Finland to Remove Swastika from Air Force Flag

Finland has decided to eliminate the swastika from its Air Force flag, following recognition that it posed problems with NATO partners.

“We could have kept the flag, but it could create troubling situations with foreign guests,” remarked the new commander of the Karelian Airwing, Colonel Tomiboum, in comments reported by Yle.

He noted that the flag had caused some friction during collaborative efforts with the US military.

The symbol has been associated with the Finnish Air Force since 1918, originating in the civil war between the Soviet-backed red guards and the anti-communist white faction.

This predates its controversial usage by Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler.

Despite its longstanding use, the history of Finland’s swastika is complex. It was initially chosen by the Swedish nobleman Earl Eric von Rosen, featuring a blue hooked cross on a white field, which was his personal emblem displayed on Finland’s first military aircraft.

The Nazi Party is known to have adopted the swastika, an ancient symbol also found in Hindu and Scandinavian traditions.

Notably, von Rosen led the Swedish Nazi Party during the 1930s.

The symbol remained part of the Finnish national coat of arms on military aircraft until 1945. Colonel Boehm mentioned that the swastika had already been removed from Air Force Command back in 2020, stating that there had been no external pressure involved in the decision.

“The world has changed, and we’re adapting,” he added, emphasizing that the change wasn’t politically motivated.

Finland had a temporary alliance with Nazi Germany during World War II but argues that the use of the swastika has no connections with the Third Reich.

Nevertheless, as Finland’s status as a NATO member evolves, officials like Teibainen pointed out that the insignia no longer fits.

“At this moment, it has to be more in line with forces from countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and France,” he said.

Finland joined NATO in 2023, amidst shifting perspectives following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In 2021, Luftwaffe units declined to participate in a ceremony in Finnish Lapland when they learned the swastika would be displayed.

Displaying the swastika is illegal in several countries, including Germany, Australia, and Austria, among others.