Circular bronze medal with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the ‘S’ of the Suojeluskunta with three spruce branches at the top circumscribed ‘SUOJELUSKUNTATYOSTA • FÖRSKYDDSKÄRSARBETE’ (National Guard Work in Finnish and in Swedish); the reverse with a gauntleted arm holding a sword from the Finnish coat of arms; age-toned; on original age-faded ribbon. The Finnish Civil Guard was formed in response to the breakdown of order following the Russian revolutions of 1917. It was a patriotic paramilitary organisation that had a somewhat chequered history but played a vital role in the defence of Finland’s independence until disbanded at the insistence of the Soviet Union in 1944. An excellent history of the Civil Guard may be found at www.mosinnagant.net/finland/TheCivilGuardOfFinland.asp
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