Finland

Finland

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Since the Finnish Civil War and the Karelian Uprising, the most significant Finnish event of all time in the context of war was the Second World War. It shaped Finnish character and has stayed forever in the hearts of people. The Soviet Union attacked Finland in 1939 using a false flag operation to invade Finland, but wasn’t able to do so. After that event, known as the Winter War, the Continuation War ensued, when Finland attempted to capitalise on the German army’s and its allies’ advantage in the south. After the Soviet Union’s successful counteroffensive, Finland signed the Moscow Armistice, which obligated it to expel German troops from its territory, marking the beginning of the Lapland War. Finland did not participate in other conflicts after this, except for contributing to United Nations peacekeeping operations, notably with a large contingent in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Order of the Cross of Liberty

In total, the order has 55 distinct insignia: it has been called “the most complex order in Europe”

Order of the White Rose of Finland

Commemorative crosses of the Winter War

Commemorative crosses of the Winter and Continuation Wars

Commemorative crosses of the Continuation War

Other Finnish WW2 decorations