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Aimo Allan Koivunen(Finnish pronunciation:[ɑi̯moɑlːɑnkoi̯ʋunen];17 October 1917 – 12 August 1989) was aFinnishsoldier in theContinuation Warand the first documented case of a soldier overdosing onmethamphetamineduring combat.[1]
Aimo Koivunen | |
|---|---|
 Koivunen in 1943 | |
| Born | 17 October 1917 Alastaro,Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire |
| Died | 12 August 1989(aged 71) Jyväskylä,Finland |
| Allegiance | Finland |
| Branch | Finnish Army |
| Years of service | 1939–1944 |
| Rank | Corporal[1] |
| Conflict | |
Early life
editAimo Allan Koivunen was born inAlastaro,Grand Duchy of Finland,on 17 October 1917 to Frans Vihtori Koivunen and Aune Sofia Koivunen. They had six children, of which Aimo was the eldest.[2]
Experience during the Continuation War
editKoivunen was a Finnish soldier, assigned to a ski patrol on 15 March 1944 along with several other Finnish soldiers. Three days into their mission on 18 March, the group was attacked and surrounded bySovietforces, from whom they were able to escape.[3]Koivunen became fatigued after skiing for a long distance but could not stop. He was carrying his patrol's entire supply of army-issuedPervitin,ormethamphetamine,a stimulant used to remain awake while on duty.[4]He consumed the entire supply of Pervitin, and had a short burst of energy, but soon entered a state of delirium and eventually lost consciousness. Koivunen later recalled waking up the following morning, separated from his patrol and having no supplies.[5]
In the following days, Koivunen escaped Soviet forces once again, was injured by aland mine,and stayed in a ditch for a week, waiting for help.[5][4]In the week that he was gone, he subsisted only onpine budsand a singleSiberian jaythat he caught and ate raw.[5][4]Having skied more than 400 km (248.5 mi), he was later found and admitted to a nearby hospital, where his heart rate was measured at 200 beats per minute, and he weighed only 43 kg (94.8 lbs).[5][4]
Private life
editKoivunen and his wife Elsa had nine children and the family later settled inCentral Finland.[4]He died in 1989 at the age of 71.[5]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ab"Aimo Allan Koivunen".sotapolku.fi.2016.Archivedfrom the original on 4 November 2018.Retrieved19 October2018.
- ^"Aimo Koivunen".MyHeritage.27 April 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 7 December 2022.Retrieved6 December2022.
- ^Länkinen, Tiina (9 March 2015)."Onko mummolassa metamfetamiinia kaapin perällä? –" Ei todellakaan kannata kokeilla "".yle.fi.UUTISET.Archivedfrom the original on 13 October 2018.Retrieved19 October2018.
- ^abcdeMikkonen, Nadja (4 December 2019)."Aimo annos".Yle(in Finnish).Retrieved3 November2024.
- ^abcdeRantanen, Miska (28 May 2002)."Finland: History: Amphetamine Overdose In Heat Of Combat".mapinc.org.Helsingin Sanomat.Archivedfrom the original on 11 October 2018.Retrieved19 October2018.