Baron, Field Marshall and President Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim (1944-1946)

  

The Order of the White Rose of Finland (Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun Ritarikunta)

The Order of the White Rose was instituted January 28th, 1919 by then Regent Carl Gustav Mannerheim and revised May 16th, 1919.  Its present statutes are from June 1st, 1940. December 6th, the independence day of Finland is the ceremonial day of the Order.

The Order is awarded to foreign and Finnish citizens to recognize services to Finland, and for bravery in combat during wartime.

The orders of Finland are administered by a board consisting of a chancellor, a vice-chancellor and at least four other members. The Finnish president is head of the Order. 

The sash and all ribbons for the Order are made from solid dark blue silk. 

The Order is divided in five classes: Grand Cross, Commander 1st Class, Commander, Knight 1st Class and Knight.


Grand Cross

  


Grand Cross Insignia

  

Grand Cross

First type in gilded silver with sash shown.

The insignia is a white-enameled George cross with the lion of Finland placed between each arm in the cross.  The obverse features a white rose on a blue circle.  The reverse is smooth enamel only.

Insignia and breast stars awarded for service in wartime have swords. 

The collar (not shown) is made from gold and consists of 9 white roses, symbolizing Finland’s 9 counties, and 9 pine branches.  Prior to 1963 the collar had swastikas rather than pine branches.
The Grand Cross breast star is a 5-pointed fluted silver badge with partially gilded rays. The center features a white rose on a blue circle, and on a black band around the rose in gold letters the text "ISÄNMAAN HYVÄKSI" (For Services to the Fatherland).

The first type was in use until 1936 and this particular version was only awarded 38 times.

  


Grand Cross Breast Star - Obverse

  


Grand Cross Breast Star - Reverse
         
         

Commander 1st Class & Commander

Current model in gilded silver shown.

The Commander class in divided into two classes, Commander 1st Class and Commander. Commander 1st Class wears a breast star (not shown) in addition to the Commander insignia, while Commanders wears the insignia only.

The Commander insignia is worn by men in a neck ribbon and by women in a bow.

The breast star for Commander 1st Class is similar to the Grand Cross breast star, but does not have gilded rays.

 

  


Commander - Obverse

  


Commander - Reverse
         


Knight 1st Class - Obverse

  


Knight 1st Class - Reverse

  


Knight Obverse

  

Knight 1st Class & Knight

Latest Knight 1st Class, full size and miniature, in gilded silver and enamel shown.

Insignia worn by men in a ribbon and by women in a bow.

The insignia for Knights Class (not shown) is made from silver rather than gold, but otherwise identical.

The ribbon for Knight 1st Class features a rosette, Knights Class does not.

 
   


Knight Reverse

  
                     

The Medal of the Order of the White Rose

In addition to The Order of the White Rose is The Medal of Order of the White Rose.

The Medal of Order of the White Rose is divided in to 3 classes, Silver with Gold Cross, Silver and Bronze.
 


Silver with Gold Cross
Obverse

  


Silver with Gold Cross
Reverse

  


Silver - Obverse

  


Silver - Reverse

  


Bronze - Obverse

  


Bronze - Reverse