THE ORDER OF THE WHITE ROSE OF FINLAND (FOUNDED 1919)

General of the Cavalry, later Marshal of Finland, Baron Gustaf Mannerheim established the Order of the White Rose of Finland in 1919 in his capacity as Regent. Here Regent G. Mannerheim is wearing the Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland.

THE ORDER OF THE LION OF FINLAND (FOUNDED 1942)

The Order of the Lion of Finland celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2017. It was founded during the Second World War, in 1942. The illustration shows the Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland, as drawn by the insignia’s designer, Oskar Pihl.

DIAMONDS

Decorations of the Order of the White Rose of Finland may also be conferred with diamonds. Pictured is Finnish composer Jean Sibelius on his birthday in 1950, seated by a table on which his Grand Cross star with diamonds is displayed in its open case. The Grand Cross star with diamonds is also illustrated.

TOTAL NUMBER OF DECORATIONS CONFERRED TO FINNISH NATIONALS 1919–2017*

By 2016, a total of 337,881 decorations of the Orders of the White Rose of Finland (FWR) and the Lion of Finland (FL) had been conferred to Finnish nationals since the founding of the first of these Orders in 1919.

DECORATIONS CONFERRED TO FINNISH NATIONALS IN 2016

In 2016, the number of FWR and FL decorations awarded was 8,382. Only 1% of these were in the highest classes (Grand Crosses and Commanders). Out of the total number of decorations conferred, 85% were Crosses of Merit and Medals.