Centenary Of My Grandfather Fleeing Finland

[MartH]

Next week I believe is the centenary of my grandfather Jonas Elias Hydén being chased and fired on by Russian Troops, on the sea ice in the Northern Baltic. He had a Swedish passport, and worked in a timber merchant in Oulu, his cover, to go back and forth to Sweden, acting as guide and courier, escorting volunteers who wished to join 27th Jaegers, many sking on the sea ice along the coast to Sweden.

He had turned 19 on the 1st December 1915 and was guiding a small party between the Islands when there was an attempt to apprehended them, they evaded and were pursued by Russian ski troops on the ice, which ended when my Grandfather turned and fired on the pursuers with a revolver, with his ski poles hanging from his wrists. He later qualified to represent his country in pistol shooting at the Olympics, so was an exceptional shot, I doubt if any survived.

His cover being blow, after safely reaching Sweden he traveled across the country and war torn Europe to Germany formally joining the 27th Jaegers at Lockstedter Lager on the 31st January 1916.

He once demonstrated the action to me, with an old mans cane substituting for ski pole, and a lighter for the pistol at breakfast, much to the consternation of my Aunt in 1985, and his and my joy.

And as they say the rest is History.

[AOK4]

Hello Mart,

I was in Hohenlockstedt in February of this year for the commemoration (100 year since the first of the Finnish volunteers arrived there). It was an impressive weekend.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-v0E64AwALI"frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AxjHcg7TQiQ"frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Jan

[Martin Feledziak]

Great story Mart.

and great Video reports Jan.

My Daughter saw me watching the videos and thinks I can understand what is being said, ( But I can't, still good though )

Martin

[AOK4]

Attached the text (part 1) for Jonas Elias Hydén in the Jäger biographies of 1975.

And part 2 (you may notice he served for his country in WW2 as well, as did many Jäger and ended as a Colonel).

[ph0ebus]

Great story!

[MartH]

Jan Thanks for the links, and my mother (92) the middle daughter who lives with me says tak tak to, she started wants to watch the youtube videos but we had to go my brothers. We will watch tomorrow.

I went with the Jaeger Society in the early 90's to Northern Germany,with Commodore Erik Whittol, another son of Jaeger leading the tour, so am familiar with Lockstedter Lager, but there are more car's now, I even had schnapps with an old lady at the cafe (which the Jaegers frequented), who as a young girl served the "bread Finns".

He had a very interesting military career, more than is said in the Jaeger Biograhpy of 76, being trained as stormtrupper in 1917 and 1918, once describing the snail magazine of the Bergmann to me and my mum. He lost a brother in the Civil War, was having lunch with Mannerheim in 1918 when it was announced the Germans where coming, and he had his famous temper tantrum, he knew it was fake, having seen the communications asking where the Germans where. He was at Teriokki when Agar was there, served and helped states across the Baltic gain independence from the Russians. Rejoined the Military during the depression and helped coordinate Mannerheim's 70 birthday. Was at headquarters during the Winter and Continuation War, organising Hitler's trip, (it was he who came up with the idea of the train in siding in a forest, since the Russian's could not destroy every forest sidings with a railway track), and its him showing Hitler off the train, He was offered a Generals job in the supply corps but turned it down to run Sako.

The gun he used in 1915 is still extant and there are photos on the forum.

I have his diary from 1918 and 1917 and need to transcribe it into English.

I have newspaper articles from the 80's, one about going back to Germany with General Martola, I will scan and post.

Thanks again Jan