Behind the History

Behind the History A page that shares interesting historical facts, breaking news that will go down in history, and nostalgic content.

Captain Tuomas Gerdt, the last living Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, celebrates his 98th birthday.On September 8th, 194...
11/06/2026

Captain Tuomas Gerdt, the last living Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, celebrates his 98th birthday.

On September 8th, 1942, Commander-in-Chief Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim awarded Sergeant Gerdt the Mannerheim Cross of Liberty, Knight No. 95—one of Finland’s highest military honors. Between 1941 and 1945, only 191 soldiers received this decoration, awarded for exceptional bravery, decisive combat achievements, or especially successful operations under combat conditions.

The award became one of the most respected symbols of Finnish wartime service, recognizing individuals whose actions had a significant impact on military operations during the Continuation War.

Photographs show Gerdt both during wartime service and later in life, including his appearance as a guest of honor at Finland’s Independence Day celebrations at the Presidential Palace.

A living link to history, his life connects modern Finland with the generation that fought through the defining conflicts of the 20th century.

Photograph: SA-kuva / Finnish Presidential archives.

Corporal Elis Nemes (1915–1941), a Finnish Jewish soldier, is remembered for his service and sacrifice during the Contin...
11/06/2026

Corporal Elis Nemes (1915–1941), a Finnish Jewish soldier, is remembered for his service and sacrifice during the Continuation War.

Before the war, Nemes worked as a clerk in Helsinki and was described by those who knew him as kind and fair. When conflict reached Finland, he served at multiple fronts, including Hatjalahti, Suokanto, Marjapellonmäki, Ylä-Sommee, Lasisaari, Vilajoki, and later in the Hanko sector in 1941.

Accounts from the front describe acts of courage under fire, including an attempt to rescue a wounded comrade from no-man’s land near enemy positions. Such actions reflected the close-unit bonds and immediate risks faced by soldiers in forward positions.

He was killed later that same year at the age of 25.

Finnish Jews served alongside other citizens in the Finnish Defence Forces during the war, and their service forms part of the broader national wartime history.

Photograph: archival wartime material (Helsinki, SA-kuva context).

11/06/2026

Did You Know? The Famous Christmas Truce Football Match May Be More Legend Than Fact ⚽🎄

11/06/2026

Did You Know? Conspiracy Theories About Hitler’s Fate Persist Decades Later ❓📜

Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers in Finland is observed on the third Sunday of May, as seen in Joensuu on May 19th, ...
11/06/2026

Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers in Finland is observed on the third Sunday of May, as seen in Joensuu on May 19th, 1940.

The day was established following discussions initiated in a bishops’ meeting in April 1940. The proposal recommended a national day of remembrance for the fallen, originally suggested for May 19th. During wartime, Commander-in-Chief Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim supported the idea and ordered the observance to be held as a unified day of remembrance rather than a celebration of any single historical outcome.

The purpose of the day was to honor all soldiers who had fallen in service, including those from both sides of earlier internal conflict as well as those lost during the Winter War. The observance is rooted in religious tradition and typically includes church services followed by visits to local cemeteries to pay respects at soldiers’ graves.

The photograph from Joensuu captures one of these early commemorations in 1940, reflecting the solemn atmosphere of remembrance during a period still marked by recent conflict.

Photograph: SA-kuva, Joensuu, May 19th, 1940.

10/06/2026

Did You Know? Dunkirk Was Both a Military Defeat and a Strategic Evacuation ⚔️🚢

Historical footage, symbols, and personalities shown are presented strictly for documentation and historical education only. 📄🎥

10/06/2026

Did You Know? The Eastern Front Bore the Heaviest Human Cost of World War II ⚔️🇷🇺

A German soldier, a Soviet prisoner of war, and a Finnish TK-correspondent pose together with their cameras somewhere ne...
10/06/2026

A German soldier, a Soviet prisoner of war, and a Finnish TK-correspondent pose together with their cameras somewhere near Kiestinki, August–September 1941.
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It is a remarkable photograph because, for a brief moment, uniforms, nationalities, and the realities of war seem to fade into the background. What remains is a shared interest: photography.
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One cannot help but wonder whether they exchanged a few words about cameras, lenses, or film. Did they compare equipment? Did they understand each other’s language? Or was the camera itself enough of a common language?
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The image captures a rare and deeply human moment. Three men standing on opposite sides of a brutal conflict, yet connected by the same curiosity to document the world around them.
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Perhaps for a few minutes they were not enemy, ally, or prisoner — just photographers.
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Photograph by Vilho A. Uomala. Reposted from .colorization.

10/06/2026

Did You Know? The Ramstein Air Show Disaster Shocked Europe in 1988 ✈️💥

Finnish soldiers wait for the next enemy attack east of Ihantala, July 7th, 1944.*As always, the smallest details often ...
10/06/2026

Finnish soldiers wait for the next enemy attack east of Ihantala, July 7th, 1944.
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As always, the smallest details often make these photographs so fascinating. One soldier wears his identification tag around his wrist rather than around his neck, while another is loading a 50-round “coffin” magazine into his Suomi KP/31 submachine gun.
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These tiny details remind us that wartime photographs are more than images of battles — they are snapshots of individual habits, preferences, and routines. Every soldier carried his equipment a little differently, adapting to the realities of combat.
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Taken during the decisive battles of summer 1944, the image captures a moment of tense anticipation. The men are ready, watching and waiting, knowing that the next Soviet assault could begin at any moment.
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No action, no movement — just the quiet seconds before history continues.
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Reposted from . Original SA-Kuva photo.

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