Lieutenant showing Russian petrol bomb to Colonel Svensson, inside just captured Seurahuone hotel/restaurant in Sortavala, Ladoga Karelia. August 1941.

Russian petrol bomb

Antero Svensson (1892-1946), Knight of the Mannerheim Cross #5.

In Winter War Colonel Svensson commanded 2nd Brigade at Karelian Isthmus from beginning of hostilities to February 2, 1940, when he assumed the command of 12th Division, which held it's ground at Kollaa River through the war. During Continuation War he first commanded 7th Division ("Sword Division") starting from June 1941, and led it in battles of Ladoga Karelia and Olonets Karelia. He was awarded the Mannerheim Cross on August 16, 1941, day after he recaptured Sortavala in Ladoga Karelia. Svensson commanded the division until August 1943, when he was put in charge of 5th Corps, which he led in Karelian Isthmus through battles of summer 1944 and until it was disbanded in December of the same year.

Promotions:
Imperial German Army (27th Jäger Battalion, 1915-1918)
Hilfsgruppenführer (Assistant squad leader) - October 1, 1916
Gruppenführer (Squad leader) - October 28, 1917

Finnish Army (1918-1946)
Luutnantti (Lieutenant) - February 11, 1918
Ratsumestari (Captain of cavalry) - May 16, 1919
Majuri (Major) - May 16, 1923
Everstiluutnantti (Lieutenant Colonel) - December 6, 1927
Eversti (Colonel) - December 6, 1933
Kenraalimajuri (Major General) - December 18, 1941

Antero Svensson

Sniper Simo Häyhä photographed with his division commander after receiving honorary rifle. Kollaa, Ladoga Karelia, February 17, 1940.