Last living Mannerheim knights

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Deine-Zukunft
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Last living Mannerheim knights

#1

Post by Deine-Zukunft » 12 Nov 2005, 14:17

Todays Iltasanomat lists last livinf Mannerheim knights


Pentti Iisalo

He was named Knight in october 1941.Argumentations electors pointed out that he had overwhelmed 45mm anti-tank gun by himself in a furious battle,learned how to use it and fired at russian kolonna(i dont know the exact word in english,maybe colonn) who were just trying to cross the bridge and what were forced to stay there.Encircled russians undertaked to savage counterattack.In the middle of the chaos Iisalo hit same kind of cannon and ammunitionwagon.The battle endured 3 hours.Pentti Iisalos war ended to enemys massiveattack in isthmus 1944.He stepped to a mine and paralyzed partly to few days.

Leo Kojo


Spent the whole december 1941 in a battle day and night, in a unit whose 400 mens survived only handful.Attacked always first from his unit and completed occupation of baldhill(kaljukukkula),destroying many of nests.When enemys reinforcements arrived,section of 80 russians,Kojo destroyd that as well and in addition to many horses with their burdens.Next day he took over command in his team when his commander were Kia and security of nights darkness he striked a deep spline to enemysite.Russians got encirceled.In the same battle Kojo declined approximately 100 russians consisting enemy units attack,which tried to rescue their encirceled fellow russians.Most of them were destroyed.


Heikki Nykänen

Did over 100 patrol by himself to enemyterritory giving lots of valuable information about enemy.In July 1941 Nykänen destroyed 30 russian consisting enemypatrol with 3 volunteers in a thunder and lightning weather.Russians stayed fighting between oneselves and killing eachothers about 2 hours until they noticed that there were no finns around.

there are also 3 knights.Taavi Törmälehto,Onni Määttänen and Thoma Gerdt.

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Harri
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#2

Post by Harri » 12 Nov 2005, 23:00

Deine-Zukunft wrote:Thoma Gerdt
Should be Tuomas Gerdt.

What about Erkki Oinonen (# 147) and Väinö Hämäläinen (# 167)? They were also alive at least in August 2005.


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Juha Hujanen
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#3

Post by Juha Hujanen » 13 Nov 2005, 00:20

Sadly Erkki Oinonen died recently.His obituary was in Thursday Savon Sanomat.

A brave soldier from JR 30 who lived in near municipality.

/Juha

Deine-Zukunft
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#4

Post by Deine-Zukunft » 13 Nov 2005, 13:30

Yes it is Tuomas Gerdt,my mistake.

Väinö Hämäläinen died recently.He was buried yesterday 12.11.05 in Tuusula.

Mek
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#5

Post by Mek » 13 Nov 2005, 16:36

I was surprised to learn that Eero Seppänen had passed away too. Wasn't he one of the youngest Mannerheim Cross receivers?

Regards,
-Pete

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Harri
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#6

Post by Harri » 13 Nov 2005, 20:16

Sorry to hear that two Knights has recently passed away... :cry:

Eero Seppänen (# 138) passed away in 2004, like did Osmo Laakso (# 61), Lauri Kokko (# 84), Adolf Ehrnrooth (# 162) and Lauri Äijö (# 182). Mikko Anttonen (# 166) passed away in spring 2005.

So, only six Knights left...

Esa K
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#7

Post by Esa K » 14 Nov 2005, 14:29

A link to some pictures from A Ehrnrooths burial:

http://www.mil.fi/jalkavaenkenraali/281.dsp



Regards

Esa K

Deine-Zukunft
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#8

Post by Deine-Zukunft » 14 Nov 2005, 15:20

http://www.mil.fi/jalkavaenkenraali/dat ... _press.jpg

I didnt know that Ehrnrooth had KC.Thats new to me.

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Eisenfaust
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#9

Post by Eisenfaust » 14 Nov 2005, 16:23

Deine-Zukunft wrote:http://www.mil.fi/jalkavaenkenraali/dat ... _press.jpg

I didnt know that Ehrnrooth had KC.Thats new to me.
Iron Cross, 2nd class.

Deine-Zukunft
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#10

Post by Deine-Zukunft » 15 Nov 2005, 13:01

Yes,my mistake.I always confuse those medals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Cross

Hanell
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#11

Post by Hanell » 02 Sep 2006, 12:27

Leo Kojo passed away 1/25/2006 at the age of 88. Gerdt, Iisalo, Määttänen, Nykänen and Törmälehto are the last Knights.

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Hanski
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#12

Post by Hanski » 18 Jun 2007, 13:23

Lauri Äijö's certificate for Mannerheim Cross on display at the Central Finland Aviation Museum.

Image



Translation:

As the Supreme Commander
of the Finnish Defence Forces


I nominate you

Lieutenant
Lauri Alfred Äijö

A 2nd Class Knight of the Mannerheim Cross
of the Cross of Liberty



At the Supreme Headquarters on 21st December 1944

Marshal of Finland

Mannerheim


(seal)

Nr 182

Seppo Koivisto
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Re: Last living Mannerheim knights

#13

Post by Seppo Koivisto » 01 Nov 2020, 20:47

Last Knight of the Mannerheim Cross Tuomas Gerdt has passed away on 1st November 2020 at the age of 98.
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11625359

Seppo Koivisto
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Re: Last living Mannerheim knights

#14

Post by Seppo Koivisto » 27 Nov 2020, 11:35

Link contains private video, where Tuomas Gerdt tells in 1993 about the fighting at Siiranmäki in 1944.
https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/nai ... pi/7994208

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