In Finnish Defence ForcesField Marshal (Finnish: sotamarsalkka, lit. 'War Marshal', Swedish: fältmarskalk) is officially not an active military rank but an honorary rank that can be bestowed upon 'especially distinguished generals'. So far the only holder of this title has been BaronCarl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, then Chairman of the Defence Council, who received it on 19 May 1933 by the decision of the State Council. Baron Gustaf Mannerheim (1867–1951) served as Regent 1918–1919 and President of the Republic 1944–1946.
Sotamarsalkka
C. G. E. Mannerheim wearing the rank insignia of sotamarsalkka, Finnish field marshal, as established for the m/36 service uniform.
Lieutenant General Mannerheim had commanded the White Army in the Finnish Civil War in 1918, and his promotion to field marshal had already been suggested in 1928, the 10th anniversary of the end of the War. Back then the proposal was rejected as 'too warlike'—and there was also fears that such promotion would prove politically controversial—but Mannerheim was nevertheless given an unofficial marshal's baton by the Civil War's White veterans. Five years later the political climate was more favourable, and the State Council decided to bestow Mannerheim the rank of field marshal. The decision was kept in secret, and came as a pleasant surprise to Mannerheim. He observed "In a little ultrademocratic country it could seem quite pretentious to indulge in the luxury of a field marshal",[1]: 110 but also admitted that it was "not so frightful when the marshal costs the state nothing".[1]: 110
It is not known why field marshal never became a substantive rank rather than honorary one, but this distinction caused Mannerheim some consternation at the time. He had to pay a substantial stamp duty of 4000 Finnish marks.[citation needed] Mannerheim's secretary at the Defence Council, the then Lieutenant ColonelAksel Airo, tried to make the Defence Forces or Ministry of Defence foot the bill. It is customary that the organization that has originally put a person forward for the title, pays the stamp duty that comes with it. But in this case no such payer could be found and finally Airo had to present the bill to Mannerheim, who commented wryly: "It's good they didn't make a bigger chief out of me."[This quote needs a citation] Mannerheim was also initially concerned that as field marshal was not an official rank, he was no longer in the Defence Forces service, but Mannerheim was then assured that he remained in the Finnish Army officer lists as a general of cavalry (ratsuväenkenraali, his substantive rank since 1918).
Mannerheim received the field marshal's title three days after the 15th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, choosing not to receive the title on the anniversary on 16 May, because he did not want to aggravate the wounds of the War. On this occasion Mannerheim was also given a new, official marshal's baton, but he still preferred to use the old, unofficial one, because it was lighter.
In practice field marshal was treated like a military rank. Mannerheim, in co-operation with artist and author Aarno Karimo, designed a new rank insignia consisting of the three heraldic lions of a full general and crossed marshal's batons.[2]
On Mannerheim's 75th birthday 4 June 1942 he was bestowed the title of Marshal of Finland (Finnish: Suomen marsalkka, Swedish: Marskalk av Finland) that has been specially created for him, although it was fully symbolic title and his rank insignia remained the same.
At the time when Finland was under Swedish rule (before the War of Finland in 1808–1809), a number of Finnish-born men reached the corresponding rank of Fältmarskalk.
Footnotes
^ abScreen, J. E. O. (2000). Mannerheim : the Finnish years. London: C. Hurst. p. 110. ISBN9781850655732.
^Since the introduction of the rank of prikaatikenraali (brigadier general) in 1995, the Finnish Defence Forces' full general's rank insignia has consisted of four heraldic lions.
