However, it is wrong to claim the flag demonstrates Finland condoning Nazism, historians and the Finnish Air Force say; although Helsinki did ally with Nazi Germany between 1941 to 1944 to fight off Soviet invasion.
A Finnish Air Force spokesperson told Reuters the swastika in the Finnish Air Force flag featured in the photos was introduced in 1918 – before Nazism rose in Europe.
“The first aircraft of the Finnish Air Force, a Thulin Typ D reconnaissance aircraft, was donated by [Swedish count] Eric von Rosen in 1918,” the spokesperson explained.
Hmm, who is this Eric von Rosen guy? Wonder why they don't include a citation for him?
I guess they do mention it at the end, but they really bury that lede as deep as they fucking can huh. "Not a Nazi symbol because Germany wasn't openly fascist the moment that it was put on a Finnish plane by a founding member of the Nazi party"