List of Mannerheim Cross recipients

The Mannerheim Cross of the Cross of Liberty is the most distinguished Finnish military honour. Proposed by and named after Field Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim, it was introduced after the Winter War on 16 December 1940. The decoration was awarded to soldiers for exceptional bravery, for the achievement of crucially important objectives by combat, or for especially successfully conducted operations. Unlike other awards associated with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the awarding of the Mannerheim Cross was not influenced by the military rank of the recipient.
The cross is awarded as either Mannerheim Cross of Liberty 1st Class or as Mannerheim Cross of Liberty 2nd Class. No special requirements differing from 2nd class were laid out for the Mannerheim Cross 1st Class. A recipient of the cross is called "Knight of the Mannerheim Cross".
Although still active de jure, no crosses have been awarded since 1945. Tuomas Gerdt, the last living Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, died on 1 November 2020.

Recipients

The Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class has been awarded to 191 people. The first cross was awarded to Colonel Ruben Lagus on 22 July 1941. The first private to be awarded the cross was Vilho Rättö, who was awarded his cross on 3 August 1941 for destroying four enemy tanks with a sightless anti-tank gun taken from the enemy, by aiming the gun through its bore. The last cross was awarded to Lieutenant Colonel on 7 May 1945. A total of four persons have been awarded the Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class twice. These double-awardees were given a small clasp, consisting of two crossed marshal's batons, to be worn above the cross.
The first recipient of the Mannerheim Cross 1st Class was its namesake, Field Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, who accepted it together with a Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class from President of the Republic Risto Ryti on 7 October 1941 after all the previous awardees had requested him to accept the award. The only other recipient of the Mannerheim Cross 1st Class is General of Infantry Erik Heinrichs, who received it on 31 December 1944, following an earlier Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class on 5 February 1942.

Demographics

The awardees were predominately young, with a mean age of 32 years and 72% of the awardees 35 or younger. The three youngest awardees were all aged 19. Only 8 of the recipients were 51 or older, with the oldest recipient being Mannerheim himself. A majority of the knights came from rural families, with only 46 having been born in cities. This is also reflected in the fact that 80 knights' fathers had been farmers. A further 24 had fathers who had worked as either for the railroad or as labourers, while 32 came from families of public servants.
The crosses were awarded primarily to personnel from the army, with 159 recipients in the infantry, 4 in artillery and 2 in engineering units. Seven crosses were awarded to navy personnel, of which two were received by people serving in coastal artillery. Finally, 19 awards were granted to air force personnel.
The largest group among army awardees, at 74 people, were those serving as platoon, patrol or squad leaders or in other similar NCO roles. The second largest group were various commanders, who numbered 62. The army rank-and-file were awarded with 22 crosses, and various staff officers with 7 crosses.
Crosses were rarely awarded posthumously. Two people were awarded the cross on the day they were killed, and a further 8 receiving the cross posthumously.
A total of 25 officers, 10 non-commissioned officers and 3 other ranks who had received the cross were killed during the war. Of these 38, 28 were killed in action. Almost half, 12, of those killed in action died during the summer of 1944, with five knights dying during the Battle of Tali–Ihantala. A further three knights were killed during the Finno-German Lapland War, which followed the armistice between Finland and Soviet Union.
Both the first and the last recipient of the cross had a background in the Jaeger Movement. Members of the movement had traveled in secret to Germany in 1916 to receive military training, and returned to Finland at the onset of the Finnish Civil War. Of the 710 people with a jaeger background still working in tasks related to national defence, 20 were awarded with a cross. 115 knights also had a background in the White Guard.
The most distinguished unit was Infantry Regiment 7, the members of which received 11 crosses. A further three awardees had been part of the regiment at some point, but received their crosses after transferring to other units. Also distinguished was the 1st Jaeger Brigade, which had nine of its members receive the cross. Another over-represented group are those involved with long-range reconnaissance patrols, of whom 19 received a cross.

Denied proposals

A list of people who had been denied a Mannerheim cross by the General Headquarters disappeared from the military archives sometimes after early 1980s, but research by historians Hurmerinta and Viitanen indicates that at least 104 proposals were rejected at this final stage of the process.
