As the only former SS-men - Lauri Törni served in the US ranks in Vietnam

[Jopa79]

Lauri Törni - alias Larry Thorne in the US military uniform in the 1960's.

Lauri Törni (1919-1965) was a Finnish ordinary man, who eventually fought under three flags - Finland-Germany-the United States of America. Törni's effort for especially to the Finnish Continuation War was noted - both in Finland and Germany. Törni was a Finnish Army officer - a Captain and he led the long-range patrols far behind the enemy lines. For instance, the future President of Finland, Mauno Koivisto wanted and ultimately got in to serve under Törni's rule. Lauri Törni probably is the only man achieving an officer post in three armies and under three ideologies - Kapteeni in the Finnish Army - Haupstrumfuhrer in the German Army - Captain in the US Army.

Törni in the Finnish Army as a 2nd Lieutenant (left). Törni's long-range patrolmen receiving orders and feedback from Törni (right). Törni at the center of the picture.

During the Winter War and the Continuation War Törni was awarded the highest military recognition in Finland, the Mannerheim Cross - it was awarded due to his natural leadership, being inventive and doing warfare in cold-blood. After the Continuation War, committed by his own will, Törni didn't fully accept the peace. Never accepting the Nazis' view Törni still found fighting against the Soviet Union and the communism as a priority. Lauri Törni moved to Germany to fight against the Soviets and was awarded a German officer's rank, also as a Captain. He fought against the Soviet -and the Allied troops in Germany and surrendered for unknown reasons.

As a foreigner Törni got involved with wondering. No-one knew his whereabouts, but himself. While the Americans occupied Germany, Törni was captured also. Having a Finnish passport, he eventually received the permission to move to the USA. As the older immigrants from Finland, Törni ended up with them, just in New York...seeing the prosperity and the misery. As a 35-years old, Törni recruited for the US military as a rookie. Knowing very well the northern warfare Törni received promotions quickly. He was an US Army officer in the Vietnam War as highly skilled officer while shot down with the US Army helicopter.

Lauri Törni in a SS-uniform (left). Mauno Koivisto, the future president of Finland served under Törni's rule. The Koivisto Reign in Finland was highly involved with Finlandization, doing the Russian will and speaking complex without any proper purposes.

 

[LizarDAMN]

Traitor and a nazi scum, he'd best be forgotten, not glorified by posting threads on internet which conveniently skips involvement his in Nazi coup against Finland in the closing months of the WW2.

 

[Jopa79]

Traitor and a nazi scum, he'd best be forgotten, not glorified by posting threads on internet which conveniently skips involvement his in Nazi coup against Finland in the closing months of the WW2.

No. Törni ain't a Nazi scum. Only refusing the loss of the Finnish territories doesn't make one a Nazi. The existence of a nation, at least in Finland meant to defend the independence. And we barely survived. It's a different thing as being a liberator, having the support of the resistance will. Small nations always have to justify their existence and we have done it many times.

How a traitor? Törni was so anti-communist, that even the Americans wanted him.

The worst thing the Soviets and the Allied did...only thinking Norway and Sweden, Denmark, Iceland. Not considering the Finnish cause, only letting it under the Soviet consideration.

 

[AjayAlcos]

Fascinating fella.

Here's a few other images of "Larry" in his time as a Green Beret:

Spoiler

 

[Geriander]

His prison escape skills seem impressive. Once from a British PoW camp and twice from Finnish prisons.

 

[Easy-Kill]

Fascinating fella.

Here's a few other images of "Larry" in his time as a Green Beret:

Spoiler

It's generally considered insulting to the military when you call somebody 'fella'.

 

[Jopa79]

It's generally considered insulting to the military when you call somebody 'fella'.

Probably difficulties, when searching a synonym for a saying, "from the Finnish Vyborg, Törni was the horror for the Red Army".

 

[LizarDAMN]

As a part of Sonderkommando Nord, Lauri Törni received training and was to participate in overthrowing the Finnish Government so the hostilities with USSR would continue. It really doesn't matter that this plan was about as realistic as other German plans in -45. He still knowingly participated actions against Finnish goverment.

I'm my phone, so I can't be bothered to find the reference, but here's a link to an article that mentions it (sorry finnish only)

https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-6889620

 

[Easy-Kill]

Probably difficulties, when searching a synonym for a saying, "from the Finnish Vyborg, Törni was the horror for the Red Army".

Well, it's a shame Finland didn't have more of these Fellas ... They might not have lost.

