Woldemar Hägglund
Johan Woldemar Hägglund (August 10, 1893 – February 12, 1963) was a Major General in the Finnish Army in the Second World War, and an early volunteer in the Finnish Jäger troops in Finnish Civil War 1918.
Early years
Hägglund went to school in Viipuri and studied civil engineering for four terms at the Helsinki University of Technology. in 1915 he was one of the first young men who volunteered to go to Germany to learn military skills to fight later for the independence of Finland from the Russian Empire. They joined Finnish 27th Jäger Battalion Königlich Preussisches Jägerbataillon Nr. 27. He gained his battle experience in the First World War on the Eastern front of Germany in battles at Lielupe River and the Gulf of Riga. Towards the end of his training Hägglund also studied in Sweden.
Civil war
Hägglund returned to Finland on November 17, 1917 and as a group leader smuggling explosives and weapons, which he hid in Viipuri. He trained local troops, and was in charge of the first organised military unit, which led a campaign to Karelia January 22, 1918. In the last battle of the war, the battle of Viipuri, he was the assistant to Aarne Sihvo.
Between the world wars
During the 1920s and 30s, Hägglund remained in the army and spent some years in Sweden studying in the Military academy. He eventually married and had three children, of which his youngest son Gustav Hägglund (b. 1938) became a general and Chief of Defence.
Second world war
In the winter war, Hägglund was the commander of Finnish IV Corps. Commanding during the Battle of Kollaa during the Winter War, General Hägglund is remembered for the quote "Will Kollaa hold? (Kestääkö Kollaa?)" which Lieutenant Aarne Juutilainen answered: "Yes it will hold, unless we are told to run."
Further reading
- Eeva-Kaisa Ahtiainen, Woldemar Hägglund – Kollaan kenraali. ISBN 978-951-1-21280-5 Otava