Suomen Lotta Svärd Hopeamerkki

In an excellent condition a Finnish silver Lotta Svärd memberships badge Frontside: 4 rosed surrounding a Swastika. Lotta-Svärd Backside: Safety pin. Memberships number 3.8569. Silver hallmarks, OL=Oskar Lindroos Background information: Lotta Svärd was a Finnish voluntary auxiliary paramilitary organisation for women. Formed originally in 1918, it had a large membership undertaking volunteer social work in the 1920s and 1930s. It was formed to support the White Guard. During the Second World War, it mobilized to replace men conscripted into the army. It served in hospitals, at air raid warning positions, and other auxiliary tasks in close cooperation with the army. The women were officially unarmed except for an antiaircraft battery in 1944. Virtanen argues that, their 'accountability to the nation took a masculine and military form in public, but had a private, feminine side to it including features like caring, helping and loving. When the Continuation War ended, the Soviet Union demanded that all organisations it considered paramilitary, fascist or semi-fascist be banned. Lotta Svärd was one of the groups which was disbanded, on 23 November 1944. However, a new organisation called Suomen Naisten Huoltosäätiö (Support Foundation of Finnish Women) was started which took over much of the old property. This organisation still exists by the name of Lotta Svärd Säätiö (Lotta Svärd Foundation).