In addition, there were plans to award medals for actions from the Winter War. To this end, some 483 names were submitted for consideration between the founding of the award and the start of the Continuation War, but this project was abandoned in April 1944 before any medals could be awarded. At the same time, a total of 19 of those who had been put forth to receive a cross for their actions in the Winter War were awarded for their actions in the Continuation War.

List of recipients

Image		Name	Rank	Service	Date awarded	Unit	Notes	Refs
	1		Colonel	Army	22 July 1941	5th Division
	2		Major general	Army	3 August 1941	VI Corps
	3		Colonel	Army	3 August 1941	14th Division	Proposed second award on 13 August 1944, denied.
	4		Private	Army	3 August 1941	Gun Company, Infantry Regiment 25
	5		Colonel	Army	16 August 1941	7th Division
	6		Sergeant major	Air Force	18 August 1941	No. 26 Squadron
	7		Lieutenant	Army	29 August 1941	III Battalion, Infantry Regiment 27	Also proposed a Mannerheim Cross for actions in Winter War.
	8		Corporal	Army	1 September 1941	Infantry Regiment 7
	9		Captain	Army	8 September 1941	III Battalion, Infantry Regiment 27
	10		Lieutenant	Army	12 September 1941	III Battalion, Infantry Regiment 54	Olympic skier.
	11		Colonel	Army	14 September 1941	2nd Division
	12		Colonel	Army	14 September 1941	18th Division	Second award 16 October 1944, while leading the 3rd Division.
	13		Private first class	Army	16 September 1941	Infantry Regiment 16
	14		Private	Army	26 September 1941	Infantry Regiment 50
	15		Corporal	Army	26 September 1941	Infantry Regiment 9
	16		Second lieutenant	Army	1 October 1941	Infantry Regiment 2
	17		Major general	Army	3 October 1941	II Corps
	18		Field Marshal	-	7 October 1941	General Headquarters	Both 1st and 2nd class awarded at the same time.
	19		Colonel	-	7 October 1941	General Headquarters
	20		Sergeant	Army	7 October 1941	Infantry Regiment 3
	21		Colonel	Army	7 October 1941	11th Division
	22		Colonel	Army	12 October 1941	12th Division	First proposal 28 September 1941, revised proposal 9 October 1941.
	23		Corporal	Army	12 October 1941	Infantry Regiment 50
	24		Private first class	Army	12 October 1941	Infantry Regiment 3
	25		Corporal	Army	16 October 1941	Infantry Regiment 15	Both original proposal and the official citation reference to Kosonen as a private.
	26		Second lieutenant	Army	16 October 1941	Infantry Regiment 47
	27		Private	Army	19 October 1941	Infantry Regiment 5
	28		Second lieutenant	Army	19 October 1941	Light Section 14, 4th Division
	29		Lieutenant	Army	19 October 1941	Gun Company, Infantry Regiment 44
	30		Lieutenant colonel	Army	22 October 1941	Uusimaa Dragoon Regiment	First proposed a cross on 2 September 1941, revised proposal on 12 October 1941.
	31		Lieutenant	Army	22 October 1941	Infantry Regiment 12
	32		Sergeant	Army	22 October 1941	Infantry Regiment 12
	33		Sergeant major	Air Force	5 November 1941	No. 44 Squadron	First proposal on 13 August 1941 denied, instead awarded Order of Liberty 3rd Class. Revised proposal 23 October 1941.
	34		Corporal	Army	13 November 1941	Jaeger Battalion 2, 1st Jaeger Brigade
	35		Captain	Army	13 November 1941	I Battalion, Infantry Regiment 43
	36		Corporal	Army	19 November 1941	Jaeger Battalion 2, 1st Jaeger Brigade.	Also proposed for 1st class medal 26 December 1941; revised proposal 14 January 1942, denied.
