The Order of the Cross of Liberty

• Time Period: The Great War – WW1
• Institution: 4 March 1918
• Country: Finland

The Order of the Cross of Liberty or Vapaudenristin Ritarikunta was established on March 4, 1918 and is one of three official state orders in Finland.

The Grand Master of the Order of the Cross of Liberty is the President of Finland (he is also the Grand Master of the Order of the White Rose of Finland and of the Order of the Lion of Finland. All of these orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a vice-chancellor and at least four members.

At its foundation there were seven classes:

• Grand cross
• Cross of liberty (1st to 4th class)
• Medal of liberty (1st and 2nd class).

The decorations of the Order of the Cross of Liberty were initially conferred only in times of war. A decree was issued on 18 August 1944 enabling the decorations to be awarded in peacetime. Decorations of the order were awarded in great numbers during World War II, partly due to Marshal Mannerheim having issued an order that wounded soldiers were to be awarded for their sacrifice, and Finland has no separate decoration for wounded.

The Order of the Cross of Liberty Design

The Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela was commissioned to design the Order’s insignia with the Old-Scandinavian Fylfot, a cross with perpendicular extensions, usually at 90° or close angles, radiating in the same direction.

The awards given for civilian accomplishments are signaled by the color blue in the 3rd and 4th classes. In peacetime, by a yellow ribbon. Awards for military accomplishments in the 3rd and 4th classes have a dark gray color replacing the blue, and are awarded with a red ribbon in wartime.