Can someone give me some details about the actions performed by Aulis Lehtikangas that led to him recieving the Mannerheim cross? I haven't been able to find any detailed accounts of his actions. I have reason to believe that my grandfather was in the same company as Lehtikangas, so any info is greatly appreciated.
Regards
~Henric Edwards
Aulis Lehtikangas
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Tiwaz
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Well. From what I found out....
26.5.44 in Nurmola his squad got cut off by Russians with MG and mortar support. Lehtikangas gathered his men and lead them fighting in the point through Russians back to their own forces.
Other action that was mentioned how he went to get back one of his men who had been wounded 30m from enemy positions.
28.5.44 he managed to keep very difficult position by walking from man to man despite enemy tank which had driven right in front of their positions and was firing with machineguns.
29.5.44 he again trid to go get one of his men from open field while under heavy enemy fire but got shot through both his feet.
26.5.44 in Nurmola his squad got cut off by Russians with MG and mortar support. Lehtikangas gathered his men and lead them fighting in the point through Russians back to their own forces.
Other action that was mentioned how he went to get back one of his men who had been wounded 30m from enemy positions.
28.5.44 he managed to keep very difficult position by walking from man to man despite enemy tank which had driven right in front of their positions and was firing with machineguns.
29.5.44 he again trid to go get one of his men from open field while under heavy enemy fire but got shot through both his feet.
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JTV
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Aulis Lehtimäki
You never know what you may find from the net. I found and article at netpages of Helsingin Sanomat newspaper. The key parts:
In "deceased" column:
Deceased: Knight of Mannerheim cross and farmer Aulis Lehtimäki.
Proposition for granting Mannerheim cross to Ylikersantti (Senior Sergeant) Lehtimäki of 9./JR 4 was signed at 29th of July 1944, it describes him as calm and considerate leader of infantry platoon. His actions are described as daredevil and specially concerned of his men.
When enemy (Soviets) at 26th of June 1944 encircled his unit and got their line supported by machineguns and mortars behing his platoon he gathered his scattered men and lead them through Soviet encircling force by fighting in the front of his platoon. Proposition continues by telling how he fetched one of his men who had died just 30 meters away from enemy positions. At 28th of June in Tihveri he managed to keep the very difficult defence line with his men only by walking from man to man in the line by "looking down on death" even as Soviet tank just in front of their positions was shooting towards their positions from close range during this.
He was wounded several times, one of these (bullet through both legs) happened when he tried to fetch one of his men, who lay wounded in a field covered by enemy fire. Lehtimäki was higly esteemed both by his men and his superiors. "He is known in his unit as man who didn't spare himself, calmly considerate but modest fighter who doesn't brag about his actions" were the last words in proposition signed by Colonel Simelius.
Original text (in Finnish):
http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/uutisarkisto/19990103/ajas/990103aj05.html
In "deceased" column:
Deceased: Knight of Mannerheim cross and farmer Aulis Lehtimäki.
Proposition for granting Mannerheim cross to Ylikersantti (Senior Sergeant) Lehtimäki of 9./JR 4 was signed at 29th of July 1944, it describes him as calm and considerate leader of infantry platoon. His actions are described as daredevil and specially concerned of his men.
When enemy (Soviets) at 26th of June 1944 encircled his unit and got their line supported by machineguns and mortars behing his platoon he gathered his scattered men and lead them through Soviet encircling force by fighting in the front of his platoon. Proposition continues by telling how he fetched one of his men who had died just 30 meters away from enemy positions. At 28th of June in Tihveri he managed to keep the very difficult defence line with his men only by walking from man to man in the line by "looking down on death" even as Soviet tank just in front of their positions was shooting towards their positions from close range during this.
He was wounded several times, one of these (bullet through both legs) happened when he tried to fetch one of his men, who lay wounded in a field covered by enemy fire. Lehtimäki was higly esteemed both by his men and his superiors. "He is known in his unit as man who didn't spare himself, calmly considerate but modest fighter who doesn't brag about his actions" were the last words in proposition signed by Colonel Simelius.
Original text (in Finnish):
http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/uutisarkisto/19990103/ajas/990103aj05.html
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Antti V
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