Finland Visiting the Finnish military museum in Helsinki

[Claudio]

Dear forumites,

I'd like to show you some interesting pictures of a great miitary museum in Finland: http://www.mpkk.fi/en/museum/.

It's very nice to see so much dedication to keep up the history of their own military forces and the struggle against Russian (Zarist and later Communist) imperialism.

First image... me in front of the museum... a Finnish Stug with Hakenkreuz!

Claudio

[Claudio]

Brothers in arm: Generaloberst Eduard Dietl and Fieldmarschal Mannerheim... very nice big picture!

[Claudio]

A nice picture of the Standarte of the Finnish Jäger... I love this flag! Finnish soldiers have been trained by the Germans in WWI...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Jäger_troops

[Claudio]

Early style Finnish uniform of named and well decorated General...

[Claudio]

Decorations belonging to a Finnish General...

[Claudio]

More beautiful decorations... I love the style and quality of Finnish orders and decorations. They really put a lot of thinking and new design ideas... not like today's Germany "bravery" crosses... for example!

BTW Finns and some Baltic states adopted the svastica as their symbol well before the Nazi Party in Germany... very likely AH copied from them, apart from the fact that it's a thousand years old symbol...

[Claudio]

Another beautiful complete Finnish General uniform...

[Claudio]

Finnish SS Nordland Standarte!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_SS_Volunteer_Panzergrenadier_Division_Nordland

[Claudio]

SS-Untersturmführer Original uniform... Nordland!

[Claudio]

A whole group of decorations and documents of a Finnish Officer who served in two wars in the Finnish army (Winter War 1940 + Continuation War 1941-44) and later served as officer in elite troop with the US Army in Vietnam... missing in action! What a story... and what a great soldier!

[Claudio]

Finnish army, Waffen-SS, US-Army (paratrooper), last rank (postumously) major! Respect...

[Claudio]

Order of the German Eagle, 1933-45

[Claudio]

Finnish major, Cavalry, early uniform type...

[Claudio]

Finns served, like Mannerheim, in the Russian Imperial Army, since before 1918 Finland was a Russian province (Grand-Duchy)...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchy_of_Finland

[Claudio]

A selection of fine Russian Imperial uniforms...

[Claudio]

A typical Officer field-uniform of a Finn during the struggle for indipendence...

[Claudio]

Finnish female red cross / medical corps...

[Claudio]

Russian White army Officer...

[Claudio]

Finnish Jäger...

[Claudio]

Dulcis in fundo... last but not least... my favourite part! Gebirgsjäger... Generaloberst Dietl original untouched red piped uniform... this was quite frequently worn!

[Claudio]

Details of Dietl's breast decorations...

[sambolini]

Hi,

Great Pics, thanks for sharing. Finnish orders and medals are among my favorites. The uniforms are fantastic as well. Great museum.

Regards,

Sam

[HeikoGrusdat]

Great pictures !!!! Seems to be a very good museum but too far away for me.... that`s why we have sent you in the far north Claudio... next week please the pictures from the museum on Spitzbergen !!!

By the way.... this Sturmgeschütz.... wow !!!

[Phil Steele]

Beautiful...I think I may have to put this museum in my " Must visit book before death". Love Dietl's uniform. Great stuff and thankyou for sharing

[922F]

Claudio, Thank you for this wonderful tour!! Great photos. Did you happen to visit Mannerheim's house? Some years ago, his decorations were displayed in a beautiful presentation there but no photos were allowed then.