documentation on finnish medals
documentation on finnish medals
I have asked for the documentation for a medal my great grandfather was awarded in September 1941.
The national archive has let me know that I will recieve this documentation no later than April 5th.
What can I expect from this? Just a few sentences why he was awarded the medal. Or are these documentations even more detailed on what and why he got the medal?
Anyone have experience in getting such documentation from the national archives?
The national archive has let me know that I will recieve this documentation no later than April 5th.
What can I expect from this? Just a few sentences why he was awarded the medal. Or are these documentations even more detailed on what and why he got the medal?
Anyone have experience in getting such documentation from the national archives?
Re: documentation on finnish medals
Previous discussion on the matter: Question on a medal?
The amount of information is usually, but not always, related to the level of the award. Medal of Freedom and Cross of Freedom, 4th Class were usually accompanied by one or two sentences at most. Higher ranking awards often had a few more sentences and referred to certain battles or operations where very detailed after-action reports were available.
Apart from being short, the lower ranking award texts were often also quite vague, for example "toiminut menestyksellisesti partiojohtajana" (literally "has been a successful patrol leader") or similar seems to have been quite common text for light infantry units in 1941. Then again, even Simo Häyhä's recommendation for the Mannerheim Cross contained only two sentences.
- Aleksander P
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Re: documentation on finnish medals
Is it possible to request this kind of information from them directly? I thought you had to reserve the specific "order of the day" (päiväkäsky) from the archives and scroll through it yourself.
Re: documentation on finnish medals
Not sure,Aleksander P wrote: ↑26 Mar 2019, 20:59Is it possible to request this kind of information from them directly? I thought you had to reserve the specific "order of the day" (päiväkäsky) from the archives and scroll through it yourself.
I have gotten hold of the reference number, or what to call it for that specific medal. Contacted the archive with that reference number and they have said they will get back to me shortly. Shall be very interesting to see what kind of documentation I get.
Re: documentation on finnish medals
Order of the Day does not contain any specific information about why the award was granted since it was considered semi-public document accessible to any soldier of the unit. Thus, it could not include any information considered secret. The reasons behind the awards are on a (previously) secret document usually titled as "esitys (name of the award), i.e. "Award proposal...".Aleksander P wrote: ↑26 Mar 2019, 20:59I thought you had to reserve the specific "order of the day" (päiväkäsky) from the archives and scroll through it yourself.
- Aleksander P
- Member
- Posts: 128
- Joined: 18 Aug 2012, 22:15
- Location: Finland
Re: documentation on finnish medals
Ah, I see. Is the information available from the on proposal? They really should digitize those files already.Mangrove wrote: ↑27 Mar 2019, 17:28Order of the Day does not contain any specific information about why the award was granted since it was considered semi-public document accessible to any soldier of the unit. Thus, it could not include any information considered secret. The reasons behind the awards are on a (previously) secret document usually titled as "esitys (name of the award), i.e. "Award proposal...".Aleksander P wrote: ↑26 Mar 2019, 20:59I thought you had to reserve the specific "order of the day" (päiväkäsky) from the archives and scroll through it yourself.