It doesn't include awards, but I'd suggest Guido Rosignoli's Army Badges and Insignia of World War 2: Book 2 which includes about 150 items illustrated in color, including a great assortment of military commemorative, school, and course badges. This can be found via used booksellers. Let me know if you need a tip on finding a seller.
Indeed, Palokangas' book doesn't discuss awards, but is otherwise a splendid book about Finnish uniforms and insignia.
Personally, I'd recommend "Vapaudenristin ritarikunta : Isänmaan puolesta" by Tom C. Bergroth et al (WSOY, Helsinki), ISBN 951-0-22037-X. It has extensive information on the Cross of Freedom, and IIRC a bit on the other two orders. I think that it has a summary in Swedish and English - most Finnish books on the subject do. In any case, if there isn't, there's plenty of pretty pictures to look at.
Now, I have a hunch that there was a book that had information on all three orders, but I can't remember what it was. Darn.
While on the subject of Finnish medals, three cheers for my friend's family; father-son-grandson hat-trick with the Cross of Freedom, 2nd class: V.O. Siven (1918), Paavo Susitaival (1942) and Håkon Susitaival (2000). Interestingly, the two elder gentlemen also received an EK 2nd class in the same year as they got their CoF's.
There is a book on Finnish decorations, in Finnish but with some English text at the end, called, I think, "Kunniamerkkika". An eBay seller from southern Maryland, 'heinonen', has copies from time to time. It has color plates of all the Finnish decorations.
That's got to be the book I was thinking. Here's the full information I grabbed from the Tampere City Library database.
Tetri, Juha E. : Kunniamerkkikirja. 2nd ed. Ajatus publishing, 1998 Saarijärvi offset press, Helsinki. ISBN 951-9440-59-3. In Finnish with English summary.
I would think that this one is better for Marcus, at least for the purposes of the Third Reich Factbook. If you're collecting Finnish awards, specifically Crosses of Freedom, go grab the book I mentioned earlier in the thread. No more problem with fake CoFs (are there any?).
I have an undated 3rd Class, but it falls more in the "replacement/wearer's copy" category than the "fake".
Those undated ones are not replacement or wearer´s copy´s, they are postwar issued ones. The Cross of Liberty are still awarded today but without any dates.
To get to the topic i have understood form others that there is a need for an International book about Finnish awards and medals, since it´s my field of collecting i have had several questions why I don´t write a book about them in english. This thought is still in my mind... How many are collecting finnish among the WA members and think there is a need for a english written book in this field of collecting?
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/Hans N
Always interested in "high-end" Wound Badge fakes for reference and study.
i have played with the idea in my mind but as i said i lack of time and miss some vital images to do a Book. The more common awards and medals are no problem but when it comes to the more scares one´s like, Mannerheim Cross, Cross of Liberty 1 class etc it´s becomes harder.
We´ll see what the future has to offer.
__________________
/Hans N
Always interested in "high-end" Wound Badge fakes for reference and study.
Finnish badges & awards
Hybrid Mode
