Military patrol at the 1948 Winter Olympics
Encyclopedia
At the 1948 Winter Olympics
, in St. Moritz
, Switzerland
, in 1948, the last military patrol
competition was held as a demonstration sport
. This was in part to the aftermath of World War II
, which decimated Europe
. This sport would be superseded by the biathlon
competition which debuted at the 1960 Winter Olympics
. The cross-country ski run was not prepared, and was made by the leading Swiss team. The Czechoslovak participant Karel Dvořák described the weather of the day as extremely mild with temperatures of about 0° C at the starting point at the upper cableway station (2,486 m) on top of the Corviglia
in the morning. The participants wore military equipment, 10 kg of baggage on the back and a military rifle. Only the officers, the patrol leaders, had pistols and did not compete in shooting. At the shooting range they had to shoot on three rubber balloons at a distance of 150 m. Every hit gave a bonus of 1 minute for the team.
Event held on February 8, 1948
1948 Winter Olympics
The 1948 Winter Olympics, officially known as the V Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Games were the first to be celebrated after World War II; it had been twelve years since the last Winter Games in 1936...
, in St. Moritz
St. Moritz
St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, in 1948, the last military patrol
Military patrol
Military patrol is a team winter sport in which athletes compete in both cross-country skiing respectively ski mountaineering, and rifle shooting. It is usually contested between countries or military units. Biathlon was developed from military patrol....
competition was held as a demonstration sport
Demonstration sport
A demonstration sport is a sport which is played to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events.Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Icelandic wrestling, in the...
. This was in part to the aftermath of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, which decimated Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. This sport would be superseded by the biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
competition which debuted at the 1960 Winter Olympics
1960 Winter Olympics
The 1960 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event held between February 18 and 28, 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, United States. In 1955 at the 50th IOC meeting, the organizing committee made the surprise choice to award Squaw Valley as...
. The cross-country ski run was not prepared, and was made by the leading Swiss team. The Czechoslovak participant Karel Dvořák described the weather of the day as extremely mild with temperatures of about 0° C at the starting point at the upper cableway station (2,486 m) on top of the Corviglia
Corviglia
Corviglia is a minor summit situated above St. Moritz in Switzerland. It is accessible by funicular railway from the village, from there an aerial tramway goes to the Piz Nair ....
in the morning. The participants wore military equipment, 10 kg of baggage on the back and a military rifle. Only the officers, the patrol leaders, had pistols and did not compete in shooting. At the shooting range they had to shoot on three rubber balloons at a distance of 150 m. Every hit gave a bonus of 1 minute for the team.
Event held on February 8, 1948
| Place | Team | Time | Time subtractions | Adjusted Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (Robert Zurbriggen Robert Zurbriggen Robert Zurbriggen was a Swiss cross-country skier and biathlete who competed in the 1948 Winter Olympics.... , Heinrich Zurbriggen, Vital Vouardoux, Arnold Andenmatten Arnold Andenmatten Arnold Andenmatten from Saas-Fee is a Swiss skier and skiing instructor.- Biography :Andenmatten was winner of the first classical glacier downhill skiing from the Allalinhorn down to Saas-Fee in 1946 . As a soldier he participated in the demonstration event, military patrol. He had the military... ) |
2:39:25.0 | 5 | 2:34:25.0 |
