Einar Vihma - KIA general during the largest battle fought in the Nordic countries

[Kekkonen]

The professor Martti Turtola has written a book about General Major Einar Vihma that has been published recently and hit the bookstores in Finland.

http://www.mpkk.fi/attachment/ad9d29e3539815313b364464a41b98a9/70fb8a5c49ec5e7909d6a44511b61921/juttu_5_1_iso.jpg
Note his title "Jaeger General". Jaeger = He was one of the
Finnish volunteers in Germany during world war one. The honor
title Jaeger was added to the rank of those volunteers.

The general that was KIA at the frontline

To some he was Einar, to others a stubborn field general. Einar Vihma finished his studies at the military academy 1926 and his future did not look promising. He finished last in his class of those that were accepted for service. The best one in his class was Paavo Talvela (another one of the key Generals of Finland during world war two).

Vihma was not an academic, he was a man of action. He could easily become impatient and angry. A difficult combination in peace, and war. Vihma however was successful, which he got a chance to show during the Winter War 1939-1940.

During the Finnish assault phase of the Continuation war 1941 Vihma had shown his qualities and was awarded a Mannerheim cross (high Finnish distinction, Knight of the Mannerheim Cross), and was promoted to General. When the Continuation War dragged on and entered a more calm static phase, parts of the Finnish army was demobilized because the country needed men in the industries and on the farms, Vihma's 12. Division was disbanded. Vihma was instead set to lead 6. Division, a division where the men had looted a booze store when passing thru the city of Kajaani. Stories from this event Vihma had to listen to often.

During the summer 1944, coordinated with the D-day landing in the west Soviet Union launched a major offensive on Finland, in order to crush Finland fast, so that the troops on the front in the north could be sent south to fight German troops. After initial Finnish retreats due to the massive Soviet artillery concentrations, unheard of since world war one, and the overwhelming superiority men and equipment the Finnish commanders managed to get the divisions together and planned to stop the Soviet assault in one major battle.

The place for this battle, the largest one fought in the Nordic countries would be the area between two villages, Tali and Ihantala where approximately 50 000 Finns would meet 150 000 Soviet troops spearheaded by elite Guards' divisions. During the major battle in Ihantala Vihma's division had a key part in stopping the enemy offensive.

http://www.smb.nu/images/pos/0006_1944_8.gif
General Major Einar Vihma 1944 short before he was killed.

http://www.smb.nu/images/pos/0006_1944_9.gif
Finnish soldiers waiting for Soviet tanks in Ihantala.

When the main battle was over and the fighting had calmed down slightly, Vihma and his staff officers went to the front lines. Vihma wanted to be close and see for himself when six mobile, but not fighting capable battle tanks would be destroyed. A Soviet mortar concentration finished off Vihma and his staff officers and he thus became the highest ranking officer in Finland to get KIA at the frontlines. General Major Einar Vihma, then 51 years old, was killed at the cemetary hill in Ihantala 5.8.1944.

The author Turtola, who is a professor in military history simply says that it was "not necessary" for him to personally take the risk to travel to the frontline to see something himself. But he also adds, that him doing so tells something about the man and his tough guy personality. Vihma was for example openly non-Christian and not member of the church. When he was going to get a hero's burial in his hometown Kuopio they did not appreciate his non-Christian attitude and first refused to give him a hero's burial. First after the chief of command Mannerheim had got involved in the matter, he got his hero's burial.

[Kekkonen]

I shamelessly quote myself from another thread. This is kind of relevant since General Ehrnrooth had his glody days during the same battle as Vihma.

So today I was out chilling as usual, watching the geese do the same thing and thinking that they have understood the true meaning with life, when I passed a memorial to the late general Adolf Ehrnrooth that passed away 2004. Maybe it's just me but I have always found statues and such to be quite interesting, and this memorial was really nice due it being a relief bronze plaque.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/Zvejnieki/kenraali/memorial1.jpg
The whole stone.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/Zvejnieki/kenraali/memorial1b.jpg
Closeup, if you want to see the picture larger save it to your harddrive and open it.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/Zvejnieki/kenraali/memorial2.jpg
That it's a relief is seen from the side.

Following photos are from mil.fi

http://www.mil.fi/jalkavaenkenraali/data/images/11_press.jpg
The photo that was used as inspiration for the plaque. On the photo the then Lt. Col . Ehrnrooth inspects his
troops on 4.6.1944 together with Major Olanterä. These troops, belonging to the 7th Infantry Regiment would under
Ehnrooth's play a key role in the defense of Finland when the Soviet major offensive was stopped 1944.

______________________________________

Short about Ehrnrooth;

Adolf Erik Ehrnrooth (February 9, 1905 – February 26, 2004) was a Finnish general.

