Military Hans Högman
Copyright © Hans Högman 2021-01-18

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

The right memorial was erected in 1940 and contains six names. The memorial to the left was erected in 1990 and contains the names of the remaining 32 fallen volunteers. Photo: Wikipedia (PDM). A blown-up image of the second memorial with the names of the remaining 32 fallen volunteers, erected in 1990.  The text at the top of the memorial read as follows “In Memory of the Fallen in the Other Units with the Swedish Volunteer Corps in 1940.”. The text at the bottom of the memorial read as follows: “The Association Swedish Finland Volunteers Erected the Memorial in 1990”. Photo: Wikipedia. A blown-up image of the first memorial with six names erected in Märkäjärvi on 22 March 1940 by the snowplow platoon, I. Battlegroup. This memorial contains the six fallen volunteers with the I. Battlegroup. The text at the top of the memorial read as follows “In Memory of our Comrades who Fell for the Freedom of and Honor of Scandinavia in 1940”. Photo: Wikipedia.
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Military Hans Högman
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

The right memorial was erected in 1940 and contains six names. The memorial to the left was erected in 1990 and contains the names of the remaining 32 fallen volunteers. Photo: Wikipedia (PDM). A blown-up image of the first memorial with six names erected in Märkäjärvi on 22 March 1940 by the snowplow platoon, I. Battlegroup. This memorial contains the six fallen volunteers with the I. Battlegroup. The text at the top of the memorial read as follows “In Memory of our Comrades who Fell for the Freedom of and Honor of Scandinavia in 1940”. Photo: Wikipedia. A blown-up image of the second memorial with the names of the remaining 32 fallen volunteers, erected in 1990.  The text at the top of the memorial read as follows “In Memory of the Fallen in the Other Units with the Swedish Volunteer Corps in 1940.”. The text at the bottom of the memorial read as follows: “The Association Swedish Finland Volunteers Erected the Memorial in 1990”. Photo: Wikipedia.