	37		Private first class	Army	19 November 1941	Jaeger Battalion 3, 1st Jaeger Brigade
	38		Private first class	Army	19 November 1941	Jaeger Battalion 4, 1st Jaeger Brigade
	39		Corporal	Army	19 November 1941	Gun Company, 1st Jaeger Brigade
	40		Lieutenant	Army	19 November 1941	Armoured Battalion
	41		Private	Army	19 November 1941	Jaeger Battalion 4, 1st Jaeger Brigade
	42		Sergeant	Army	19 November 1941	Armoured Battalion
	43		Private first class	Army	27 November 1941	Infantry Regiment 26	Killed in action 26 November 1941, after proposal was originally submitted; first awardee to be killed.
	44		Sergeant first class	Army	13 December 1941	Detachment Kuismanen
	45		Colonel	Army	15 December 1941	6th Division	Original proposal missing from archives, killed in action 18 December 1941.
	46		Major	Army	14 January 1942	1st Jaeger Brigade
	47		Major	Army	14 January 1942	Jaeger Battalion 3, 1st Jaeger Brigade
	48		General of the infantry	-	5 February 1942	General Headquarters	Subsequently, awarded a 1st class cross on 31 December 1944.
	49		Lieutenant	Army	27 February 1942	Detachment Marttina
	50		Lieutenant	Army	27 February 1942	Detachment Marttina
	51		Colonel	Army	1 March 1942	Infantry Regiment 8
	52		Lieutenant colonel	Army	1 March 1942	Infantry Regiment 50	Awarded with another 2nd Class medal on 16 October 1944, while in command of Infantry Regiment 50.
	53		Cornet	Army	20 April 1942	2nd Squadron, Häme Cavalry Regiment	Killed in action 10 March 1943, after a cross was proposed but before it was awarded.
	54		Lieutenant	Air Force	26 April 1942	3rd Flight, No. 16 Squadron	Missing-in-action 23 October 1944; last recipient to be killed in action.
	55		Lieutenant	Air Force	26 April 1942	No. 44 Squadron
	56		Sergeant major	Air Force	26 April 1942	No. 24 Squadron	Awarded another 2nd class medal on 28 June 1944, when with [No. 34 Fighter Squadron, Finland\|Finnish Air Force\|No. 34 Fighter Squadron].
	57		Sergeant first class	Army	15 May 1942	Infantry Regiment 25
	58		Private first class	Army	15 May 1942	Infantry Regiment 8
	59		Corporal	Army	15 May 1942	Infantry Regiment 13
	60		Lieutenant colonel	Army	15 May 1942	Infantry Regiment 4	First proposed 4 January 1942; revised proposal submitted 29 April 1942.
	61		Captain	Army	19 May 1942	Heavy Artillery Battalion 24
	62		Private first class	Army	19 May 1942	Infantry Regiment 60
	63		Captain	Army	19 May 1942	Infantry Regiment 9
	64		Sergeant	Army	19 May 1942	Infantry Regiment 29
	65		Staff sergeant	Army	5 July 1942	Infantry Regiment 22	Original proposal 13 October 1941; revised proposal 17 May 1942.
	66		Lieutenant colonel	Army	5 July 1942	Infantry Regiment 45
	67		Major	Army	5 July 1942	Group Oinonen	From 12 May 1942 at Onega Group Headquarters.
	68		Sergeant	Army	5 July 1942	Häme Cavalry Regiment
	69		Second lieutenant	Air Force	5 July 1942	No. 24 Fighter Squadron	First proposed 19 January 1942; revised proposal submitted 13 June 1942.
	70		Sergeant	Army	17 July 1942	Infantry Regiment 37
	71		Lieutenant	Army	17 July 1942	I Battalion, Infantry Regiment 58
	72		Lieutenant	Army	17 July 1942	Infantry Regiment 33	Later colonel of the US Army.
	73		Captain	Army	21 July 1942	Infantry Regiment 7	Killed in action 21 July 1942, proposal submitted 23 July 1942, award backdated to date of death.
