Erik Heinrichs
Encyclopedia
Axel Erik Heinrichs was a Finnish
military general
. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded by the Third Reich to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Heinrichs was one of the Finnish Jaeger troops trained in the volunteer Royal Prussian 27th Jäger Battalion between 1915 and 1918. During the Finnish Civil War
he served as a battalion commander in the battles of Tampere
and Viipuri. He commanded the Finnish III Army Corps in the Winter War
and from February 19, 1940 the Army of the Karelian Isthmus. He was made Chief of the General Staff in June 1940 and promoted to General of Infantry in 1941.
During the Continuation War
he commanded the Army of Karelia
until January 1942, after which he was again appointed the Chief of the General Staff. After the war he served as the Army's commander-in-chief but was forced to resign because of the Weapons Cache Case
.
In 1944 Heinrichs became the second person to receive the Mannerheim Cross
, First Class.
Heinrichs was one of the military experts of the delegation sent by president Paasikivi
to Moscow
for the Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
military general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded by the Third Reich to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Heinrichs was one of the Finnish Jaeger troops trained in the volunteer Royal Prussian 27th Jäger Battalion between 1915 and 1918. During the Finnish Civil War
Finnish Civil War
The Finnish Civil War was a part of the national, political and social turmoil caused by World War I in Europe. The Civil War concerned control and leadership of The Grand Duchy of Finland as it achieved independence from Russia after the October Revolution in Petrograd...
he served as a battalion commander in the battles of Tampere
Battle of Tampere
The Battle of Tampere of the Finnish Civil War was fought in Finland in 1918 between Red and White forces. The White forces besieged and captured the main city of the Red Guards, Tampere, taking around 10,000 Red prisoners....
and Viipuri. He commanded the Finnish III Army Corps in the Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
and from February 19, 1940 the Army of the Karelian Isthmus. He was made Chief of the General Staff in June 1940 and promoted to General of Infantry in 1941.
During the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
he commanded the Army of Karelia
Army of Karelia
The Karelian Army was a Finnish army during the Continuation War.Army of Karelia was formed on 29 June 1941 soon after the start of the Continuation War.- Organisation :The army was organised in two corps and one separate group....
until January 1942, after which he was again appointed the Chief of the General Staff. After the war he served as the Army's commander-in-chief but was forced to resign because of the Weapons Cache Case
Weapons Cache Case
The Weapons Cache Case was a Finnish criminal case of the mid-1940s. It concerned a secret military operation following the Continuation War, where a large number of Finnish Army weapons and equipment was hidden away around the country....
.
In 1944 Heinrichs became the second person to receive the Mannerheim Cross
Mannerheim Cross
The Mannerheim Cross of Liberty is the highest Finnish military decoration. The medal was introduced after the Winter War and named after Field Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim...
, First Class.
Heinrichs was one of the military experts of the delegation sent by president Paasikivi
Juho Kusti Paasikivi
Juho Kusti Paasikivi was the seventh President of Finland . Representing the Finnish Party and the National Coalition Party, he also served as Prime Minister of Finland , and was generally an influential figure in Finnish economics and politics for over fifty years...
to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
for the Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance
Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance
The Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, also known as the YYA Treaty from the Finnish The Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, also known as the YYA Treaty from the Finnish The Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, also known...