Finland to remove swastikas from unit flags

The Finnish Air Force will remove swastikas from its unit flags, with a commander citing “awkward situations” as the reason.

Finland adopted the swastika as the emblem of its Air Force in 1918, two years before the German Nazi Party adopted it. Despite the symbol falling out of use since 1945 due to its association with Nazi Germany, Finland has continued to use it. Colonel Tomi Böhm, the new commander of Finland’s Karelia Air Wing, told Yle Thursday that it will finally ditch the controversial symbol.