| 2 | (Eero Naapuri Eero Naapuri Eero Johannes Naapuri was a Finnish Colonel and skier.Naapuri was born in Lammi. He was a the leader of the national Olympic military patrol team in 1948 which placed second. His military rank at his time was Kapteeni.At the Nordic World Ski Championships 1950 he also finished second with his... , Vilho Ylönen Vilho Ylönen Vilho Ilmari Ylönen was a Finnish skier and sport shooter.Ylönen was born in Hankasalmi. He took part as a soldier at the Finnish team at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz which placed second... , Mikko Meriläinen Mikko Meriläinen Mikko Meriläinen is a Finnish skier.Meriläinen was a member of the national Olympic military patrol team in 1948 which reached the second place. His military rank at his time was Sotamies.- References :... , Tauno Honkanen Tauno Honkanen Tauno Immanuel Honkanen is a Finnish skier.Honkanen was born in Kittilä. He was a member of the national Olympic military patrol team in 1948 which finished second. His military rank at his time was Sotamies.- References :... ) |
2:46:23.0 | 9 | 2:37:23.0 |
| 3 | (Edor Hjukström Edor Hjukström Edor Hjukström was a Swedish military officer and skier. His last rank was Lieutenant-Colonel. At the 1948 Winter Olympics he participated in the demonstration event, military patrol... , Holger Borgh, Karl Gustav Ljungquist, Fride Larsson) |
2:45:03.0 | 4 | 2:41:03.0 |
| 4 | (Costanzo Picco Costanzo Picco - Biography :Picco served in the Italian 4th army in the rank of a Tenente during World War II. Amongst other missions, they fought in cooperation with the Giustizia e Libertà in the Valle Maira. After the war he led the national team in the demonstration event, military patrol , in the 1948 Winter... , Aristide Compagnoni Aristide Compagnoni Aristide Compagnoni was an Italian cross country skier who competed in the 1930s.Compagnoni, born in Santa Caterina Valfurva, is the brother of the skiers Severino and Ottavio Compagnoni... , Giacinto De Cassan Giacinto De Cassan Giacinto De Cassan was a former Italian cross-country skier.De Cassan was a financier and fought during World War II wearing the uniform of the German.... , Antenore Cuel Antenore Cuel Antenore Cuel was an Italian cross-country skier who competed in the 1950s.He participated in the demonstration event, military patrol , in the 1948 Winter Olympics, when he had the military rank Alpino. Competing at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, he finished 19th in the 50 km event... ) |
2:52:03.0 | 2 | 2:50:03.0 |
| 5 | (Emile Paganon Émile Paganon Émile Paganon is a former French military officer of the chasseurs alpins and skier. He was leader of the national Olympic military patrol team in 1948 which placed fifth.Paganon was born in Thônes. He was married to Herminie with one son... , Benoit-Lizon, Ulysse Bozonnet Ulysse Bozonnet Ulysse Bozonnet is a former French mountain infantry soldier and skier.In the military rank of a Caporal-chef he was a member of the national Olympic military patrol team in 1948 which placed fifth in the powder. Leader of the team was Émile Paganon who was Bozonnet's platoon leader in World War... , Gilbert Morand Gilbert Morand Gilbert Morand was a French non-commissioned officer and skier.-Sports:Morand was born in the Jura department. In the military rank of a Caporal-chef he was a member of the national Olympic military patrol team in 1948 which placed fifth... ) |
3:01:35.0 | 7 | 2:54:35.0 |
| 6 | (Vojtech Pavelica Vojtech Pavelica Vojtech Pavelica was a Czechoslovak military officer and skier.Pavelica was born in Hybe. He was leader of the national Olympic military patrol team in 1948 which placed sixth. He died in Banská Bystrica.-References:... , Karel Dvořák Karel Dvorák (biathlete) Karel Dvořák is a former Czechoslovak cross-country skier.Dvořák was an army service enlistee for two years, and during this time he was a member of the national Olympic military patrol team in 1948 which placed sixth. Before they went to St... , Jaroslav Šír Jaroslav Šír Jaroslav Šír from Liberec is a former Czechoslovak soldier and skier.Šír was born in Poniklá. He started skiing in the age of 15, and was in the national ski team from 1948 to 1955. As a conscript he served at the army sports club in Prague... , Oto Skrbek Oto Skrbek Oto Skrbek from Vysoké nad Jizerou is a former Czechoslovak skier.In the rank of a Vojín he was a member of the national Olympic military patrol team in 1948 which placed sixth. Before they went to St. Moritz, they trained in Špindlerův Mlýn.- References :... ) |
3:16:26.0 | 6 | 3:10:26.0 |
| 7 | (Ştefan Ionescu, Constantin Vlădea, Niculae-Cornel Crăciun Niculae-Cornel Craciun Niculae-Cornel Crăciun is a Romanian nordic skier who competed in the 1950s. At the 1952 Winter Olympics, he finished 19th in the nordic combined event and 68th in the 18 km cross country skiing event.... , Ion Kasky) |
3:24:24.0 | 8 | 3:16:24.0 |
| 8 | (Donald Weihs, Stanley Walker, Henry Dunlap, Lorentz Eide) |
4:38:58.0 | 3 | 4:35:58.0 |
External links
- Official report of the 1948 Olympic Winter Games