Ehrnrooth entered cadet school in 1922 and served in the Uusimaa Dragoon Regiment (Uudenmaan Rakuunarykmentti).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Adolf_Ehnroot_young.jpg
In the late 1920s

During the Winter War he served in the staffs of the 7th Division and the Cavalry Brigade. From the beginning of the Continuation War he served as the chief of staff of the 2nd Division until he was seriously wounded. After he recovered he was appointed to lead the 7th Infantry regiment (JR 7) of the 2nd Division. During the battles on the Karelian Isthmus he was awarded the Mannerheim cross.

After the wars he led many units, until he retired in 1965. He also participated in the Finnish Olympics team 1947. He got the honor rank "General of Infantry" 1980. 1994 he published his memoirs.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6e/Adolf_Ehrnrooth.jpg

Top Ten Finns as voted by the Finnish people

1. C.G.E. Mannerheim (president of Finland, 1944-1946, and Marshal of Finland)
2. Risto Ryti (president of Finland, 1940-1944)
3. Urho Kekkonen (president of Finland, 1956-1981)
4. Adolf Ehrnrooth (infantry general, a figurehead for the Finnish veteran community)
5. Tarja Halonen (current president of Finland, 2000- )
6. Arvo Ylppö (famed pediatrician)
7. Mikael Agricola (Protestant reformer and creator of the written Finnish language)
8. Jean Sibelius (world-famous composer)
9. Aleksis Kivi (author of the first significant Finnish novel, Seitsemän veljestä / Seven Brothers)
10. Elias Lönnrot (creator of the Finnish national epic Kalevala)

Ehrnroot's medals and distinctions

Finnish distinctions categorized after valor (too lazy to translate them all now, maybe later).

- VR SR mk (6.12.1989) Freedom cross, 1st class
- SL SR (4.6.1964) Finnish lion great cross
- MR 2 (4.12.1944) Freedom cross 2nd class Mannerheim cross
- SVR K (6.12.1950) Finnish White Rose command distinction
- VR 2 tlk (23.8.1942) 2nd Class Freedom Cross with leafs
- VR 2 mk (2.7.1941) 2nd Class Freedom Cross with swords
- VR 3 mk (24.7.1940) 3rd Class Freedom cross with swords
- SVR R (3.5.1935) Finnish White Rose knights distinction
- O ar 2 (9.12.1953) Finnish Olympic Committee Cross 2nd Class
- Ts. mm msk (11.2.1941) Winter war memory medal with sword
- Js. mm (2.12.1957) Continuation war memory medal
- Sot. am (4.6.1978) Sotilasansiomitali
- Sotainv. ar Sotainvalidien ansioristi
- SU har (28.2.1958) Suomen Liikuntakulttuurin ja Urheilun hopeinen ansioristi
- RUL am sk. (17.5.1981) Suomen Reserviupseeriliiton kultainen ansiomitali soljen kera
- RAUL ar sk. Reserviläisliitto-Reservin Aliupseerien Liiton ansioristi solkineen
- RUL am (8.4.1956) Suomen Reserviupseeriliiton kultainen ansiomitali
- KK am sk (21.2.1991) Kadettikunta ry:n ansiomitali soljen kera
- Winter war memory medal (Taipale)
- Continuation war memory medal

[B]Other distinctions:
- Sotavammaismerkki sodista 1939 - 1945
- Sotainvalidien Veljesliiton kultainen ansiomerkki
- Sotaveteraanien kultainen ansioristi
- Upseeriliiton 1. luokan ansiomitali
- Mannerheimin Lastensuojeluliiton hopeinen ansiomitali
- Puolustusvoimien kunniamiekka
- ilmavoimien tähystysmerkki “Honorus Causa”
- Puolustusvoimien kultainen ansiolevyke
- Rajavartiolaitoksen kultainen ansiolevyke
- Maanpuolustusmitali miekkojen kera
- Maanpuolustuskiltojen liitto ry:n kilta-ansiomitali
- Sininen risti soljella
- Ilmatorjunnan ansioristi
- Mestariratsastajan ansiomerkki
- Suomen Ratsastajainliiton kultainen ratsastajamerkki

Higher foreign distinctions:
- Germany, 2. Class Iron Cross
- Sweden's Knight orders great cross
- Estonia's Maarjamaa Cross' Knights great cross
- Denmark's Dannerbrog Knights I Class Command distinction
- France's Honor legions great officer

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/Zvejnieki/kenraali/kunnianmerkit.jpg
Adolf Ehnrooth passed away 2004 and got a state funeral.

http://www.mil.fi/jalkavaenkenraali/media/Hautajaiset.mpg
Video from his funeral, about 7 mb

[wiking]

99 years old! Blimey, a though old bugger he must have been. :)

[Taekwondo]

Yes, he was. Would be difficult to know just by looking at him (or his age and health) that he had his stomach blown open by shrapnel during the war.

[bigjeff]

Yes, he was. Would be difficult to know just by looking at him (or his age and health) that he had his stomach blown open by shrapnel during the war.

It's best the proof of his courage and toughness.He made it through,sureli he would hv long life with respect.

I salute him.

