Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
2w ago

Finnish Military Confirms Plan to Replace Air Force Swastika Flags

Officials cite a 2023 decision to update unit emblems to prevent awkward encounters with foreign visitors.

Image
Eine Parade in Helsinki im Juli 2019
Kadetten der Luftwaffe Finnlands und eine Flagge mit Hakenkreuz: Das löst "Unbehagen" bei Nato-Partnern aus (Archivbild).

Overview

  • Photographs verified by WELT show the symbol still appearing on some flags as recently as November 2024, indicating uneven implementation.
  • Air Command Karelia’s leader, Tomi Böhm, said the flag can create uncomfortable situations for visiting delegations and suggested changing it would be wiser.
  • The army told AP a plan has existed since 2023 to change the flags, while some reports claim an earlier decision in 2020, underscoring a disputed timeline.
  • Proposed replacements include an eagle logo and, for certain flags, a golden hedgehog, reflecting efforts to refresh the air force’s identity.
  • The emblem’s 1918 origin traces to donor Eric von Rosen’s personal symbol, yet NATO-era sensitivities persist, including a reported 2021 German unit withdrawal from a Lapland ceremony.