Paavo Talvela, Major-General, army corps commander - (3 August 1941)
- Lauri Törni, Lieutenant, infantry company commander - (9 July 1944)
- Hjalmar Siilasvuo, Lieutenant-General, army corps commander - (21 December 1944)
People who were decorated twice
Both 1st and 2nd Class crosses
- Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, Field Marshal, Commander-in-Chief - both on 7 October 1941
- Axel Erik Heinrichs, General of Infantry, army commander and Chief of General Staff - 2nd Class on 5 February 1942, 1st Class on 31 December 1944
Two 2nd Class crosses
- Aaro Olavi Pajari, Major-General, infantry division commander - first on 14 September 1941, second on 16 October 1944
- Martti Johannes Aho, Colonel, infantry regiment commander - first on 1 March 1942, second on 16 October 1944
- Eino Ilmari Juutilainen, Warrant Officer, fighter pilot - first on 26 April 1942, second on 28 June 1944
- Hans Henrik Wind, Captain, fighter pilot - first on 31 July 1943, second on 28 June 1944
See also
External link
- Information about the decoration (http://www.mannerheim.fi/10_ylip/e_manris.htm) (Mannerheim.fi)
- More information and a list of all Knights of the Mannerheim Cross (http://www.mikkeli.fi/fi/museot/english/02_the_headquarters_museum/02_mannerheim/mannerheim_cross)de:Mannerheim-Kreuz