Finland Finnish medal for Winter war 1939-40

[Hans N]

What is the significance of the swords / bayonets? Are these added if the award was for combat? Do they come in "colors?"

The swords are for frontline soldiers that took part in combat and the only color they come in is silver

[j-sk]

Good evening Gentlemen,

Regarding ILMAPUOLUSTUS clasp (meaning AIR DEFENSE), was it meant for all Air Force personnel, whether anti-aircraft (ilmatorjunta) or flying (lentojoukot) personnel?

Since a vast majority of anti-aircraft and flying personnel saw action against the enemy, am I right in assuming that some of them could add crossed swords on their medal's ribbon?

Am I also right in thinking that a combination of / Winter War with ILMAPUOLUSTUS clasp and Swords / + / Continuation War / + / 1941-1945 Air Force cross with LENTOJOUKOT clasp / on a medal group is correct?

Thank you in advance for your valuable information.

Cheers,

Jean-Sam.

[j-sk]

On 23/6/2008 at 23:24, christerd said:

 

At last I got all the different clasps for the Finnish Winter War medal .

 

Thought I show them for you

 

There is Eleven clasps for different battles during the Winter war

 

They are :

 

Kainuu

Karj alan Kannas

Koivisto

Laatokan-Karjala

Lappi

Mantsinsaari

Pohjois-Karjala

Summa

Suomussalmi

Taipale

Tolvaj?rvi

 

Then we have four different ones for

Airforce : Ilmapuolustus

Coastal Defence: Rannikkopuolustus

Army : Kentt?armeija

Home Front : Kotijoukot

 

First picture is all of the eleven battle claps + one medal issued to a woman.

Regarding the "Rannikkopuolustus" clasp, was it also issued to Finnish Navy personnel?

Cheers,

Jean-Sam.

[christerd]

Hi Jean-Sam.

I think you have right in that both flying personal and Anti-aircraft was given the ILMAPOULUSTUS bar and also that they could have it with swords.. When it comes to Navy i´m not sute but i guess that the same goes for Navy/Coastal Defence  and both could get the Rannikkopulolustus bar. 

Anyone have a Navy medal with paper to show ?

 

Christer 

 

[j-sk]

1 hour ago, christerd said:

Hi Jean-Sam.

I think you have right in that both flying personal and Anti-aircraft was given the ILMAPOULUSTUS bar and also that they could have it with swords.. When it comes to Navy i´m not sute but i guess that the same goes for Navy/Coastal Defence  and both could get the Rannikkopulolustus bar. 

Anyone have a Navy medal with paper to show ?

 

Christer 

 

Thank you Christer for your information.

Regarding a Navy medal with papers, I am afraid I have none (for the time being).

Jean-Sam.

[jkas]

On ‎25‎.‎6‎.‎2008 at 03:28, Rick Research said:

I was mistaken in memory. The HUGE award certificates do bear the nominal date "1940" but I cannot imagine that these were actually produced in that devastated year. Here is Reserve Corporal Niemi's with combatants device and bar "Summa."

 

 

Edited May 22, 2016 by jkas
Picture taken from Piikkiö cemetery

[Colonel B]

Nice collection! I am starting a collection of these. What is the ranking of the 15 claspsin terms of rarity?

[j-sk]

On 28/05/2020 at 21:49, Colonel B said:

Nice collection! I am starting a collection of these. What is the ranking of the 15 claspsin terms of rarity?

Hi,  I think it's hard to say. I guess the clasp for the Air Force is the rarest.

The best reference about this topic is Jani Tiainen's book "The Orders, Decorations adn Medals of  Finland", but I think it is out of print. I hope it will be republished in the near future.