Finland to remove swastikas from air force flags after NATO 'awkward situations'
Karelian Air Wing commander says emblem, used since 1918, has provoked friction during joint exercises with U.S. forces
Finland will remove the swastika emblem from flags used by its air force after the new commander of the Karelian Air Wing said the symbol had produced “awkward situations” with NATO partners.
Colonel Tomi Böhm told Finnish broadcaster Yle that the unit would change its flags because the emblem had caused particular friction during joint manoeuvres with U.S. forces. “We could have continued with this flag, but sometimes awkward situations can arise with foreign guests,” Böhm said.
The swastika has been used by the Finnish Air Force since 1918, when Swedish aristocrat Count Eric von Rosen donated the service’s first military aircraft bearing his personal blue hooked cross on a white field. That use predates the adoption of the swastika by Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ Party, but the emblem has carried a fraught history since the rise of Nazi Germany.
Böhm, who took command of the Karelian Air Wing earlier this year, said the decision reflected practical concerns about international cooperation. Finland formally joined NATO in 2023, increasing the frequency of joint exercises and visits by allied forces and officials. Military officials said the change aims to avoid diplomatic friction and operational discomfort during multinational activities.
Officials did not provide a detailed timetable for replacing the flags, and the removal appears to stem first from the Karelian unit’s chain of command. The Finnish Defence Forces have historically maintained that the emblem’s Finnish use is distinct from Nazi symbolism because of its origin, but authorities have increasingly acknowledged the potential for misunderstanding abroad.
The hooked cross used by von Rosen is an older motif with roots in various cultures, including Hindu and Nordic iconography. Historians note that a symbol’s meaning can shift dramatically depending on context and historical associations, a factor that has complicated the emblem’s place in Finland’s military tradition.
The move to alter flags follows broader debates in several countries about historical symbols that can be interpreted as linked to extremist ideologies. Finland’s decision reflects a balancing act between preserving elements of national and military history and ensuring smooth relations with allied forces in the NATO context.
A photograph of Colonel Böhm accompanies this report.
Finnish officials have not announced whether the change will extend to all units of the air force or be limited to specific wings. Defence ministry spokespeople could not be reached immediately for further comment.