Received his military education in the Finnish Jäger Battallion in Germany 1915-1918, and in the Swedish Military Academy 1927-1928. Commander of the armed forces 1933-1939; Commander of the army of the Karelian Isthmus (from 2 October, 1939 till 19 February 1940) and responsible for the defence of the Karelian Isthmus nearly till the end of the Winter War. Österman was forced to resign after the Soviet troops had broken through the Mannerheim line.
Later on, Österman was the Chief Inspector of military education; Inspector of Infantry 1940-1946; representative of the Commander-in-Chief in the headquarters of the German army from 7 February till 20 July, 1944. Österman’s position as the commander of the armed forces was difficult, as Marshal Mannerheim, as the president of the Defence Committee, enjoyed greater authority. At the outbreak of the Winter War, Mannerheim’s and Österman’s opinions on the activities of the protection troops differed. Österman held to the view that the best soldiers of the army, who formed the protection troops, should not be worn out in this task.
World War II | Pacific War | Winter War | Headquarters | Mannerheim Line | Vilho Petter Nenonen | K.L. Oesch | Harald Öhquist | Paavo Talvela | Continuation War |Transit Pact | Risto Ryti | Order of the Day of the Sword Scabbard | Erik Heinrichs | A.F. Airo | Hugo Österman | Marshal's Drink | Mannerheim Cross | Title of Marshal of Finland | Air War - Air Forces
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