The Finnish Air Force is one of the oldest aerial warfare service branches in the world to operate without interruption since its establishment in 1918.
The swastika was adopted by the Finnish Air Force in 1918. Its use began when Swedish Count Eric von Rosen donated a Thulin Typ D aircraft to the Finnish White Army during the Civil War on March 6, 1918. Von Rosen had the aircraft's wings painted with his personal good luck symbol, a blue swastika on a white background, in Umeå on March 2, 1918. Commander-in-Chief Gustaf Mannerheim ordered the blue swastika to be the national insignia of the Finnish Air Force on March 18, 1918. The swastika was chosen because it symbolized friendly intentions and distinguished the aircraft from enemies.
How and Why:
How: The swastika was adopted as the aircraft insignia because it was already present on von Rosen's donated plane. The blue color was deemed suitable for aircraft. Later, in the 1920s and 1930s, the swastika was also used by the Civil Guard and on armored vehicles. By the start of the Continuation War in 1941, a short-armed black swastika with white shading was adopted as the national insignia for armored vehicles. Artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela designed swastika-themed decorations in 1918, such as the Cross of Liberty, and the swastika appeared in the Air Force's flight badge.
Why: In Finland, the swastika was an ancient symbol of good luck and protection, dating back to the Iron Age, as seen in the tursaansydän (tursas heart) charm. It had no initial connection to Nazism but represented Finnish cultural heritage and national identity. Von Rosen's donation linked the swastika to the Air Force's founding and the fight for independence, reinforcing its use. The symbol was also practical, being clear and distinctive.
Continuation and Discontinuation:The use of the swastika on aircraft and flight badges ended in April 1945 at the urging of the Allied Control Commission due to its association with Nazi Germany after World War II. It was replaced with a blue-and-white roundel. However, in the 1950s, the swastika reappeared in Air Force unit flags designed by Major Olavi Seeve, which were consecrated by President Urho Kekkonen in 1958. A black swastika appeared, for example, in the flags of the Air Force Academy and air wings. The flag of the Utti Jaeger Regiment, consecrated in 2005, features a scythe-tipped circular swastika.Current Status and Controversies:The swastika remains in some Air Force unit flags and decorations, such as the Cross of Liberty and the President of the Republic's flag. Its use has sparked controversy, especially internationally, due to its association with Nazism. For instance, in 2021, German soldiers refused to participate in a flag ceremony due to a swastika flag. The Air Force Headquarters phased out the swastika from its emblem in the late 2010s, and in 2023, a flag redesign began to replace swastikas with an eagle symbol to avoid international misunderstandings. This redesign is part of updating the Air Force's image, though no specific timeline has been set.
The swastika was introduced to the Finnish Defence Forces in 1918 through Eric von Rosen's donated aircraft and became the Air Force's insignia due to its cultural significance and practicality. While its use on aircraft ended in 1945, it returned in heritage flags in the 1950s. Today, its use is being phased out to avoid international misinterpretations and risks of information warfare, despite representing historical and cultural tradition in Finland, not Nazism.
The new commander of the Karelia Air Wing said the swastika symbol has put the Finnish Air Force in "awkward situations".
yle.fi
[H1
]Finland's air force quietly drops swastika symbol[/H1]
The force, which has been using a swastika in its emblem since 1918, said it had caused misunderstandings.
www.bbc.com
The Air Force is phasing out its use of the symbol, which dates to its foundation in 1918.
reservilainen.fi