References
Meri, Veijo (1988): C.G. Mannerheim. Suomen marsalkka
Palokangas, Marko (2000): Itsenäisen Suomen sotilasarvot ja -arvomerkit: Suomen maavoimien sotilasarvojärjestelmä ja arvoasteiden merkitsemistavat vuosina 1917-2000
Screen, J.E.O. (2000): Mannerheim: the Finnish Years
Yleinen palvelusohjesääntö 2002 27 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine
March 03, 2023
field, marshal, finland, marshal, finland, redirects, here, movie, marshal, finland, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article. Marshal of Finland redirects here For the movie see The Marshal of Finland This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message In Finnish Defence Forces Field Marshal Finnish sotamarsalkka lit War Marshal Swedish faltmarskalk is officially not an active military rank but an honorary rank that can be bestowed upon especially distinguished generals So far the only holder of this title has been Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim then Chairman of the Defence Council who received it on 19 May 1933 by the decision of the State Council Baron Gustaf Mannerheim 1867 1951 served as Regent 1918 1919 and President of the Republic 1944 1946 SotamarsalkkaC G E Mannerheim wearing the rank insignia of sotamarsalkka Finnish field marshal as established for the m 36 service uniform Rank insignia image of sotamarsalkkaCountry FinlandRankField marshalNATO rank codeOF 10Non NATO rankO 11Formation19 May 1933Next higher rankNoneNext lower rankGeneralAdmiralLieutenant General Mannerheim had commanded the White Army in the Finnish Civil War in 1918 and his promotion to field marshal had already been suggested in 1928 the 10th anniversary of the end of the War Back then the proposal was rejected as too warlike and there was also fears that such promotion would prove politically controversial but Mannerheim was nevertheless given an unofficial marshal s baton by the Civil War s White veterans Five years later the political climate was more favourable and the State Council decided to bestow Mannerheim the rank of field marshal The decision was kept in secret and came as a pleasant surprise to Mannerheim He observed In a little ultrademocratic country it could seem quite pretentious to indulge in the luxury of a field marshal 1 110 but also admitted that it was not so frightful when the marshal costs the state nothing 1 110 It is not known why field marshal never became a substantive rank rather than honorary one but this distinction caused Mannerheim some consternation at the time He had to pay a substantial stamp duty of 4000 Finnish marks citation needed Mannerheim s secretary at the Defence Council the then Lieutenant Colonel Aksel Airo tried to make the Defence Forces or Ministry of Defence foot the bill It is customary that the organization that has originally put a person forward for the title pays the stamp duty that comes with it But in this case no such payer could be found and finally Airo had to present the bill to Mannerheim who commented wryly It s good they didn t make a bigger chief out of me This quote needs a citation Mannerheim was also initially concerned that as field marshal was not an official rank he was no longer in the Defence Forces service but Mannerheim was then assured that he remained in the Finnish Army officer lists as a general of cavalry ratsuvaenkenraali his substantive rank since 1918 Mannerheim received the field marshal s title three days after the 15th anniversary of the end of the Civil War choosing not to receive the title on the anniversary on 16 May because he did not want to aggravate the wounds of the War On this occasion Mannerheim was also given a new official marshal s baton but he still preferred to use the old unofficial one because it was lighter In practice field marshal was treated like a military rank Mannerheim in co operation with artist and author Aarno Karimo designed a new rank insignia consisting of the three heraldic lions of a full general and crossed marshal s batons 2 On Mannerheim s 75th birthday 4 June 1942 he was bestowed the title of Marshal of Finland Finnish Suomen marsalkka Swedish Marskalk av Finland that has been specially created for him although it was fully symbolic title and his rank insignia remained the same At the time when Finland was under Swedish rule before the War of Finland in 1808 1809 a number of Finnish born men reached the corresponding rank of Faltmarskalk Footnotes Edit a b Screen J E O 2000 Mannerheim the Finnish years London C Hurst p 110 ISBN 9781850655732 Since the introduction of the rank of prikaatikenraali brigadier general in 1995 the Finnish Defence Forces full general s rank insignia has consisted of four heraldic lions References EditMeri Veijo 1988 C G Mannerheim Suomen marsalkka Palokangas Marko 2000 Itsenaisen Suomen sotilasarvot ja arvomerkit Suomen maavoimien sotilasarvojarjestelma ja arvoasteiden merkitsemistavat vuosina 1917 2000 Screen J E O 2000 Mannerheim the Finnish Years Yleinen palvelusohjesaanto 2002 Archived 27 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Field marshal Finland amp oldid 1133938919, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
