Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim

Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (June 4, 1867 – January 28, 1951) was the reputed Commander-in-Chief of Finland's Defence Forces, Marshal of Finland, an astute politician, a successful military commander and was later President of Finland (1944–1946).

Trivia

• Mannerheim was the only person who received military decorations from both sides of the conflict in both the First World War and the Second World War. He was also decorated by Sweden, a neutral country.
• In the thirties Mannerheim was invited to join a tiger hunt by the king of Nepal. He felled a tiger which was one of the largest ever measured and which had reputedly killed two men. The pelt is in display at the Mannerheim museum in Helsinki.
• In his time at the Chevalier Guard the guardsmen were entitled to one shot of vodka each day. The shot glass was filled to the brim so that each man would be certain to get the same amount as the others. The glass was to be emptied without spilling. Mannerheim continued this tradition in his later life. Mannerheim was also not satisfied with the spirits available in Finland at the time, and therefore always requested that gin and dry French vermouth were to be blended into available aquavit. This way of drinking alcohol is in Finland known widely as "Marskin ryyppy" (The Marsk's(Mannerheim) drink/shot).
• Due to his rheumatism he slept in a very simple collapsible military cot.
• Of all military commanders in the World War II, Mannerheim had held the highest rank during the World War I, having been a full general of cavalry (ratsuväenkenraali) at the war's end in 1918.