Adolf Ehrnrooth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adolf Erik Ehrnrooth
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General Adolf Ehrnrooth at the Finnish Independence Day reception, 1963.
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| Born | 9 February 1905 Helsinki, Finland |
| Died | 26 February 2004 (aged 99) Turku, Finland |
| Buried |
Hietaniemi cemetery, Helsinki
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| Allegiance |  Finland |
| Service/ |
Finnish Army |
| Years of service | 1922–1965 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | 7th Infantry regiment, 2nd Division |
| Battles/wars | Winter War Continuation War |
| Awards | Mannerheim cross Order of the Sword - Grand Cross |
Adolf Erik Ehrnrooth (born February 9, 1905 – died February 26, 2004) was a brave Finnish general. He was a key leader during Finland's wars against the Soviet Union, known as the Winter War and the Continuation War. Interestingly, he also competed in horse riding at the 1948 Summer Olympics!
Contents
Growing Up and Joining the Army
Adolf Ehrnrooth was born in Helsinki, Finland. He went to school and then decided to join the military. In 1922, when he was 17, he entered a special cadet school. After his training, he served in a cavalry unit called the Uusimaa Dragoon Regiment.
In 1958, he married Karin-Birgitte Schack, a Danish countess. She was a close friend of Queen Ingrid of Denmark. Adolf and Karin-Birgitte had three children named Karin, Hans, and Eva.
A Hero in Wartime
Adolf Ehrnrooth played an important role in two major wars involving Finland and the Soviet Union.
The Winter War
The first war was the short but tough Winter War. During this time, Ehrnrooth worked on the staff of the 7th Division and the Cavalry Brigade. This meant he helped plan and organize military actions.
The Continuation War
The Continuation War began in June 1941. Ehrnrooth started as the chief of staff for the 2nd Division. This was a very important job, but he was seriously injured during this time.
After he recovered, he was given command of the 7th Infantry Regiment (JR 7). This unit was part of the 2nd Division. He led his troops bravely during fierce battles on the Karelian Isthmus. For his courage and leadership, he received the Mannerheim cross, which is a very high military honor in Finland. He also received a special award from Sweden, called the Grand Cross of the Royal Swedish Order of the Sword.
After these wars, Adolf Ehrnrooth continued his active military career. He served until he retired in 1965.
Life After the Wars
After retiring from the military, Adolf Ehrnrooth became a well-known figure in Finland. He was especially known for supporting and helping the soldiers who had fought to keep Finland independent. For a long time after the war, it wasn't popular to talk about the military. But in the early 1990s, this changed, and Ehrnrooth became a very respected voice.
He believed strongly in Finland's history and its borders. In his final public statement, he supported a group called ProKarelia. This group wanted Finland to get back territories that the Soviet Union had taken after the wars. Ehrnrooth felt it was a great injustice that these areas were lost.
General Ehrnrooth passed away on February 26, 2004. He is buried in the Hietaniemi cemetery in Helsinki. In 2004, the Finnish public voted him the 4th greatest Finn of all time in a competition called Suuret suomalaiset (Great Finns). This shows how much he was admired by his country.
See Also
- Finnish Defence Forces
Images for kids
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The tombstone of General Adolf Ehrnrooth at the Hietaniemi cemetery in Helsinki
