Mannerheim Cross

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.

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)
• Rudolf Walden, General, defence minister - (2 December, 1944)
• Hjalmar Siilasvuo, Lieutenant-General, army corps commander - (21 December 1944)