The official AHF Winter & Continuation War quiz thread

[Juha Tompuri]

Another "Marsalkanniemi" was situated a bit further up North-West, near Repola at the shore of Lieksajärvi.
The original name of the cape was either Keyrinniemi or Keihäsniemi, and got it's new name from the Marshal's hunting cabin, built there as a 75th birthday present for him from the 14th Division.
http://www.marskinmaja.net/english/index.html

Question: Attached is photo showing uniform of a Finnish unit, but what was the name of this unit?

Regards, Juha

[JTV]

I don't know if the question is too difficult or too easy, but since there are no replies here comes the first hint: Year 1919.

Jarkko

[Juha Tompuri]

Pohjan Pojat?
http://www.warcovers.dk/estonia/Pohjan_Pojat.htm

[img]

Regards,

[JTV]

Pohjan Pojat?

Yes, I had a feeling that you might identify it. This is uniform of Pohjan Pojat Regiment of Estonian Independence War from year 1919. Pohjan Pojat (Northern Boys / Boys of the North) was a volunteer regiment created from Finnish volunteers and fought in Estonian side against troops of Russian Bolshevik government. Early on total manpower of the regiment was about 2,100 soldiers (this declined later since there were no replacements coming) and the unit was commanded by Estonian Colonel Hans Kalm, who had earlier lead a battalion of Finnish White Army in Finnish Civil War. Both Kalm and Pohjan Pojat had somewhat contradicting reputation - Kalm was obviously capable military commander, but also gained rather gruesome reputation in Finnish Civil War and while Pohjan Pojat won proved to be a good military unit which won its battles, the regiment also gained poorer reputation due to lack of military discpline.

The uniform is rather interesting. It has features very typical to Finnish uniforms circa 1918 - 1919, even if these were not yet properly standardized at that time (the first real Finnish standard issue uniform was M/22 - from year 1922). Some of the broad strokes of uniform design that later lead to Finnish World War 2 era standard issue uniform M/36 are already visible - most important these being material (coarse cloth) and colour of fabric (gray).

Photo of the uniform taken by yours truly in private museum near Tallinn, Estonia.

Back over to you Juha...

Jarkko

[Juha Tompuri]

Thanks Jarkko,

This might be a difficult one.
I hope not too much.
Please, name this person:

[Juha Tompuri]

A foreign volunteer

[Juha Tompuri]

On Finnish side.

[Juha Tompuri]

Pilot

[Juha Tompuri]

Volunteer from both Liberation/Civil War and Winter War

[Juha Tompuri]

Skandinavian

[Juha Tompuri]

Dane

[CanKiwi2]

Knud Alexander Carl Christian Collis Frederik von Clauson Kaas (1894 - 1977)

Knud Clauson Kass is one of the Danish pilots who volunteered for the Finnish Winter War in 1939/40. He was also a veteran of the Finnish Civil War of 1918 and at 45, one of the oldest pilots to fly in the Winter War. Born 3 June 1894 in Stenstrup, Funen, the son of Second Lieutenant Gustav Adolph Frederik Clauson von Kaas and Selina Hviid.

In 1918 Knud Clauson Kaas fought in The Finnish Civil War 1918 as part of the White Finnish Air Force. He had not trained as pilot at the time, and was thus observer. He returned to Denmark after the war. He trained as pilot in the Danish Army Air Corps. He received his wings in 1926 (pilot's certificate 70/26) with the rank of Løjtnant (Lieutenant) at the outbreak of WW2. In 1940, when Finland entered the Winter War with Russia, Clauson Kaas volunteered for the Finnish Air Force – at the age of 45 he was the oldest pilot in the air force. Following basic training he ferried Gloster Gladiators from Sweden to Finland. He was accompanied by Mogens Fensbo, who had been in Finland for about a month at the time.

The two pilots were then transferred to Lentolaivue 28 (Flying Squadron 28) on Morane-Saulniers engaged in the air defences of the South-Western cities. As the Russians advance and the situation becomes desperate the squadron takes part in offensive operations as well. Knud Clauson Kaas leaves Helsinki on 5 April 1940 and returns to Copenhagen on 7 April 1940 – two days before the German occupation.


Image sourced from: http://kriminalsager.dk/Carl_Mogensen/F ... n_Kaas.jpg

....and I'd really like to know how you found that photo in the first place, talk about obscure, took me forever to find it....

[Juha Tompuri]

Thank you Nigel, a correct answer (and photo source too) once again
Honestly speaking I was more or less running out of hints, so your post came just at the (last/) correct moment.
Here another pic of him and of his countrymen:
http://www.rathbonemuseum.com/DENMARK/D ... hotos.html

So... your turn next

Regards, Juha

[CanKiwi2]

WhoAmI.jpg

Another Who Am I photo and question. Probably too easy but been a bit pushed for time - an Ilmavoimat pilot. Who is he and what was his nickname?

[CanKiwi2]

WhoAmI.jpg

Another Who Am I photo and question. Probably too easy but been a bit pushed for time - an Ilmavoimat pilot. Who is he and what was his nickname?

He flew fighters that were at times used for train busting.