The famous speech of Carl Von Döbeln

[trance]

Greetings!
Could someone provide me with an internet version of Carl Von Döbeln's famous speech in 1809 perferably in swedish, when he was adressing his finnish-swedish army following the orders of disbanding the finnish part?
I've been searching the internet to the point of aggravation and I simply cannot find it! No matter what.

[rusina]

Here you go:

”Ett beder jag Er; att när I nalkens de ställen, hvarest vi besegrat våra fiender, och då I där sen den usla sandhög, som betäcker våra stupade kamrater – gifven deras stoft välsignelsens suck … Finnar! Bröder! Kunna dessa ord beseglas med blodstårar från mina ögon, skulle de strömma – och hvarje droppe försäkra Er om min vördnad, min vänskap.”

[Salem1]

Here you go:

”Ett beder jag Er; att när I nalkens de ställen, hvarest vi besegrat våra fiender, och då I där sen den usla sandhög, som betäcker våra stupade kamrater – gifven deras stoft välsignelsens suck … Finnar! Bröder! Kunna dessa ord beseglas med blodstårar från mina ögon, skulle de strömma – och hvarje droppe försäkra Er om min vördnad, min vänskap.”

Damn, old Swedish really sounds a lot more ''honorable'' than modern Swedish. ''Hvarest'' for example isn't even a word anymore and in general the text might as well have been written in Norwegian, not that I can't understand the text. Although there are places in which I can't understand the overall meaning of the words, like ''Ett beder jag er'', I don't get what that's supposed to mean. Ett means one, beder isn't a word anymore nor do I know what it means, jag means me and er means you in plural form. I wouldn't be able to translate that into modern Swedish without doing it roughly because that's an obsolete form of speech with an obsolete word as well, but I think it's supposed to mean something like ''This I tell you'' which would be ''Detta - or Det här which is more everyday speech - talar jag om för er/dig (plural/singular respectively)'' in modern Swedish. It's got a whole load of strange words and spellings, quite exciting really

[Nissedruva]

Damn, old Swedish really sounds a lot more ''honorable'' than modern Swedish. ''Hvarest'' for example isn't even a word anymore and in general the text might as well have been written in Norwegian, not that I can't understand the text. Although there are places in which I can't understand the overall meaning of the words, like ''Ett beder jag er'', I don't get what that's supposed to mean. Ett means one, beder isn't a word anymore nor do I know what it means, jag means me and er means you in plural form. I wouldn't be able to translate that into modern Swedish without doing it roughly because that's an obsolete form of speech with an obsolete word as well, but I think it's supposed to mean something like ''This I tell you'' which would be ''Detta talar jag om för er/dig (plural/singular respectively)'' in modern Swedish. It's got a whole load of strange words and spellings, quite exciting really

Beder is simply modern ber as in english beg or in this sentence more like "i ask you to".

[Carl von Döbeln]

The speech is quite long actually, but sadly i can't find it either..

I can't even remember my own speech...

[Erwin Rommel]

The speech is quite long actually, but sadly i can't find it either..

I can't even remember my own speech...

You;ve not kicked the bucket since the 19th century, you where relegated to playing an Alliance game 1715 to bring all the nostalgia back and now you cant even remember you're own speech.

[Holger Danske]

Ehm, yeah, riiight

[rusina]

I just posted that speech, didn't you noticed?

[Carl von Döbeln]

I just posted that speech, didn't you noticed?

Thats the end of the speech, the real speech is much longer.

[rusina]

Thats the end of the speech, the real speech is much longer.

That speech was PMed by you. You tricked me!

Edit. And Nissedruva, do you mind translating that?

[wilpuri]

That speech was PMed by you. You tricked me!

Edit. And Nissedruva, do you mind translating that?

Speech to Finnish troops, 8th October 1809.

I have gathered the army, to announce, that a preliminary peace agreement has been reached between the Swedish and Russian powers. - These tidings of peace will end all the miseries of a raging war - These should be happy tidings in view of Sweden's exhausted resources, as it ends a conflict, that began as a political mistake, and that has for the second year running required all her strength.

