Medal Commemorative of the 20th Anniversary of the Liberation of Helsinki, 12 April 1918 (Helsingin Valtkausen Muistomitali)

Miniature circular silver medal with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the arms of Helsinki surmounted by a crown and flanked by reeds; the reverse with a pointed cross with an upright sword imposed and dated ’12 IV’ (12 April), the dates ‘1918’ and ‘1938’ above and below; diameter 16.39mm (0.64 inch); on probably original ribbon.

The Medal was awarded in 1938 to surviving White troops who had liberated the city from Red forces in 1918.

Until 1917, Finland has been part of Imperial Russia but following the revolutions of that year, Finland declared independence on 6 December. Red forces seized control of Helsinki in the early hours of 28 January 1918 but with Russian forces withdrawn from Finland under the terms of the Treaty of Brest Lithuanian in March and German forces joining the ‘White’ Finns in April, the tide turned, Helsinki being retaken on 12 April 1918 and the war ending on 7 May.