Finnish Cross of Freedom 4th class with swords for widows, 1939

The original Finnish award is in excellent collector's condition. Bronze, silver plating, enamel. On the original shoe. The design of the order was developed in 1918 by the famous Finnish artist and heraldist Axeli Gallen-Kallela. The composition is based on the symbol of the Cross of St. George. The plane of the cross is covered with enamel on both sides. On the front side, a metal swastika is superimposed on its rays. In the center of the convergence of the rays is a heraldic rose — one of the elements of the national emblem of the country. On the reverse, the date of manufacture of the cross is 1939. Guarantee of authenticity.

The Order of the Cross of Freedom (Fin. Vapaudenristin ritarikunta) is a state award of Finland from March 4, 1918 to January 28, 1919, then from December 8, 1939 to the present. The Order of the Cross of Freedom was established on March 4, 1918 during the Finnish Civil War. This award was awarded to military personnel, medical staff and civilians, regardless of nationality, who fought on the side of the Finnish government against the troops of the Finnish Red Army and Russian troops still remaining in the country.

On January 28, 1919, the master of the Order of the Cross of Freedom, General Mannerheim, decided that there was no need for such an award, and abolished it, although the headquarters of the German Baltic Division continued to award its veterans until 1935.

The order celebrated its second birth on December 8, 1939 at the beginning of the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940. On August 18, 1944, the Finnish government decided to transfer the Order of the Cross of Freedom to the category of permanent official awards.

Crosses of the I and II classes were covered with white enamel. The military degrees of the crosses of the III and IV classes were distinguished by a black enamel coating, the civilian degrees — blue. The swastika was gilded on all the orders. The only exception is a Class IV Cross with a silvered swastika. The rose on the crosses of the I and II classes is enamel. On the Cross of the III class — of gilded metal, on the Cross of the IV class — of silvered. If the award was given to medical staff, then a small red cross was superimposed on the rose. The date of manufacture was put on the reverses of the orders of 1918, 1939 and 1941. The upper beam of the cross was fastened with a kind of "clasp" made in the form of a gilded (IV class — silvered) metal wreath of oak leaves. On the awards of the military degree inside the wreath there were images of "fighting" hands with swords raised — a symbol of Finnish Karelia. The hand on the right side strikes with a straight European sword, the hand on the opposite side attacks with a curved blade of the Asian — Mongolian and Ottoman — type. The Grand Cross was awarded with a five-pointed silver star with crossed swords behind the central medallion. The large Cross was worn on a 10.2 cm wide shoulder strap. The cross of the first class was worn on a neck ribbon. Orders of the other degrees on the breast bands.

The ribbons of the military degree orders were red with two white stripes, the civilian degree — yellow with red stripes. The Order of Freedom of the first class could be awarded with a breast star. Orders of Freedom of the military degree could be awarded with Oak Leaves for bravery and bravery shown on the battlefield. This applies only to awards issued in 1941.