Finland’s Air Force has had the Nazi-associated symbol in its insignia since 1918
The Finnish Air Force is preparing to remove the swastika from its unit flags as part of a wider reform, national broadcaster Yle reported on Thursday. The symbol’s association with Nazism has resulted in “embarrassing situations,” according to a top commander.
The swastika was first adopted by the Finnish Air Force in 1918, years before Adolf Hitler made it notorious as the emblem of the Third Reich. Finnish aircraft bore the blue-on-white design until 1945, when the victorious Allied powers forced its removal after WWII. However, it remained on unit flags, emblems, medals, and even uniforms.
The logo has proved problematic when dealing with foreign allies, including the United States, Colonel Tomi Bohm, commander of the Karelia Air Command, told Yle. Finland joined the US-led NATO military bloc in 2023, followed by neighboring Sweden the next year.
“We could have gone along with this flag as well, but sometimes embarrassing situations may arise with foreign guests,” Bohm said, adding “It may be reasonable to live in the times.”
Air Force headquarters has reportedly already dropped the swastika, and officials expect its removal from other insignia in the coming years.
The swastika is banned or restricted in many countries, particularly Germany, due to its association with Hitler’s regime. Russia has drawn attention to its continued presence in Finland, pointing out in a 2024 report on the glorification of Nazism that the Order of the Cross of Liberty – one of the Nordic nation’s top honors – still carries the design and appears on the presidential standard.
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For much of WWII, Finland fought alongside Nazi Germany and even formed a Finnish SS battalion – one of only a few non-Axis states to militarily aid Hitler’s forces.
