Copyright © Hans Högman 2021-01-19
The Swedish Volunteer
Corps in Finland - 4
Swedish Volunteer Corps in
Finland - Fallen Soldiers
Introduction
The Winter War (Swe: Vinterkriget) was a war
between the Soviet Union (USSR) and Finland. It
began with the Soviet invasion of Finland on 30
November 1939, three months after the outbreak of
World War II, and ended three and a half months
later with the Moscow Peace Treaty on 12 March
1940 with a cease-fire at 11:00 on 13 March.
The Swedish Volunteers Corps (Swe: Svenska
Frivilligkåren, SFK) organized the Swedish citizens
who signed up as volunteers to fight in Finland with
the Finns in the Winter War 1939 - 1940. The first
contingent of volunteers left Stockholm Central
Station for Haparanda on 21 December 1939. Once
in Haparanda (Sweden) and Torneå (Finland) the
military organization of the Volunteer Corps took
over the volunteers. When the volunteers reported
for duty in Torneå they had to sign a contract with the
government of Finland for war service and it was
here the volunteers received their uniforms and
personal military kit and arms.
January 1940 was used for military training and field
exercises of the volunteers.
In total, 12.705 men applied to enroll with the
Swedish Volunteer Corps (727 of these were
Norwegians). Out of all the applicant volunteers,
8,260 Swedes were admitted and enrolled with
the Corps. However, there were about 9,500 Swedish
volunteers in Finland during the Winter War of which
8,260 served with the Swedish Volunteer Corps.
The Swedish Volunteers Corps arrived at the end of
February 1940 in the so-called Salla front sector in
Märkäjärvi where they relieved Finnish units.
More information: Swedish Volunteer Corps in
Finland during the Winter War 1939 - 1940.
Details about the battles: The Battles of the Swedish
Volunteer Corps in Märkäjärvi.
Fallen Soldiers with the Swedish
Volunteer Corps in 1940
The fallen soldiers in the listing below are ordered by
surname. A given name with an asterisk is the name
commonly used. Soldiers with the marking (N) are
Norwegians.
In total there were 38 volunteers killed (including
the Norwegians). The listing contains all volunteers
that died during the Winter War independently if they
died in action or at hospitals. There were 36 fallen
Swedes.
1.
Private Arvid Anderssen (N)
b. 1912-01-26 in Oslo, d. 1940-03-02 in Märkäjärvi
when he was hit by a bullet in his chest. Lived in
Oslo, Norway.
2.
Private Bernt Einar* Andersson
b. 1917-05-22 in Ed (S), d. 1940-03-13 in
Märkäjärvi. Lived in Grums (S). Unmarried.
3.
Private Ivar* Hildof Berggren
b. 1906-08-10 in Örgryte (O), d. 1940-04-01 in Kemi
of pneumonia. Lived in Långared (R). Unmarried.
4.
Private Bror* Atle Brandin
b. 1910-12-02 in Ore (W), d. 1940-03-13 in
Märkäjärvi. Lived in Ore. Unmarried.
5.
Sergeant Per-Gustaf Carlsson
b. 1915-06-11 in Umeå (AC), d. 1940-03-02 in
Russian captivity (POW). Lived in Morjärv (AC).
Carlsson was an army ranger and participated in
the raid the Ranger Company, under the
command of Lieutenant Grafström, carried out
behind Russian lines in Märkäjärvi on 2 March. A
squad under the command of Second Lieutenant
Öjstad ended up in a Russian ambush at which
Carlsson was wounded and taken POW. He later
died of his wounds. Carlsson’s mortal remains
were identified in 1960 and brought to Sweden to
be buried in Morjärv.
6.
Private Knut Gustaf Ragnar* Cederborg
b. 1910-10-01 in Stockholm, d. 1940-03-13 in
Märkäjärvi. Lived in Trosa. Unmarried. Cederborg
fell just a few minutes before the cease-fire at
11:00 on 13 March.
7.
Private Abraham Johan* Christensen (N)
b. 1891-12-19 in Larvik, Norway, d. 1940-03-10 in
Märkäjärvi. Lived in Larvik.
He had the rank of Army Captain in Norway but
joined the Swedish Volunteer Corps as a private
soldier.
8.
Private Kurt* Olof Deas-Ohlsson
b. 1920-09-12 in Stockholm, d. 1940-04-15 in
Stockholm. He became sick in Finland about 20
March and was taken to the hospital in Karihaara
on 26 March with a bad coughing and high fever.
