The highly-prized 2 class Mannerheim Cross medal was stolen from the Mikkeli Infantry Museum at some point over the last month. Eastern Finland police are investigating the theft as a case of suspected robbery.
The 2 class Mannerheim cross medal is in practice the most distinguished honour a Finnish soldier can receive, as the 1 class medal has only been awarded twice, to Mannerheim himself and Infantry General Erik Heinrichs.
The medal has been awarded a total of 197 times between 1941 and 1945 to a total of 191 different recipients.