27th Jäger Battalion (Finland)

Pfadfinderkursus – the Pathfinder course – was the beginning of the new Finnish military training, as it had been abolished in the Grand Duchy of Finland due to the political schism in Finland between the Finns and the Russian imperial government. There were 189 Finns, one Norwegian Swede (Gösta af Geijerstam) and one Balt, altogether 191.

On 26 January 1915, the representatives of the German ministries for foreign affairs and also war, general headquarters and navy headquarters had made a decision to provide military training for 200 Finns. The commander was major Maximilian Bayer, who was a war veteran from the German African colonies and the chairman of the German Scout league, Deutsche Pfadfinderbund, which he established in 1907 and of which he served as the chairman, Reichsfeldmeister. In World War I, he had served in the Regiment Prinz Louis-Ferdinand, the 27th Infantry Regiment, and took part in the attack against Liège in Belgium. Thereafter, he had served as the German commandant of Liège from 5 January 1915. The original idea was to nominate the commander, one infantry captain and one pioneer captain, but the decision was to nominate four captains: Julius Knaths, Hans Bade, Walter Just and Karld Heldt. They all reported to the German Ministry for War on 13 February for instructions. In April 1915, Offiziersverstellvertreter Hans Eller was also ordered to the Pathfinder course, for machine gun training. From 12 to 13 non-commissioned officers were ordered to attend the course, and also six pioneers. The master sergeants (Fäbel) were Perper and Steinmuller, and the non-commissioned officers in lower ranks (Unteroffiziers) were Claussen, Huyssen, Hoden and Toeppel. Hoden and Toeppel were assigned to other duties later. The pioneer non-commissioned officer Claussen and machine gun trainer Huyssen continued to serve during the 27th Battalion period and became lieutenants.[1]

The first Pathfinders came to the Lockstedt military training camp on 25 February 1915. The oldest member of the course was Alma Fabritius, who stayed for four months. Another older participant, doctor Marcus Kjöllerfeld, stayed six weeks from 25 February to April.

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Later, when already Jaegers, two ex-Pathfinders resigned and two died from disease, Runar Appelberg and Urho Kalsko. Already in the service of the Guards, majors Friedel Jacobson, Olof Lagus and Armas Ståhlberg were killed in action in the Finnish Civil War 1918, as were Rittmeister (cavalry captain) Paul Ljungberg and Captain Bertel Paulig. Six other ex-Pathfinders died in the Civil War. Two of them were master sergeants (Fäbel) and the third was a sergeant. The last three did not have any military rank in Finland, for unknown reasons.

Captain Toivo Kuisma died in the Aunus attack in 1919, and Major Sven Weckström in 1921, having been wounded in Maaninkajärvi that year.

Later, the ex-Pathfinders achieved high military ranks:

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• September 1915 – May 1916

Many German officers served in the battalion. The first commander was Major Maximillian Bayer, who became later a regimental commander on the Western Front. After him, the commander was Captain Julius Knaths.

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Later, as Jaegers, two ex-Pathfinders resigned and two died from disease, Runar Appelberg and Urho Kalsko.

Already in the service of the Guards, Majors Friedel Jacobson, Olof Lagus and Armas Ståhlberg were killed in action in the Finnish Civil War in 1918, as were Rittmeister (Cavalry captain) Paul Ljungberg and Captain Bertel Paulig. Six other ex-Pathfinders also died in the Civil War. Two of them were master sergeants (Fäbel), and the third was a sergeant. The last three did not have any military rank, for unknown reasons.

• Lauri Kutilainen, aliupseeri, 21 June 1896 – 3 April 1918.
• Ahti Johannes Karppinen, vänrikki, 25 August 1895 – 28 April 1918.
• Matti Leonard Kokko, korpraali, 23 October 1893 – 3 April 1918.
• Nikolai Matias Perälä, aliupseeri, 23 August 1892 – 4 April 1918.
• Johannes Pärmi, aliupseeri, 27 January 1892 – 5 April 1918.
• Oivo Urbanus Rustanius, vänrikki, 17 July 1893 – 8 April 1918.
• Frans Sandstedt, aliupseeri, 17 July 1899 – 3 April 1918.
• Johan Vilhelms Sjöholm, vääpeli, 9 June 1897 – 3 April 1918.
• Elias Teppola, aliupseeri, 25 December 1895 – 4 April 1918.
• Emil Vainionpää, vääpeli, 7 January 1892 – 3 April 1918.
• Juho Veijalainen, aliupseeri, 20 June 1892 – 3 April 1918.

Captain Toivo Kuisma died in the Aunus attack 1919 and Major Sven Weckström in 1921, having been wounded in Maaninkajärvi that year.

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• May 1916 – February 1918

• June 1916 – August 1916

• September 1916 – December 1916

• December 1916 – March 1917

The Liepaja training period consisted all kinds of special training from general leadership to special skills.

• 25 March 1917 – 13 February 1918[7]

• 1 April 1917, 34 officers, 1277 others and 186 horses[8]
• 2 April 1917, general von Shotzes inspection[8]
• 10 April 1917, ten iron crosses for the jaegers[8]
• 17 April 1917, politicians Fabritius, von Essen and Ekola paid visit[8]
• 27 April 1917, notification of jaeger Herman Hirvonen's death in a hospital in Jelgava (then Mitau),[8]