The recruitement was secret and the men were transported to Germany across the western border of Finland via Sweden. The volunteers were formed into the Royal Prussian 27th Jäger Battallion, and participated in the ranks of the German Army in 1916 and 1917 in the battles on the northern flank of the eastern front. In Finland, these 2,000 volunteers were simply called Jägers. As early as 1918, they were afforded the right to use the word Jäger in their military ranks. Jäger March composed by Jean Sibelius to the words written by Jäger Heikki Nurmio, was the honorary march of many army detachments.
After Finland had become independent, the battallion was joined into the Finnish army in February 1918, and was given their own flag in Libau. The blue and white flag, resembling that of the Finnish Guard, had a blue cross with the lion coat-of-arms in the middle, and Prussian-style eagle emblems in the corners.
Many of the Jägers continued their
military careers and most of the commanders of army corps, divisions and regiments in the
Winter and Cotinuation Wars were Jägers.
Commander-in-Chief 1918 | Headquarters 1918
| Vaasa Senate | Hannes Ignatius
| Martin Wetzer | Harald Hjalmarson
| Ernst Linder | Gösta Theslöf | Jägers | St Petersburg Question | Relations with Germany | Cross of Liberty
| Eastern Karelia | Uusimaa Dragoon
Regiment | Fir Twig | Finnish Flag
| Swedish Brigade | Civil Guards | Jäger Conflict | Heikki Kekoni | Red Prisoners | Wilhelm Thesleff
| Aarne Sihvo | Rudolf Walden |
Air Force - Air Weapon | Red and White
Terrorism | Great Parade 16 May, 1918 | Åland Question | Monarchy | Mannerheim's Resignation
COURSE OF LIFE | FAMILY | TIME OF GROWTH | MILITARY CAREER | WAR OF INDEPENDENCE | REGENT 1918-1919 | CIVILIAN | DEFENCE COUNCIL | COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 1939-1946 | PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 1944-1946 | RETIREMENT | SPECIAL TOPICS | SEARCH