The Order of the Cross of Liberty (Finnish: Vapaudenristin ritarikunta; Swedish: Frihetskorsets orden) is one of three official state ordersinFinland, along with the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland.
Order of the Cross of Liberty
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Order of the Cross of Liberty breast star with swords
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Awarded by  Finland | |
| Type | State order |
| Established | March 4, 1918; 106 years ago (1918-03-04) |
| Country | Finland |
| Seat | Defence Command, Helsinki[1] |
| Motto | Isänmaan puolesta ('For the Fatherland') |
| Eligibility | Finnish nationals and foreigners, Finnish Defence Force units and other organizations[2] |
| Criteria | Merits for the Finnish Defence Forces[2] |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Founder | Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim |
| Grand Master | Alexander Stubb |
| Chancellor | Ari Puheloinen[1] |
| Vice-Chancellor | Sakari Honkamaa [fi][1] |
| Classes |
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| Website | vapaudenristinritarikunta |
| Statistics | |
| First induction | Spring 1918[3] |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Order of the White Rose of Finland |
| Next (lower) | Order of the Lion of Finland |
 Ribbon of the Order of the Cross of Liberty | |
The President of Finland is the Grand Master of the Order of the White Rose of Finland and of the Order of the Lion of Finland, and usually of the Order of the Cross of Liberty as well, Grand Mastership of which is attached to the position of Commander-in-chief.[2] All of these orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a vice-chancellor and at least four members. The orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland have a joint board.
The Order of the Cross of Liberty was founded on March 4, 1918,[4] upon the initiative of Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim. The Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela was commissioned to design the Order's insignia with the Old-Scandinavian Fylfot.
At its foundation there were seven classes: grand cross, cross of liberty (1st to 4th Class) and the medal of liberty (1st and 2nd Class). The decorations of the Order of the Cross of Liberty were initially conferred only in time of war. A decree was issued on 18 August 1944 enabling the decorations to be awarded in peacetime. Also in 1944, Mannerheim (1867–1951) was designated as Grand Master for life.[2]
Decorations of the order were awarded in great numbers during the 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 Cross of Liberty is usually reserved for commissioned officers, with the Medal of Liberty being awarded for soldiers of junior rank and NCOs.
The Cross of Liberty has a red ribbon when it is granted in wartime and a yellow ribbon when it is awarded in peacetime. Associated with the Cross of Liberty is the Mannerheim Cross.
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The classes of the Order of the Cross of Liberty, in descending order, with abbreviations are:
Other special decorations awarded during the Second World War include:
The awards above are for civilian accomplishments, signaled by the blue color in the 3rd and 4th Classes, and in peacetime, as shown by the 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.
In total the order has 55 distinct insignia.[7] Due to the numerous ways of awarding it has been called "the most complex order in Europe".[8]
Grand Crosses
1st Class with a Star
1st Class
2nd Class
3rd Class
Other or unknown classes
The statutes allow the order to be conferred collectively. The following have been awarded:
Media related to Order of the Cross of Liberty at Wikimedia Commons