Fanni Luukkonen
Encyclopedia
Fanni Luukkonen was the longtime leader of the Finnish
Lotta Svärd
, a voluntary auxiliary organisation for women.
Fanni Luukkonen was chosen as the leader of Lotta Svärd in 1929. During her time the organisation grew to 232 000 members, the largest women's organisation in Finland, and even the world. She was awarded the Order of the Cross of Liberty
1st Class with swords, by marshall Mannerheim
in June 1940. She was the first woman to receive this decoration.
When the Continuation War
ended, the Soviet Union
demanded that Lotta Svärd, along with the Suojeluskunta, were to be disbanded.
In the Suuret Suomalaiset
(Greatest Finns) competition (similar to the 100 Greatest Britons
) Fanni Luukkonen was voted for 44th place.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Lotta Svärd
Lotta Svärd
Lotta Svärd was a Finnish voluntary auxiliary paramilitary organisation for women. During the Finnish Civil War it was associated with the Suojeluskunta. After the war Lotta Svärd was founded as a separate organisation on September 9, 1920. The name comes from a poem by Johan Ludvig Runeberg...
, a voluntary auxiliary organisation for women.
Fanni Luukkonen was chosen as the leader of Lotta Svärd in 1929. During her time the organisation grew to 232 000 members, the largest women's organisation in Finland, and even the world. She was awarded the Order of the Cross of Liberty
Order of the Cross of Liberty
There are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty , the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of the two orders, and usually of the Order of the Cross of Liberty as well, Grand Mastership of...
1st Class with swords, by marshall Mannerheim
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim was the military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War, Commander-in-Chief of Finland's Defence Forces during World War II, Marshal of Finland, and a Finnish statesman. He was Regent of Finland and the sixth President of Finland...
in June 1940. She was the first woman to receive this decoration.
When the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
ended, the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
demanded that Lotta Svärd, along with the Suojeluskunta, were to be disbanded.
In the Suuret Suomalaiset
Suuret suomalaiset
Suuret suomalaiset was a 2004 television show broadcast in Finland by YLE , which determined the 100 greatest Finns of all time according to the opinions of its viewers. The viewers were able to vote during a programme which lasted from October to December 2004...
(Greatest Finns) competition (similar to the 100 Greatest Britons
100 Greatest Britons
100 Greatest Britons was broadcast in 2002 by the BBC. The programme was the result of a vote conducted to determine whom the United Kingdom public considers the greatest British people in history. The series, Great Britons, included individual programmes on the top ten, with viewers having further...
) Fanni Luukkonen was voted for 44th place.