	74		Lieutenant	Army	9 August 1942	Infantry Regiment 30
	75		Lieutenant	Army	9 August 1942	Infantry Regiment 22
	76		Second lieutenant	Army	9 August 1942	Infantry Regiment 5
	77		Sergeant first class	Army	9 August 1942	7th Company, Infantry Regiment 16
	78		Private first class	Army	9 August 1942	Light Section 5, 3rd Division	–
	79		Lieutenant	Army	19 August 1942	Border Guard Battalion 6, 14th Division
	80		Lieutenant colonel	Army	23 August 1942	Infantry Regiment 30	First proposed on 25 August 1941, denied; revised proposals 25 October 1941 and 21 May 1942.
	81		Lieutenant	Army	23 August 1942	Engineer Battalion 15
	82		Sergeant first class	Army	24 August 1942	Border Jaeger Battalion 4	Official citation incorrectly states date of award as 23 August 1942.
	83		Sergeant	Army	23 August 1942	Infantry Regiment 8
	84		Lieutenant	Army	31 August 1942	17th Division
	85		Second lieutenant	Army	31 August 1942	I Battalion, Infantry Regiment 4
	86		Second lieutenant	Army	31 August 1942	14th Company, Infantry Regiment 28
	87		Staff sergeant	Army	31 August 1942	Detachment Vehniäinen, Intelligence Division, General Headquarters
	88		Staff sergeant	Army	31 August 1942	Detachment Vehniäinen
	89		Corporal	Army	31 August 1942	Jaeger Battalion 1, Cavalry Brigade
	90		Major	Air Force	8 September 1942	No. 28 Fighter Squadron
	91		Captain	Army	8 September 1942	Infantry Regiment 9
	92		Captain	Air Force	8 September 1942	No. 24 Squadron
	93		Lieutenant	Army	8 September 1942	Infantry Regiment 13
	94		Second lieutenant	Army	8 September 1942	Infantry Regiment 12
	95		Sergeant	Army	8 September 1942	12th Company, Infantry Regiment 7	Last recipient alive, died 1 November 2020.
	96		Colonel	Army	18 October 1942	Infantry Regiment 12	Proposal for second award submitted 16 July 1944, denied.
	97		Colonel	Army	6 November 1942	Infantry Regiment 35
	98		Captain	Air Force	6 November 1942	No. 30 Squadron
	99		Staff sergeant	Air force	6 November 1942	Detachment Hartikainen	Long-range reconnaissance patrol leader under General HQ Intelligence. Proposed by Commander of Air Force, citation states unit as No. 14 Squadron.
	100		Sergeant	Army	6 November 1942	II Battalion, Infantry Regiment 53
	101		Corporal	Army	6 November 1942	Light Artillery Battalion 11	First proposal of 19 October 1941 denied by Mannerheim personally, instead awarded Cross of Liberty, 3rd Class. Revised proposal submitted 19 September 1942.
	102		Corporal	Army	6 November 1942	Infantry Regiment 61
	103		Major general	Army	12 December 1942	8th Division
	104		Commander-captain	Navy	8 March 1943	Minelayer Ruotsinsalmi, Light Naval Detachment
	105		Captain lieutenant	Navy	8 March 1943	Minelayer Riilahti, Light Naval Detachment
	106		Captain	Air Force	8 March 1943	No. 6 Squadron
	107		Lieutenant	Army	8 March 1943	Infantry Regiment 10
	108		Master chief petty officer	Navy	8 March 1943	Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron	First proposed 19 November 1941, revised proposal 20 November 1942.
	109		Sergeant first class	Army	8 February 1943	Infantry Regiment 61	Official citation incorrectly states date of award as 8 March 1943. First proposed 9 October 1941; revised proposal 20 November 1942.
	110		Staff sergeant	Army	10 February 1943	Infantry Regiment 7	First proposed 6 November 1941, revised proposal 7 December 1942.
	111		Lieutenant senior grade	Navy	4 June 1943	Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron	Later Commander of the Finnish Navy 1966–1974. Last knight to serve in the Finnish Defence Forces.
	112		Lieutenant	Army	4 June 1943	3rd Division
	113		Sergeant first class	Army	4 June 1943	Light Artillery Battalion 14
	114		Sergeant	Army	4 June 1943	Infantry Regiment 25
	115		Private first class	Army	4 March 1943	34th Gun Company, 4th Division	Proposal submitted 28 September 1941. Official citation incorrectly states date as 4 June 1943.
