The Finnish Air Force swastikas on unit flags are set to be removed as part of an internal flag reform, Colonel Tomi Böhm, the new commander of the Karelia Air Wing (Karjalan lennosto), told public broadcaster Yle.
Böhm cited “awkward situations” in international cooperation—particularly with USA counterparts—and said the service should “live with the times.”
Why the Finnish Air Force swastikas are changing in 2025
Böhm said the decision stems from external pressure and recurring sensitivities when working with foreign partners. Finland joined NATO in 2023, intensifying operational ties with allies.
Removing a symbol widely associated with Nazi Germany and modern hate groups is intended to prevent misunderstandings and align the Air Force (Ilmavoimat) with current alliance norms and public expectations.
According to Böhm, the reform is already underway, though no date has been set. The Air Force headquarters previously dropped the swastika from official use, and a broader update of unit flags would extend that shift across ceremonies and colours. Böhm said he hopes the change will occur during his tenure as wing commander.
Historic origins in 1918—and shifting meanings
The Finnish military adopted the swastika in 1918, decades before the symbol’s appropriation by the German Nazi Party. It appeared on Air Force aircraft until 1945 and was added to many unit flags in the 1950s.
While the emblem’s local origin is distinct, its global connotation has changed, and the symbol now carries overwhelming associations with the Holocaust and extremist ideologies.
Public debate and legal context in Finland
The swastika’s presence in Finnish military heraldry has been debated for years in academia and politics. Discussions intensified recently with scholarship such as Teivo Teivainen’s work and periodic calls to restrict or ban the symbol in public spaces.
Although there is no current legal prohibition in Finland, authorities have repeatedly weighed the issue in the context of anti‑racism and non‑discrimination policy.
What changes for Ilmavoimat’s units
If approved, the reform would standardise Air Force symbols across wings and schools, simplifying protocol at joint events and reducing reputational risk.
For personnel, the shift is primarily heraldic, affecting flags, emblems and ceremonial displays rather than day‑to‑day operations. For partners, it removes a recurring source of diplomatic friction.
