Information about the death of my Grandfather Eino Ulaska

A while ago I asked about my great grandfather's uniform and his role in WWII and now I've got my hands on some interesting things I would like to share.

First, here are some death letters

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The cross is the cross soldiers get if they fall in combat, called "IV Luokan vapaudenristi"


I also took some old photos of him and his brother and colozired them

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I just wanted to share this with you because this stuff is really close to my heart

 

picture 5 looks like he is ready for cold weather...what year are the pictures?

 

They are taken before the Winter war, so I would guess around 1930-1935

 

Nice pictures. Could you translate some of the text from the pictures or write some information about your grandfather's service?

 

First letter reads:

A heavy message that a beloved Husband, Sirpa's loving father, a son and a brother, soldier Eino Ulaska has died. Was born in Antrea 11/4 1915 and died in a military hospital 9/6 1942 and followed his heroic brother. A deep sorrow.

and then some personal letters from his siblings, parents and my grandmother.


Second letter reads:

A heavy message that a beloved son and a brother, soldier Toivo Ulaska has died. Was born 18/4 1913 in Antrea and was fallen in Aunus 21/10 1941. Young lives are taken for the defence of Karelia, their religion etc.

and some personal letters from his parents, brothers and sisters.


The letter from Mannerheim:

In the name of the fatherland, and the finnish Armed forces chief, soldier Eino Ulaska has given his life for our country and our people. *something something*... Vilma Ulaska. the 4th class liberty Cross. From the headquarters 26 november, 1942. The Finnish marshal, Mannerheim.

From what I know he was a (rakuuna) Dragoon, a Finnish horseman. They fought in the wars on bicycles, horses and even tanks. He died in the Continuation war by illness but his brother was killed by shrapnel or something explosive during the battle of Aunus in the Winter war.

(Excuse me if some things are wrong, my Finnish has been better.)

 

Very interesting. Thank you for posting.

At one time I had several Finnish rifles. 3 M39's, an M91 with a Tikka Barrel, an M28 anM27 and a captured Russian 91/30 with an SA stamp on it. I also have a Finnish military compass.

Most people in the US have never heard of the Winter War or the Continuation War. Or that when Russia invaded Finland in 1939, Great Britain was obligated by treaty to come to their aid. Churchill did send a sternly worded letter to Stalin.

 

The m39 is a beautiful rifle, pretty hard to get from where I live but it would be worth it. I kinda feel like starting a collection of mosins, Mausers etc. That would be nice.

 

Thank you for the translation.

 

No problem

 

Unfortunately there was no such treaty.

 

"for your honour and remembrance".

The closest female relative (wife, mother...) of the fallen soldier received that remembrance cross.

The Finnish Dragoons (and Mounted Jaegers) started the Continuation war (1941-44) on horses, but were dismounted a couple of years later, before the end of the war. They never fought with tanks though.

 

Thank you, my finnish is not the best as I am stuck in Sweden unfortunately.

Are you sure they didn't later fight in armoured vehicles? I've heard people say they did, in the Continuation war.

 

Churchill mentions it in his 6 volume "History of the Second World War". It may have been a mutual defense pact. But the invasion of Finland really put him in a tough spot as he needed Russia in the war against Germany.

 

You are welcome!

At least I have no knowledge of it. Maybe those people say that because of this:

"The Finnish Supreme headquarters ordered the foundation of an armoured division on 28 June 1942 and the actual foundation was on 30 June 1942. The division consisted of the newly formed Armoured Brigade and the old (1st) Jaeger Brigade. The Cavalry Brigade was also part of the division until January 1943"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Armoured_Division

Despite of the Cavalry Brigade (=all of the Finnish cavalry) being part of the Armoured Division for half a year they did not have AFV:s - neither did the Jaeger Brigade of that division.

 

Yeah, maybe that is the reason.

 

Sorry, I was not thinking clearly. He must have referred to the "Covenant of the League of Nations". According to it the members indeed are to help the other member under an attack.

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/leagcov.asp

Unfortunately especially the UK (in addition to France) was only going to use helping Finland as an excuse to occupy the Northern Swedish iron ore mines.

 

I did read a story once about a Finnish office who once fought a Russian tank with his pistol. He fought it for some 20 minutes or so before the tank withdrew. He kept running around the tank firing his pistol into view slits on the tank. Solo tanks without infantry support were easy to defend against.

There is a web site out there called Gunboards.com It has a lot of information on Mosin Nagant rifle variants and some information on the Winter War and the Continuation War. It is where I learned of the incredible story of Simo Häyhä.

 

Simo was remarkable!

 

Finns did crazy stuff. I've heard about a soldier who ran up to a tank and immobilized it with only a crowbar during the Winter war

 

I read about the Russian butcher who captured a German tank with his cleaver in a book about Stalingrad.
He jumped on a tank and pretended to talk with Russian soldiers and did the various voices. He was in fact alone and the tank crew surrendered to him.