On 31 March, he was sent to Stockholm where he
was taken to the Garrisons Hospital. He died of
pneumonia on 15 April in the hospital. Unmarried.
Lived in Stockholm.
9.
Lieutenant Colonel Magnus* Peder Wilhelm
Dyrssen
b. 1894-05-18 in Karlskrona, d. 1940-03-01 in
Märkäjärvi. Dyrssen was the Commander of the I.
Battlegroup and among the first to fall in the
Swedish Volunteer Corps at the front sector in
Märkäjärvi. On 22 March 1940, a monument was
erected at the spot where he fell. Lived in
Stockholm. Unmarried.
10.
Private Filip Eskil Wolger* Eriksson
b. 1905-07-27 in Alnö (Y), d. 1940-04-13 in
Märkäjärvi.
11.
Private Gustaf* Wilhelm Gustafsson
b. 1910-06-10 i Flo (R), b. 1940-03-13 in Märkäjärvi.
Lived in Fors (P). Unmarried.
12.
Air Force Engineer, Lieutenant Sten Åke*
Hildinger (F 19)
b. 1914-06-06 in Hammarö (S), d. 1940-03-10 in
the vicinity of Kemi during a test flight of a
repaired fighter when he crashed. Lived in
Stockholm. Unmarried.
13.
Sergeant First Class Evald Ossian Hjukström
b. 1909-06-22 in Sorsele (AC), d. 1940-03-02 in
Märkäjärvi. Hjukström was an army ranger and
participated in the raid the Ranger Company,
under the command of Lieutenant Grafström,
carried out behind Russian lines in Märkäjärvi on 2
March. He was killed in the battle the Ranger
Company fought in a grove when he was in charge
of a counter-attack. Lived in Sorsele. Unmarried.
14.
Private Nils* Johan Hörnfeldt
b. 1916-02-02 in Arnäs (Y), d. 1940-03-14 in
Finland. He was killed by an accidental shot in his
chest in a sentry room at the depot hospital and
died on the same day. Lived in Arnäs. Unmarried.
15.
Sergeant First Class Gunnar* Ingemar Hörnqvist
b. 1915-03-11 in Bjurholm (AC), d. 1940-03-02 in
Märkäjärvi. Hörnqvist was an army ranger and
participated in the raid the Ranger Company,
under the command of Lieutenant Grafström,
carried out behind Russian lines in Märkäjärvi on 2
March. He was killed in the battle the Ranger
Company fought in a grove when he was in charge
of a counter-attack. Lived in Umeå. Unmarried.
16.
Sergeant Bror Sixten* Valdemar Jansson
b. 1908-03-19 in Östersund, d. 1940-03-02 in
Märkäjärvi. Jansson was an army ranger and
participated in the raid the Ranger Company,
under the command of Lieutenant Grafström,
carried out behind Russian lines in Märkäjärvi on 2
March. A squad under the command of Second
Lieutenant Öjstad ended up in a Russian ambush
at which Jansson was killed. The fallen Swedes in
the ambush were found in August 1940 after the
war and brought to Sweden for burial. Lived in
Helsingborg. Married in 1936.
17.
Private Erik* Harald Johansson
b. 1914-11-16 in Frändefors (P), d. 1940-03-13 in
Märkäjärvi, Lived in Valtorp (R). Unmarried.
18.
Sergeant Johan Linus* Viktorianus Johansson
b. 1917-02-28 in Arjeplog (BD), d. 1940-03-02 in
Märkäjärvi. Johansson was an army ranger and
participated in the raid the Ranger Company,
under the command of Lieutenant Grafström,
carried out behind Russian lines in Märkäjärvi on 2
March. A squad under the command of Second
Lieutenant Öjstad ended up in a Russian ambush
at which Johansson was killed. The fallen Swedes
in the ambush were found in August 1940 after
the war and brought to Sweden for burial. Lived in
Arjeplog. Unmarried.
19.
Private Karl Jonas* Adolf Johansson
b. 1912-07-14 in Järvsö (X), d. 1940-03-02 in
Märkäjärvi. Johansson was an army ranger and
participated in the raid the Ranger Company,
under the command of Lieutenant Grafström,
carried out behind Russian lines in Märkäjärvi on 2
March. He fell in the company’s combat in the
grove and was the first in the company who fell
that day. Lived in Muskö (AB). Unmarried.
20.
Sergeant First Class Andes Jonsson
b. 1917-09-04 in Norrköping, d. 1940-03-12
between Kemijärvi and Joutsijärvi. Jonsson was
part of a column of several vehicles transporting
equipment to the front which was attacked by
Russian fighters at which Jonsson was killed. Lived
in Stockholm. Unmarried.