 

[Geriander]

As a part of Sonderkommando Nord, Lauri Törni received training and was to participate in overthrowing the Finnish Government so the hostilities with USSR would continue. It really doesn't matter that this plan was about as realistic as other German plans in -45. He still knowingly participated actions against Finnish goverment.

I'm my phone, so I can't be bothered to find the reference, but here's a link to an article that mentions it (sorry finnish only)

https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-6889620

The stated purpose of Sonderkommando Nord was to train a resistance movement in case of Soviet occupation of Finland. They did have a scheme for a coup but your linked article doesn't state that Lauri Törni approved of or was even aware of such a plan. He could have been intending treason or patriotic resistance to an occupation that fortunately never occurred.

 

[LizarDAMN]

Yes, same kind of "patriotic" resistance what happened in Hungary in -44.

If Törni was planning to resist against soviet occupation, there was zero reason to go SS-training camp. There was plenty of likeminded individuals in Finland already and they didn't feel the need to join nazi murdermachine.

Anyways, the book laid it out in quite through manner, I suggest you read it too!

Edit: And Törni himself admitted in his trial that there were no higher morals behind his involvement, just "adventuring" and "thrill-seeking".

 

[AjayAlcos]

It's generally considered insulting to the military when you call somebody 'fella'.

Not in 'Straya m8

 

[cpreston5]

From the sounds of it, he was driven more by anti-communism than any positive motivation or real patriotism of any sort.

I'm pretty sure he'd pick up a rifle for the devil himself if he could be let loose on some peasants wearing red armbands.

 

[Easy-Kill]

Not in 'Straya m8

Bless.

 

[Easy-Kill]

From the sounds of it, he was driven more by anti-communism than any positive motivation or real patriotism of any sort.

I'm pretty sure he'd pick up a rifle for the devil himself if he could be let loose on some peasants wearing red armbands.

Maybe he just enjoyed fighting.

 

[AegonVLLI]

Traitor and a nazi scum, he'd best be forgotten, not glorified by posting threads on internet which conveniently skips involvement his in Nazi coup against Finland in the closing months of the WW2.

Do we seriously need damnatio memoriae in a history forum? Half of these threads are about persons that did problematic stuff.
There isn't any actual glorifying in this post, just some facts about what the guy did. How about just adding some stuff you didn't feel was mentioned enough instead of going on a crusade against forbidden knowledge?

No one in history should be forgotten. That's the point of the whole thing.

 

[Easy-Kill]

Do we seriously need damnatio memoriae in a history forum? Half of these threads are about persons that did problematic stuff.
There isn't any actual glorifying in this post, just some facts about what the guy did. How about just adding some stuff you didn't feel was mentioned enough instead of going on a crusade against forbidden knowledge?

No one in history should be forgotten. That's the point of the whole thing.

I would be inclined to agree ... However that there is a history thread dedicated to a man who helped the Germans murder tens of millions of people, but not one post (particularly given the timing) about any of those victims and the interesting lives they might have lived. Sorry but yes this thread is a celebration of him and the other chap is rightly justified in his condemnation.

If men like him had simplly said 'no', then millions might not have died and young men from all over the rest of the globe (who had the moral courage to say no) might not have needed to travel to German and her allies to stop them.

 

[JodelDiplom]

Why are there threads glorifying random Landsknecht mercenaries

There's a case to be made that not everyone who serves during wartime is a willing participant. But people like that guy, come on. A Landsknecht who will serve first in one army, and when their war is up, will look for another army so he can fight in another war. Because apparently, war is his profession. Not peacetime military service, apparently that's not his thing. Instead he wants to go where wars are fought?

If at least he had written something remarkable or produced some profound insights. But nah, he's just some grunt who liked war. Really, what's the point? Is that an attractive or interesting lifestyle? Was there anything remarkable in his life? Just an ordinary man who liked war, or had no other skills in life than how to make war.

 

[Dina1954]

Do we seriously need damnatio memoriae in a history forum? Half of these threads are about persons that did problematic stuff.
There isn't any actual glorifying in this post, just some facts about what the guy did. How about just adding some stuff you didn't feel was mentioned enough instead of going on a crusade against forbidden knowledge?

No one in history should be forgotten. That's the point of the whole thing.

One thing more he never fight in Waffen SS he only had seven weeks training in Germany before he returned to Finland.

 

[LizarDAMN]

One thing more he never fight in Waffen SS he only had seven weeks training in Germany before he returned to Finland.

I bet he felt really bummed out missing all the mass murdering and other group activities.