Editing Mannerheim Cross (section)

{{Short description|Finnish World War II military decoration}}
{{Infobox Military Award
|name=Mannerheim Cross of Liberty
|image=Mannerheimkruis der Eerste en Tweede Klasse.jpg
|image_size=100px
|caption=Mannerheim Cross 1st Class (above) and 2nd Class (below). Crossed batons indicate a second award of a 2nd class cross.
|presenter=[[Finland]]
|type= Medal, two classes
|awarded_for="Exceptional bravery, for the achievement of crucially important objectives by combat, or for especially successfully conducted operations."
|eligibility=Military personnel
|status=Still active ''[[de jure]]''{{sfn|Huhtanen|2020}}
|description=
|clasps=
|established=
|firstawarded= July 22, 1941
|lastawarded= May 7, 1945
|total_awarded= 197
|total_awarded_posthumously=
|total_recipients=191
|individual=
|higher=
|same=
|lower=
}}
The '''Mannerheim Cross''' ({{langx|fi|Mannerheim-risti}}, {{langx|sv|Mannerheimkorset}}), officially '''Mannerheim Cross of the Cross of Liberty''' ({{langx|fi|Vapaudenristin Mannerheim-risti|link=no}}, {{langx|sv|Frihetskorsets Mannerheimkors|link=no}}) is the most distinguished [[Finland|Finnish]] military honour.{{Dubious|reason=Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty is higher, and Cross of Liberty 1st Class with star is higher than Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class. Mannerheim Cross can be said to have the most popular appeal and be the highest gallantry award though|date=September 2024}} A total of 191 people received the cross between 22 July 1941 and 7 May 1945, with six of the recipients receiving a cross twice. Available in two classes, the 1st class medal has only been awarded twice, with both recipients also having received the medal in the 2nd class. Although still active ''[[de jure]]'', no crosses have been awarded since 1945. [[Tuomas Gerdt]], the last living Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, died on 1 November 2020.