Nice pick up certificate for the award of the Finnish Draft Resistors Medal to Richard Backman
Picked up this certificate for the award of the Finnish Draft Resistors Medal to Richard Backman.
Finland was a Grand-Duchy of the Russian Empire. When the Czar introduced conscription of Finns into the Russian Army, the Finns resisted by refusing to be drafted. This was seen as their first step on the road to independence and after this was achieved in 1918 the men who successfully escaped being drafted were awarded the Draft Resistors Medal. In effect it is the world's only medal for "draft dodging"!
Richard Backman was probably a Swedish-speaking Finn.
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