But Finland will be separated from Sweden. - The new state border runs along Torneå river. - Finns! With this peace, a third of the lands of the Swedish crowns are lost. - Sweden loses the proud Finnish Nation, its strongest support - and even this is not enough, for the Swedish army loses its core and the most significant element of its military; - The Motherland is crushed, drowned in sorrow and longing for its unrecoverable sacrifices, but the Wise Allmighty has decided our Destiny, we must accept it with patience - with humility.

- Soldiers! Comrades! Brothers! You, who under the war, with so much loyalty and manliness, despite the superior numbers of the enemy armies, with the strength of arms, at Siikajoki, Revolax, Pulkkila, Lappo, Kauhajoki, Alavo Lappfjerd, Etzeri, Nummijärvi, Juthas and Idensalmi and elsewhere defeated your enemies.

- You, who with your own hands re-took half of Finland, - You, who were finally outnumbered and forced to leave the Finnish border, and have since then with bravery fought for the Swedish soil of the Motherland.

- Aye, you who are present! Are precious survivors of the Proud Finnish Nation and their brave warriors, it is to You that I should and shall, with a moved heart, present you with the King's, - the Realm's, - The Swedish folk's, - The Swedish Army's, - my Brothers in arms, - my own, everyone's, sincere Gratitude.

The King's Gracious Well-wishes, - The Realm's empathy, - The admiration of the Swedish folk, - The friendly respect of the Swedish Army, - The sympathy of my Brothers in arms, - My own devotion towards you, is the sacrifice that consecrates you, and that is brought forth by me!

Finns! Brothers! Your deeds are great, and the gratitude we and all others bestow upon you is equally great. -To express this requires all the skill of a great speaker. But I'm a Soldier. - A Soldier! What a proud title! This title I have, from you - for you - and with you! Receive then the earnest thoughts of a moved heart, and you Swedish Troops, who are present at this honourable and sorrowful event; be living witnesses to the Swedish Motherland's sincere gratitude. - Swedes! Be proud to have seen these Finnish Survivors! Remember them! Honour them! See their weary bodies, their pale faces, they carry the hardships of the past years! And you Finns! When you return to your homelands, deliver the message of gratitude of the Swedish Folk to your Nation! Know this, you may return with torn clothes, amputated or bullet-pierced limbs, but also the visible beauty of the Soul of a Warrior.

Enemies to the Swedish Motherland could you never become - of that I am convinced - but remain it's Friends for all time! Should the new Ruler oppose the living out of your hopes and will, then with the silent speech of Heart and Mind, send your blessings to the Motherland! Remind your children of it; teach every family, bless you, honour you.

- One thing I ask of you! When you return to the lands where we defeated our Enemies, and you see the wretched sand mounds that cover our fallen comrades, give them a silent sigh of Blessing, for they died as heroes and their ashes are cared for by the spirits of Honour.

- I know the human hearts' many quirks, its eagerness to hastily choose an object, which it thinks it will never lose, but barely have a few weeks passed, before instability has made another Choice, time changes everything - with it, everything is forgotten; but one thing I can assure you, and you will see it for yourselves, that the bonds formed between soldiers, bound in battle, danger, blood and death, can never be undone; Thus we are and I am convinced of each others love; the Brotherhood of us soldiers will last us our lifetimes, and the gratitude I've expressed for you, and am now expressing to you, has made our bond an insoluble union.

- Finns! Brothers! If only my words could be accompanied by tears of blood from my eyes, they would flow, and each drop would assure you of my devotion, my friendship!
G. v. Döbeln.

General Befälhafvare
öfver Kongl. Norra Arméen;

[Nissedruva]

Here's a couple of pictures of what i presume is a original document of the speech: http://www.narc.fi/1809opetusaineist...amotaessa3.pdf

