Carl Nordensvan

Carl Lennart Nordensvan

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Born| (1892-10-17)October 17, 1892
Kuopio, North Savo, Grand Duchy of Finland
Died| October 27, 1980(1980-10-27) (aged 88)
Ekenäs, Uusimaa, Finland
Allegiance| German Empire
Branch| Imperial German Army
Finnish Army
Years of service| 1915 — 1945
Battles/wars| World War I
Finnish Civil War

* Battle of Vilppula
* Battle of Tampere

Winter War
Continuation War

Carl Lennart Nordensvan (born October 17, 1892, in Kuopio, died October 24, 1980) in Ekenäs, Finland, was a 20th-Century Finnish soldier and automobile manufacturer who was most notable during his service during the Finnish Civil War as well in his pioneering efforts in the automobile industry in Finland.

## Contents

* 1 Biography
* 1.1 Early life
* 1.2 World War I
* 1.3 Finnish Civil War
* 1.4 Interwar Period
* 1.5 Winter War and the Continuation War
* 2 References
* 3 External links

## Biography[edit]

### Early life[edit]

Nordensvan was born on October 17, 1892, in Kuopio and was the son of the Court of Appeal Carl Magnus Nordensvan and Mathilda Robertina Åberg. He graduated from the Gymnasiet Svenska normallyceum in Helsinki in 1912 and was a member of the Nylands Nation.[1] He studied at the Helsinki University of Technology in 1912 until 1915. Nordensvan married Märta Dagmar Lindeberg in 1919, daughter of Ture Valdemar Lindeberg and Selma Sofia Matilda Adlercreutz.[2][3] Three children were born within the marriage, Georg Carl Gustav Nordenswan in 1920, Erik Magnus Valdemar Nordenswan in 1924 and Marianne Elisabeth Nordenswan in 1931.

### World War I[edit]

File:Moottoriajoneuvokurssilta.jpg|thumb|right|Photo from a motor vehicle course for hunters in 1917 in Libau. Nordensvan volunteered during the First World War in the 27th Prussian Hunter Battalion in 1915. Nordensvan was part of the Finnish training squad, the 27th Hunter Battalion, where he also served in the pioneer company specializing in the use of explosives.[4][5] He participated in the Pfadfinder military course at the Lockstedter camp in Northern Germany.[1] The Nordic Swan took part in the battles during the First World War on the Eastern Front (World War I)|Eastern Front against Russian Empire|Russia in present-day Latvia on the Misse River on Riga, Schmarden and Aa, Estonia|Aa.[5] Nordensvan was promoted to Group Leader (Gruppenführer) on May 2, 1916. He attended a military vehicle course in Liepāja|Libau. He was a teacher of special courses in explosive technology (bomb course) and later held motorcycle courses in 1917. He returned to Finland through Sweden on December 31, 1917, as a Hunter Ensign.

### Finnish Civil War[edit]

One of Nordensvan's first missions during the Finnish Civil War was to blow up two railway bridges between Korkeakoski and Haapamäki on the night between 27 and 28 January 1918. The following night he destroyed the railway bridge in Kolho in order to hijack the connection between Tampere and Haapamäki.[6] Nordensvan's next assignment was to go to Haapamäki on the evening of January 29, 1918 together with hunter Yrjö Väinönheimo. Together with a protective corps, they took over Haapamäki.[6] They secured the city until the Ostrobothnian Auxiliary Force arrived and took command on January 30, 1918, under the command of Lieutenant Hunter Paul Wallenius and the Lappo Protection Corps, led by Matti Laurila.

Together with Matti Laurila d.ä. Nordensvan led the White Army's attacks on Filpula and Lyly. On February 4, 1918, Nordensvan and his troops took over the church village of Ruovesi and on February 5, 1918, at the Battle of Paarlammi, they managed to repel the red offensive to take over Ruovesi. Nordensvan led the defense of Filpula on February 7, 1918, after which he was given group leader for the Väärinmaja group. In March 1918, Nordensvan became commander of the Hämeenlinna Group II Manninen battalion and took part in the Battle of Tampere. Nordensvan was promoted to Jägarkapten on March 3, 1918.[1]

After the conquest of Tampere, Nordensvan was appointed commander of the first battalion in the Vaasa Regiment. During the Finnish Civil War, the Nordic Swan participated in the battles of Korkeakoski, Suinula, Kangasala, Vehmais, Haihara, Messukylä, Kalevankangas, Tampere and Viborg. He became a leading figure in the automobile field of the Finnish White Army and even founded the Finnish Car Force.[4]

### Interwar Period[edit]

After the Finnish Civil War, Nordensvan served as commander of the Vaasa Regiment on 19 June 1918 until the regiment was disbanded. After the dissolution of the regiment, Nordensvan was transferred on 8 August 1918 to the Finnish General Staff, where his task was to prepare and plan the establishment of motorized forces. He was then appointed commander of the newly established automobile battalion on January 1, 1919. On February 25, 1920, he was promoted to Hunter Major. He resigned on March 19, 1921.[1]

Nordensvan became sales manager for Autoliike Oy and later sales manager for Hans Koch AB until 1926.[1][4] In 1926 he founded Oy Auto-Via Ab and was the company's sales manager until 1929[4], after which he was chairman and CEO of Oy Kelton Ab until 1932. Between 1932 and in 1934 Nordensvan had jobs in the cement and lime industry, after which he became CEO of Oy Saseka Ab and held the position until the outbreak of the Winter War.[4]

Nordensvan participated in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1935 together with Oscar Hampus and Arvo Wall, with a Chevrolet car.[7][1]

### Winter War and the Continuation War[edit]

Nordensvan participated in the Winter War, head of Pohjois-Suomen Ryhmä's transport department. During the Middle Peace, he continued in his service until the outbreak of the Continuation War when he became head of the Karelian Army's transport office. Nordensvan was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1940. Nordensvan also worked as an inspector of motor vehicles and their workshops until 1942, where he served at headquarters until the end of the war.

After the peace, Nordensvan moved with his family to Ekenäs, Finland when his home in Sjundeå became a Soviet military base with the creation of the Porkkala Naval Base.[4] In Ekenäs, he founded a car sales company and served as CEO of the company until the mid-1950s.[8] As a pensioner in Ekenäs, he became a prominent brass blacksmith. He made wall lamps, candlesticks and bracelets in brass. Nordensvan then died in Ekenäs on October 27, 1980.[4][1]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Text: Kalevi Karusuo Images; Marianne Nordensvan and K. Karusuo archive - PDF Free download". docplayer. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
2. ↑ Biography of Finnish Jaegers, 1938
3. ↑ Biography of Finnish Jaegers, 1975
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "Rolls-Royce 1915 "Hopeahaamu"" (PDF). asiakas.kotisivukone.com. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Schmarden - the hunter pioneers' attack battle 25.7.1916 | Museo Militaria | Sotahistoriamuseo, nähtävää Hämeenlinnassa, retkikohde Hämeenlinna". www.museomilitaria.fi. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Smele, Jonathan D. (2016). The "Russian" Civil Wars, 1916–1926: Ten Years That Shook the World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 59\. ISBN 978-019-02330-4-4.
7. ↑ Helge Nygren and Juhani Melart: Rallin maailma, p. 142. Helsinki: Otava, 1967.
8. ↑ Kalevi Karusuo:  Carl Lennart Nordensvan . Mobilisti-lehti 3/2019, p. 105. Helsinki: Kustannus Oy Mobilisti.

## External links[edit]

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