21.
Private Anders* Hugo Lindegren
b. 1916-05-13 in Kalmar, d. 1940-03-13 in
Märkäjärvi. Lived in Kalmar.
22.
Private Gustaf* Oscar Lund
b. 1899-03-24 in Gävle. d. 1940-05-02 in Gävle.
Shortly after Lund returned home from Finland he
became seriously ill and on 28 April 1940, he was
taken to Gävle Hospital where he died on 2 May.
The illness began already in Finland.
23.
Sergeant Gösta* Georg Månsson
b. 1897-09-13 in Stockholm, d. 1940-03-31.
Månsson was seriously wounded on 8 March 1940
in Märkäjärvi and died on 31 March. Lived in
Stockholm. Married in 1921.
24.
Private Knut Algot* Palm
b. 1918-05-13 in Borås, d. 1940-03-02 in
Märkäjärvi. Palm was an army ranger and
participated in the raid the Ranger Company,
under the command of Lieutenant Grafström,
carried out behind Russian lines in Märkäjärvi on 2
March. He fell in the company’s combat in the
grove. Lived in Sandhult (R). Unmarried.
25.
Sergeant Helmer* Ove Albin Persson
b. 1915-03-04 in Löderup (L), d. 1940-02-24 near
Kemijärvi. Persson was killed in an accident during
a field exercise with mortars south of Kemijärvi on
23 February 1940. He was badly injured by
shrapnel and died the following day. Lived in
Löderup. Unmarried.
26.
Private Carl Willy* Roth
b. 1908-11-23 in Stockholm, d. 1940-03-12
between Kemijärvi and Joutsijärvi. Roth was part
of a column of several vehicles transporting
equipment to the front which was attacked by
Russian fighters at which Roth was killed. Lived in
Stockholm. Gift 1940.
27.
Private Sven* Adolf Sjödin
b. 1916-04-19 in Multrå (Y), d. 1940-02-24 near
Kemijärvi. Sjödin was killed in an accident during a
field exercise with mortars south of Kemijärvi on
23 February 1940. He was badly injured by
shrapnel and died the following day. Lived in
Multrå. Unmarried.
28.
Air Force Second Lieutenant John* Magnus
Sjöqvist (F 19)
b. 1918-03-14 in Karlshamn (K), d. 1940-01-23 in
Märkäjärvi. Sjöqvist was a fighter pilot and during
an air raid on Russian positions in Märkäjärvi his
fighter, a Gloster Gladiator, was hit by enemy fire
during air combat over enemy lines. His fighter
crashed and he was killed. In mid-March, after the
end of the war, his mortal remains were found
and brought to Sweden for burial. Lived in
Stockholm. Unmarried.
29.
Private Knut Evert Svensson
b. 1914-06-15 in Örby (R), d. 1940-02-29 in Åbo.
Svensson served with the anti-aircraft defense in
Åbo. He was hit by an accidental shot in his chest
from a pistol in the unit’s guardroom in Åbo on 29
February 1940. Svensson died immediately. Lived
in Örby. Unmarried.
30.
Sergeant Olof* Karl August Svensson
b. 1915-09-14 in Eksjö, d. 1940-03-13 in
Märkäjärvi. Lived in Eksjö. Unmarried.
31.
Sergeant First Class Olof Svensson-Myhr
b. 1912-10-08 in Ljusnedal (Z), d. 1940-03-02 in
Märkäjärvi. He was an army ranger and
participated in the raid the Ranger Company,
under the command of Lieutenant Grafström,
carried out behind Russian lines in Märkäjärvi on 2
March. He fell in the company’s combat in the
grove. Lived in Ljusnedal. Married in 1939.
32.
Private Jan* Henrik Thegerström
b. 1918-01-16 in Ronneby (K), d. 1940-03-08 in
Märkäjärvi. Han deltog den 8 mars i en patrull som
kom i strid med ett ryskt förband på
Ristelivaarahöjden varvid han stupade. Lived in
Malmö. Unmarried.
33.
Sergeant Helge* Bernhard Wallman
b. 1913-07-12 in Botkyrka (AB), d. 1940-03-02 in
Märkäjärvi. Wallman was an army ranger and
participated in the raid the Ranger Company,
under the command of Lieutenant Grafström,
carried out behind Russian lines in Märkäjärvi on 2
March. He fell in the company’s combat in the
grove. Wallman was a light-machine-gun gunner
and fell during the ranger’s counterattack on the
Russians. Lived in Rimbo (AB). Unmarried.
