Mannerheim visit in the front line.

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Topspeed
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Mannerheim visit in the front line.

#1

Post by Topspeed » 15 Nov 2004, 15:27

Recently I read Virkkunen written memories of C.G.E.Mannerheim....it was pretty interesting. Following happened in 1942.
First of all Mannerheim valued the layman knowledge of the warfare a lot. He also visited the frontline few times. On one such a visit a captain of a unit Mannerheim was visiting got hit by a direct cannonfire...he lost three of his fingers and Chief of armed forces had passed the location just seconds earlier. Captain bleeding in the trences got first aid and a colonel accompanying Mannerheim asked the captain: " Does it hurt ?"....Mannerheim instantly replied to the colonel:" Colonel..don't be stupid...captain just lost three fingers of course it hurts ". Captain said to this: " Well lucky that Marchal was not hit ".

( this may have something to be corrected concerning ranks etc. ).

rgds,

Juke

Mikko H.
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#2

Post by Mikko H. » 15 Nov 2004, 15:42

IIRC the captain was promoted to major on the spot.


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Juha Hujanen
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#3

Post by Juha Hujanen » 15 Nov 2004, 16:56

The wounted officer was Captain Ahti Petramaa of III/IR 35.It happened 20.6.42 in "Pioneeriniemi" in Poventsa.An he was indeed promoted on the spot.

There's an account of Petramaa and pictorial in Suomi Tahtoi Elää II book.

Cheers/Juha

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