Hugo Henrik Turunen was part of the elite group of Finnish Jägers who secretly traveled to Germany to receive military training and return as the future cadre of an independent Finland’s army. His journey led him through the trenches of World War I, the bloody clashes of the Finnish Civil War, and later service in a paramilitary organization and a business career in postwar Finland.
From Sawmill to German Trenches
Hugo Turunen was born on September 28, 1894, in Kerimäki, to the family of farmer Niilo Turunen and Emilia Juuti. Before the war, he completed business school in Joensuu and worked in his father’s family timber business. Nothing suggested that the young merchant would soon trade account books for a rifle.
On January 13, 1916, the 21-year-old Turunen joined the legendary 27th Jäger Battalion, a unit of Finnish volunteers trained by the Germans. This was a secret operation in which hundreds of young Finns were smuggled through Sweden to Germany, where they were prepared for a future struggle for the independence of their country, then under Russian control.
Turunen was assigned to the 2nd company of the battalion and was almost immediately thrown into the turmoil of real warfare. He fought on the Eastern Front by the Misa River, in the Gulf of Riga, and at Schmarden. During the engagements at the Gulf of Riga on September 22, 1916, he was wounded. It was his only combat injury, even though he would later take part in many more battles.
Return to Homeland
On February 25, 1918, Turunen returned to Finland with the main corps of Jägers, landing in Vaasa already as a lieutenant. The country he returned to was in chaos, caught in a civil war between the Whites and Reds. The German-trained Jägers were an invaluable resource for the White Army, desperately in need of experienced officers.
Turunen was given command of a platoon in the 1st Company of the 7th Jäger Battalion, which belonged to the 3rd Jäger Regiment. Just a month later, on March 23, 1918, he was promoted to commander of the entire company. Two days later, his unit was transferred to the 11th Jäger Battalion within the 4th Jäger Regiment.
However, on April 1, 1918, Turunen was unexpectedly demoted from company commander back to platoon commander. The sources do not explain the reason for this decision, leaving room for speculation about possible conflicts with superiors or tactical errors. Despite this demotion, he took part in the battle for Viipuri, one of the key clashes of the Finnish Civil War.
Between Uniform and Business
After the Civil War ended, Turunen continued his military service, regaining the company command position. His career accelerated; from 1919 to 1920, he lectured at the Cadet School, and earlier in 1918, he conducted officer cadet courses in Markovilla. At the same time, he enhanced his education by privately passing the eighth-grade exams at the school in Kouvola.
In September 1925, Turunen left the regular army for the Suojeluskunta, a Finnish paramilitary organization responsible for territorial defense and civic education. He took the post of head of the Suojeluskunta District in Varsinais-Suomi. However, his relationship with the organization was stormy—he resigned twice and returned twice.
Between periods of service, Turunen tried his hand at farming, running the family farm in Rantasalmi. He also worked as a distribution manager for the magazine Hakkapeliitta. These civilian episodes show he was not a one-dimensional man, capable only of functioning in uniform.
Last Wars and Postwar Life
When the Winter War with the USSR broke out in 1939, the now 55-year-old Turunen assumed command of the Suojeluskunta District in Mikkeli. He was later transferred to the national army staff, where he ran the housing and construction offices. During the Continuation War from 1941 to 1944, he was involved in transport logistics, and at the end of the conflict, served as deputy commander of air defense in the Viipuri district.
Interestingly, alongside his military service, Turunen managed a branch of the company Konttorityö Oy in Viipuri. This dual role as officer and businessman marked his entire adult life. After the war, he settled in Lappeenranta, where until 1963 he served as CEO of Konttorimies Oy.
His social and business activity was impressive. He served on supervisory boards of press publishing houses, led the Kaakkois-Suomi Chamber of Commerce, and, from 1967, was general director of the Kaakon Messut trade fair. Hugo Turunen died on September 2, 1984, in Lappeenranta, less than a month before his ninetieth birthday, after a life spanning almost the entire turbulent history of independent Finland.
Autor
Marcus Renfell
Marcus Renfell is a historian driven by curiosity and passion. He refuses to accept the “safe,” polished versions of the past. Instead, he brings forgotten, overlooked, and distorted stories back to life. His work blends scholarly precision with the art of storytelling, turning historical narratives into vivid, page-turning experiences.
His mission is simple: to prove that history can be gripping, alive, and deeply personal.
His debut book: Women of Science. Stories You Were Never Told
In his first publication, Marcus Renfell shines a light on the remarkable women who shaped the world of science — both the pioneers whose names we know and the brilliant minds history forgot. It’s an inspiring journey through untold stories, groundbreaking achievements, and the resilience of women who changed our understanding of the world.
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