	116		Lieutenant	Air Force	31 July 1943	No. 24 Squadron	Awarded another 2nd Class medal on 28 June 1944.
	117		Major	Army	1 August 1943	Infantry Regiment 10
	118		Lieutenant	Army	1 August 1943	3rd Division
	119		Sergeant first class	Army	1 August 1943	Detachment Kuismanen
	120		Staff sergeant	Army	1 August 1943	Detachment Kuismanen	First proposed 5 December 1942; revised proposal 27 June 1943
	121		Sergeant	Army	1 August 1943	Mortar Platoon, II Battalion, Infantry Regiment 25
	122		Sergeant major	Air Force	21 November 1943	No. 44 Squadron
	123		Sergeant	Army	21 November 1943	3rd Company, Armoured Brigade
	124		Private first class	Army	21 November 1943	Infantry Regiment 7
	125		Private	Army	21 November 1943	Infantry Regiment 7
	126		Lieutenant colonel	Army	16 January 1944	Infantry Regiment 27	Killed in action 17 January 1944, with proposal submitted same date. Award backdated to date of death. Official citation does not mention death and only references actions from the Winter War and the first months of the Continuation War.
	127		Major	Air Force	18 June 1944	No. 34 Fighter Squadron
	128		Lieutenant colonel	Army	19 June 1944	Infantry Regiment 5
	129		Lieutenant colonel	Air Force	26 June 1944	Flying Regiment 3
	130		Major general	Army	26 June 1944	2nd Division
	131		Lieutenant general	Army	26 June 1944	Headquarters of the Commander of the Isthmus Forces
	132		Captain	Army	26 June 1944	1st Company, Assault Gun Battalion, Armoured Division
	133		Lieutenant	Army	26 June 1944	1st Company, Assault Gun Battalion, Armoured Division
	134		Corporal	Army	27 June 1944	8th Gun Company, 3rd Division	Killed in action 26 June 1944, posthumous proposal submitted same day. Award backdated to date of death.
	135		Major	Army	27 June 1944	Jaeger Battalion 4, Jaeger Brigade, Armoured Division
	136		Lieutenant	Army	1 July 1944	24th Gun Company, 5th Division	Killed in action 24 June 1944, award proposed posthumously.
	137		Major	Army	4 July 1944	Infantry Regiment 7
	138		Private	Army	4 July 1944	14th Company, Infantry Regiment 49
	139		Lieutenant	Army	9 July 1944	III Battalion, 3rd Brigade	First proposed a Mannerheim Cross on 16 July 1943, revised proposal resubmitted 29 June 1944.
	140		Private first class	Army	9 July 1944	1st Company, Infantry Regiment 49
	141		Corporal	Army	9 July 1944	Detached Battalion 12	Official citation incorrectly states rank as private first class.
	142		Sergeant major	Air Force	9 July 1944	No. 34 Fighter Squadron
	143		Major	Army	9 July 1944	Infantry Regiment 49
	144		Lieutenant	Army	9 July 1944	Jaeger Company, 1st Division	First proposed 23 March 1944; revised proposal 8 July 1944. Later Hauptsturmführer of the SS and major of the US Army; died in Vietnam 1965.
	145		Private first class	Army	12 July 1944	Border Jaeger Battalion 2	Missing in action 26 June 1944, award proposed 7 July 1944.
	146		Second lieutenant	Army	12 July 1944	Infantry Regiment 7	First proposed October 1941. Revised proposal submitted 25 May 1944, amended 7 July 1944.
	147		Staff sergeant	Army	18 July 1944	Infantry Regiment 30	First proposed January 1942, revised proposals submitted 11 OCtober 1943 and 11 July 1944.	)
	148		Staff sergeant	Army	18 July 1944	Infantry Regiment 44	Killed in action 15 July 1944; posthumous proposal submitted 17 July 1944.
