Here's some stories of "Ferdinand the bull"when he was in Lapland.Stories are from Kansa Taisteli magazine and told by Finn Leo Lahdenperä who served at Finnish navy.
Just before chrismas in 41,German ship was sunk in Kirkenes.It's cargo was chrismas rations,including beer.Next spring part of it's cargo was raised and beer with other stuff was transported to Kirkenas and Liinahamari.In Liinahamari local commendant gave permission to give some beer to cantines.German supply Unteroffizier made fatal error and gave his friends a sausage and beer evening.Night was a succes,no drunks,no brawl.When Unteroffizer woke up in next morning,military police did came.He was taken to Schörner and then to courtmarshall.In afternoon he was shot.
In summer 42 German merchant ship was anchored in Liinahamari.It's Captain had invited German and Finnish naval officers to afternoon coffey to ship.A German Major,who was in charge of Northern supply trafic was also present.Suddenly Schörner enters to cabin.He greets Captain,naval officiers .Then he turns to Major."you are not a Major anymore.You are a Private.You will report to me after 1 hour in my HQ".Then he went to ex-Major,ripped off his shoulder boards,and shouted"Hinaus!".Captain said"General,you are in ship and she's in my command.You can take diciplinary actions in your own terrority".Schörner bowed and marched out.It 14.00 and Major was in"dienst" and should not be having coffee.
When he did came to Lapland,he ordered "luxury" furnitures removed from officiers quarters and collected cars and motorcycles away from officiers under Major rank.They could use them only in service matters and not on their free time.He send fat supply personel to frontline or ordered them on diet.Leaner men were send to kitchen duties.
In autum 42 war exercise was ordered.30 Finnish naval personel "fought"against 2 companies of Germans.Finns won.In after evolution Schörner yelled to his men"these Finns could have wiped out all of you.Shame on you.After that,every day,mehr ubung".Then he asked commander of Finnish team how did they win?.Finn get mixed up in German language and said"herr General,wir scheissen so gut(we shit so well".He obviously ment to say "wir schiessen so gut(we shoot so well".Then even Schörner smiled.
Ferdinand Schörner
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Juha Hujanen
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That was good...There are similar kind of stories on Schörner in Konrad Knabe's book "Das Auge Dietls" if someone knows it. It has also been published in Finnish with a name "Lapin lentotiedustelijat".
About Schörner's career. He surrendered to Soviets in 1945 and was as far as I know in co-operation with them thereafter. I have heard/red that Schörner would have led North-Vietnamese troops in Vietnam War (at least he was a kind of a military assistant of them sent by East-Germany.) Who knows more about his later phases?
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Juha Hujanen
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- Posts: 2196
- Joined: 20 Mar 2002, 12:32
- Location: Suur-Savo,Finland