[Taekwondo]

bigjeff,
too bad the times between 1945 and 1990 were pretty awful, domestic communists and other "activists" were doing their best to put the blame of the war on the soldiers who were defending their own country. Luckily A. Ehnrooth was able to see that things got better after the USSR collapsed and the communists had to shut up - they were a "large minority" so to speak, a few commies could easily steal the show because nobody wanted to attack them, even if the said the surrealistic things, in fear of causing trouble in the USSR relations. Now the veterans receive the attention and respect they deserve, even those that the were almost forgotten or got a bad reputation during the crazy years, such as the Terror of Morocco among others.

[Machine Wilkins]

Does anyone have a good explanation/history as to why the Finnish hats do not have visors? Sharp looking, but what about the winter sun?

[Kekkonen]

Luckily A. Ehnrooth was able to see that things got better after the USSR collapsed and the communists had to shut up

Ehnrooth also had nice things to say about the young generation today before he passed away. Luckily for us he still had a clear head and speech. Couple of years ago I saw an interview with him on TV and he said that he believed that the young Finnish men of today still could and would stand up and defend their country succesfully if needed to. Quite a good grade to get from someone like him. Usually old people always comes with their bulls.hit "when I was their age we could carry a little more than two sixpacks with beer".

Does anyone have a good explanation/history as to why the Finnish hats do not have visors? Sharp looking, but what about the winter sun?

The Finnish military was after world war one heavily influenced by German military traditions. People like Einar Vihma that had been volunteers ("jaegers") in Germany on the east front during world war one kept German military traditions strong when the young republic formed their military. This was true also for uniforms. If you look at German world war one pictures you see "somewhat" similar hats without visors.

http://www.mosinnagant.net/images/Uniformfinnishm19.JPG
The very rare Finnish Model of 1919 tunic, one of the only known
examples outside of Finland. The cap is of a later model but of the
same service branch. Note the color of the piping on the epaulettes
and on the edge of the cap.

http://www.mosinnagant.net/images/Uniformfinnishjaegersewneps..JPG
However the cap without visor was worn by officers mainly. Ordinary
soldiers had various helmets or the field hat.

Finnish Infantry sargeant wearing the m/36 unifrom and a German produced
m/17 steel combat helmet. He is armed with one of the thousands of Russian
Tokarev m/1940 semi automatic rifles that were captured during the hostilites
of 1939-1944. The SVT-40 double magazine pouch is on his belt. He carries a
spare Maxim barrel in its leather carrier on the other shoulder.

http://www.mosinnagant.net/images/Victhomascavsitone.jpg
A Cavalry sargeant taking a rest at the ammuniton resupply depot in his
summer uniform. Armed with his special "short" m/27 cavalry carbine and a
Hungarian supplied m/1935 steel helmet.

Pictures from: http://www.mosinnagant.net/finland/FinnishTunicsectionrevised.asp

[Taekwondo]

The cap wasn't just a German phenomenon, similar were used all around the world for a long time. Standard issue in many parade uniforms.

[tkks]

Same type of cap is still used for instance in the Finnish navy.

[Thor]

My respect to Generalmajor Einar Vihma. R.I.P.

As for the hat model I think Finland and Sweden are pretty alone in using it. Over here it's the standard issue head gear for the police and you still see it in the military but not as much as before.

http://www.08.muf.se/soderort/grafik/muf_poliser.jpg

1970
http://radiohuset.com/polisradiohistoria/polis-p70.jpg

[Kekkonen]

Now during the current winter Olympics by the way, it could be mentioned that during the Stockholm Olympics (1912? too lazy to Google it now) Einar Vihma particapted in a team gymnastics' team, and there received a bronze medal.

Also during world war one as a jaeger officer in Germany, he mainly served as a "bomber", and would these days probably be considered a terrorist, says Turtola (author to the book). I am not quite sure what he means with "bomber" though.

Vihma's 12. Division was disbanded. Vihma was instead set to lead 6. Division, a division where the men had looted a booze store when passing thru the city of Kajaani.

This event happened in 1942 when 6. Division that he commanded was sent to rest at the homefront. The soldiers had to ski 500(!) kilometers to the homefront though and during this there had come up a false rumour among the soldiers that at the arrival to Kajaani, they would receive a certain amount of cognac.

This turned out to be false and some of the soldiers in the division managed to gang up and loot the local Alko (state monopoly) booze store. They crushed the windows and bent up the doors, and stole 138 bottles. The drunk soldiers fired shots in the city of Kajaani and at their camp site.

After the soldiers had raged off some tention and the bottles were empty things calmed down, and the soldiers probably acted like angles so that Einar Vihma would try to "forget" the event. He did not however, he was furious and demanded very hard sentences to the instigators, and he got what he wanted when he took the case to military field court.

Nine men were sentenced, the toughest sentence was given to a man that was sentenced to ten years of labor camp (? kuristushuone), and lost his civil rights for three years. The military appeal court however lowered the sentences.

The tough sentences however says a little about Vihma's view of hard disciplin among his soldiers. He also demanded death sentences for some of his soldiers 1944, luckily for them however the cases were dropped when Vihma was KIA.