Talk:Mannerheim Cross

Other awards

It would help if we had a point of reference or ranking with this to other Finnish awards. For example, the Medal of Honor or the Victoria Cross are usually referred to as the highest military awards given by their respective nations. Oberiko 16:57, 4 Oct 2004 (UTC)

To quote from http://www.mannerheim.fi As the cross is fairly uncommon and requires special merits, it is regarded as the most honorable decoration in Finland. -- Jniemenmaa 07:47, 5 Oct 2004 (UTC)

There are no actual military decorations in Finland. All other decorations than Mannerheim Cross can and most have been awarded to civilians. The order of the Cross of Liberty requires defence-related merits, nonetheless. On the other hand, its decorations are awarded very sparingly (less than 10 a year) and military personnel usually receive decorations from the Orders of the Finnish White Rose or of the Finnish Lion. During World War II, the situation was similar and the Mannerheim Cross 2nd class was the highest award available to soldiers outside the general staff. As the Mannerheim Cross has never been awarded for anything but war-time military achievements, most including considerable personal bravery, it rose in distinguishness above the nominally higher decorations that were awarded on also political grounds or to table-top soldiers. --81.197.64.228 20:22, 9 August 2005 (UTC)

I changed the text on the Mannerheim Cross 1st class. There are no special requirements for it, according to the current (1946) legislation. I also changed past tense to perfect as the award has not been discontinued. It is merely the fact that Finland has had the great fortune of living 60 years in peace that has prevented any further awards. It might be even theoreticized that Mannerheim Cross could be awarded to soldier for extraordinary bravery in a peacekeeping mission as the legislation does not require a current war, only extraordinary bravery. However, such award is quite unlikely because an achievement qualifying a person for Mannerheim Cross cannot probably be made except in high-intensity combat or prolonged small-intensity conflict. (Examples of awarded Knighthoods of Mannerheim Cross include the destruction of six main battle tanks with Panzerfaust during a single day. For pilots, the requirement was 25 downed planes.) --81.197.64.228 20:22, 9 August 2005 (UTC)

Enlisted

Why are all recipients officers? I'm sure some enlisted soldiers were just as brave? Rlevse 11:42, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

Not all the recipients were officers, officers are just the most notable ones. This notability comes mainly from the fact that they were officers, and like we all know, officers are shown on the pages of history books many times more than privates or sergants. Mannerheim cross was given on many occasions to privates, corporals and other enlisted men. After all, Mannerheim cross was designed to be "democratic", meaning that actions of the soldiers and not rank were the reason of awarding. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.128.170.30 (talk) 16:44, 11 December 2006 (UTC).

A vangue resemblance?

Is it just me or this symbol looks like an Iron Cross with a Swastica inside? --Pinnecco 16:14, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

It is just you. In Iron Cross the widening hands are bending slightly, but in the Mannerheim Cross they are straight. The style of the Mannerheim Cross comes from the Finnish Cross of Liberty, designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. --Whiskey 10:25, 17 October 2006 (UTC)

And the swastika symbol as used here is diiferent from the nazi one by the fact that the nazi one is tilted sideways, while this one is straight. The swastika is an ancient hindu lucky symbol. The Cross of Liberty was designed in 1918, decades before Hitler came to power and gave the swastika a bad name. ABC101090 (talk) 20:33, 8 January 2009 (UTC)

And not just a hindu symbol but a symbol found all across the world. For the finnish origin of the cross look up iku-turso. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.85.155.107 (talk) 00:14, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

Still active?

Whoa, I had no idea the Mannerheim Cross is technically still active. I thought it was frozen when Mannerheim kicked the bucket. JIP | Talk 13:51, 12 December 2006 (UTC)