	149		Lieutenant	Army	20 July 1944	Infantry Regiment 6
	150		Staff sergeant	Army	23 July 1944	24th Gun Company, 5th Division
	151		Captain	Army	22 August 1944	Detached Battalion 24
	152		Lieutenant colonel	Navy	2 October 1944	Coastal Artillery Regiment 12
	153		Staff sergeant	Army	2 October 1944	Infantry Regiment 2
	154		Corporal	Army	2 October 1944	Infantry Regiment 2
	155		Private first class	Army	2 October 1944	24th Gun Company, 5th Division
	156		Major	Army	7 October 1944	III Battalion, Infantry Regiment 11	Killed in action 6 October 1944, award proposed following day.
	157		Lieutenant colonel	Army	16 October 1944	Infantry Regiment 11
	158		Lieutenant colonel	Army	16 October 1944	Infantry Regiment 53
	159		Lieutenant general	-	18 November 1944	General Headquarters
	160		Major general	Army	18 November 1944	5th Division
	161		General of the infantry, minister of defence	-	2 December 1944	Ministry of Defence	Second oldest knight after Mannerheim. Award proposed by previously awarded generals following a stroke on 27 November 1944. Official citation references no action or reason for the award.
	162		Colonel	Army	4 December 1944	Infantry Regiment 7
	163		Colonel	Army	4 December 1944	Infantry Regiment 61	Later colonel of the US Army.
–	164		Major	Army	21 December 1944	Detached Battalion 12
	165		Sergeant	Army	21 December 1944	3rd Squadron, Häme Cavalry Regiment
–	166		Sergeant	Army	21 December 1944	III Battalion, Infantry Regiment 49
	167		Sergeant	Army	21 December 1944	II Battalion, Infantry Regiment 7
	168		Captain	Air Force	21 December 1944	No. 44 Bomber Squadron
	169		Sergeant first class	Army	21 December 1944	11th Company, Infantry Regiment 44
	170		Sergeant first class	Air Force	21 December 1944	No. 24 Fighter Squadron
	171		Lieutenant	Army	21 December 1944	7th Company, III Battalion, Infantry Regiment 57	Originally proposed 30 September 1943; revised proposal submitted 4 August 1944.
	172		Lieutenant	Army	21 December 1944	1st Company, Jaeger Battalion 1, Cavalry Brigade	Originally proposed 1941; revised proposal submitted 10 July 1944.
	173		Staff sergeant	Army	21 December 1944	9th Company, Infantry Regiment 4
	174		Staff sergeant	Army	21 December 1944	21st Brigade
	175		Captain	Air Force	21 December 1944	No. 34 Fighter Squadron
	176		Private first class	Army	21 December 1944	32nd Gun Company, 10th Division
	177		Sergeant	Army	21 December 1944	14th Company, Infantry Regiment 9
	178		Private	Army	21 December 1944	Infantry Regiment 2
	179		Private first class	Army	21 December 1944	I Battalion, Infantry Regiment 9
	180		Private first class	Army	21 December 1944	I Battalion, Infantry Regiment 1
	181		Corporal	Navy	21 December 1944	Coastal Artillery Regiment 22, Coastal Brigade
	182		Lieutenant	Air Force	21 December 1944	No. 44 Bomber Squadron
	183		Lieutenant general	Army	21 December 1944	III Corps
	184		General of the artillery	-	8 January 1945	General Headquarters
	185		Major	Army	10 February 1945	II Battalion, Infantry Regiment 57
	186		Captain	Army	10 February 1945	Infantry Regiment 7
	187		Lieutenant	Army	10 February 1945	Border Jaeger Battalion 6, 14th Division
	188		Lieutenant	Army	10 February 1945	Infantry Regiment 25
	189		Lieutenant senior grade	Navy	10 February 1945	Motor Torpedo Boat Detachment	First proposed 16 October 1943; revised proposal submitted 6 July 1944.
	190		Captain	Army	10 February 1945	2nd Company, Infantry Regiment 9
	191		Lieutenant colonel	Army	7 May 1945	Infantry Regiment 8	Originally proposed 31 July 1941, instead promoted to lieutenant colonel and awarded Cross of Liberty, 1st Class; revised proposal received by General Headquarters on 13 April 1945.