34.
Lieutenant Melcher* Wase Bo Gustaf Wernstedt
b. 1909-09-22 in Stockholm, d. 1940-03-07 in
Märkäjärvi. An officer with the Life Regiment
Hussars (Livregementets husarer) in Skövde,
Sweden. Lieutenant Wernstedt participated in a
reconnaissance platoon, Ranger Company, I.
Battlegroup, under the command of Second
Lieutenant Arne Jervant behind the Russian lines
on 6 - 7 March. Lieutenant Wernstedt was an HQ
adjutant who had volunteered to join the patrol
for the purpose of study without any power of
command. The platoon was spotted by the
Russians near Lake Pyhäjärvi and shot at.
Wernstedt died of a bullet in his head. Lived in
Skövde. Unmarried.
35.
Private Per Arne* Wibble
b. 1920-03-23 in Åsele (AC), d. 1940-03-01 in
Märkäjärvi. Wibble was hit by shrapnel from
Russian artillery fire at a Swedish observation spot
on the top of Hatajavaara Hill. Lived in Åsele.
Unmarried.
36.
Private Carl-Erik Vinlöf
b. 1913-10-13 in Revsund (Z), d. 1940-03-07 in
Märkäjärvi. Vinlöf participated in a reconnaissance
platoon, Ranger Company, I. Battlegroup, under
the command of Second Lieutenant Arne Jervant
behind the Russian lines on 6 - 7 March. The
platoon was spotted by the Russians near Lake
Pyhäjärvi and shot at. Vinlöf was mortally
wounded and died. Lived in Stockholm.
Unmarried.
37.
Lieutenant Anders* Robert Zachau (F 19)
b. 1906-08-31 in Forshälla (O), d. 1940-01-12 in
Märkäjärvi. Lieutenant Zachau voluntarily joined a
Swedish air mission on the Russian lines in
Märkäjärvi. He was then the gunner in Lieutenant
Per Sterner’s bomber, a Hawker Hart. Sterner’s
aircraft collided with another Swedish aircraft
during the air raid while avoiding enemy anti-
aircraft fire. Both aircraft crashed and Lieutenant
Zachau was killed. The pilots of the two aircraft
managed to bail out but somehow Zachau failed
to do so. His remains weren’t found until
September 1942 and were then brought to
Sweden for burial. Lived in Karlshamn (K). Married
in 1934.
38.
Second Lieutenant Torbjörn Öjstad
b. 1916-02-04 in Stockholm, d. 1940-03-02 in
Märkäjärvi. He was an army ranger and
participated in the raid the Ranger Company,
under the command of Lieutenant Grafström,
carried out behind Russian lines in Märkäjärvi on 2
March. A squad under the command of Öjstad
ended up in a Russian ambush at which Öjstad
was killed. The fallen Swedes in the ambush were
found in August 1940 after the war and brought to
Sweden for burial. Lived in Stockholm. Unmarried.
As seen in the listing above, 38 volunteers fell in
Finland in 1940 during the Winter War. Among these
were 2 Norwegians.
Some websites state that only 33 volunteers fell. I’m
not sure why these sites only state 33 fallen
volunteers, however, the memorial in Märkäjärvi lists
38 names.
There are two memorials in Märkäjärvi, Finland;
One monument was erected in 1940 (the right
monument in the photo below) with the names of
the 6 fallen volunteers with the I. Battlegroup.
A second monument was erected in 1990 with the
names of the remaining 32 fallen volunteers. In total
38 names.
On 12 March 1940, Finland and the Soviet Union
signed a Peace Treaty in Moscow which ended the
Winter War with a cease-fire at 11:00 on 13 March
(Helsinki time). However, around 6:00 in the
morning, 13 March, the Russians launched a fierce
firing at the Swedish lines in Märkäjärvi with
machine guns, artillery, mortars, and bombers. The
showering of the Swedish lines went on without any
breaks for 5 hours until 11:11. During these last
hours of the war, seven volunteers fell.
If we study the listing with the 38 fallen volunteers
above, we will find six volunteers who died after the
cease-fire. After the armistice, the Swedish Volunteer
Corps remained in the front sector as long as there
were Russian units left in the area. The
disestablishment of the Corps did not begin until the
last enemy units had left. The disestablishment and
demobilization took several weeks. The last
volunteers left Finland on 26 April.
The Memorial in Märkäjärvi