Tal till Finska Trouppen d[e]n 8. Octob[e]r 1809.
Jag har samlat Arméen, at tillkännagifva, det en priliminaer
freds Afhandling den 17:de September blifvit gjord emellan
Svenska och Ryska magten. – Denna freds tidning slutar
ett förhärjande krigs alla olyckor – den bör visserligen
vara ett gladt budskap, hälst Sveriges uttömda
källor, icke tillåta fortsättning af en strid, börjad af
Politiskt misstag, och som i 2:ne hela år aftynat alla dess
krafter. Men, Finland frångår Sverige. – Riksgräntsen
är Torneå Elf! – Finnar! vid denna fred, förloras
Tredjedelen af Svenska kronans område – Sverige förlorar
den stolta Finska Ntion, sitt kraftigaste stöd, –
ej nog därmed, Svenska Arméen förlorar Kjernan och betydligaste
delen af dess Krigsmagt; – Moderlandet är Krossat,
försänckt i sorg och saknad öfver oersätteliga upoffringar,
men den Visa allmagten har beslutat våra Öden, de måste
emottagas med Tålamod – med Undergifvenhet. –
Soldater! Camerater! Bröder! Nj som under det nyssslutade
Krig, med så mycken trohet och Mandom, trots Fiendtliga
härars talrikhet, med Vapns sinnliga styrcka; vid Sikajocki,
Revolax, Pulckila, Lappo, Kauhajocki, Alavo Lappfjerd,
Etzeri, Numjerfvi, Juthas, och Idensalmi m:m: besegrat Fiender.
- Nj som på egen hand återtog halfva Finland, – Nj som sluteligen
öfvermannadesm att öfverlämna Finska gräntsen, J
hafven sedermera med ståndagtighet stridt för Moderlandets Svenska jord.
- J, härvarande! ären precieuse [= värdefulla] qvarlefvor af den Stolta finska
Nation, och dess tappra Krigs folck, det är til Eder jag bör
och jag skall, med uprördt Hjerta, förkunna Konungens
Riksens Ständers, – Svenska folckets, – Svenska Armeens –

mine medbröders – min egen – det är allas, uprigtiga Tacksamhet.

Konungens Nådiga Välbehag, – Riksens ständers ömmande
välvilja – Svenska folckets beundran, – Svenska Arméens vänskapsfulla
Högacktning – Mine Medbröders erkänsla – min egen tilgifvenhet
för Eder, är det offer, som et Eder helgas, och af mig
frambäras!
Finnar! Bröder! Edra bedrifter äro stora, och den tacksamhet
jag å allas vägnar förkunnar til eder, är i lika förhållande; –
til dennes tolckning fordrades en Vältalares hela förmåga –
Men jag är Soldat. – Soldat! hvad stolt benämning? då
jag har denna Titel, af Eder – för Eder – och med Eder! –
Emottagen då ett uprört hjertas okonstlade tanckar, och Nj
Svenska Troupper, som vid detta högtidligt sorgbundna tilfälle
ären Närvarande; Varen lefvande Vittnen til Svenska
Moderlandets oinskränckta tacksamhet. – Svenskar! Varen
Stålte öfver, at hafva sedt desse Finska Qvarlefvor! Minnes
dem! – Högakten dem! – Se deras aftynade Kroppar, deras
bleka ansigten, de bära Vedermälen af deras trogna, änskönt
frugtlöse bemödander förflutne År! Och Nj Finnar! När nj
återkommen til Fosterbygden, så framfören Svenska Folckets
tacksamhet, til Er Nation! Weten, att J återvänden med
utslitne Kläder – Afstympade, eller genomskutne lemmar,
men i medfören en rättskaffens Krigsmanna Själs Synbara
prydnad. – Fiender til Svenska Moderlandet Kunnen i
aldrig blifva – derom är jag förvissad – men förblifven
allan tid dess Vänner! skulle det nya Herraväldets magt
hindra, önskans och Er viljas utöfning, så låt med
hjertats och Tanckars tysta språk, välsignelser tildelas Moderlandet!
Påmin Edra barn derom; WJ skola från slägte til
slägte, välsigna Er, högackta Er.
Ett ber jag Er! När J nalckens de ställen WJ besegrat våre
Fiender, och då Nj där sen, den usla sandhög som betäcker våre

stupade Kamerater, gif deras stoft Välsignelsens suck, de hafva dödt Hjeltar, och deras aska vårdas af ärans Vålnader.

– J Kännen Mennisko Hjertats mångfalds nycker, dess anlag

at hastigt välja föremål, som det tror aldrig förgäta; Men
Knapt äro någre Veckor förflutne, förr’n ostadigheten gort
ett annat Vahl, tiden förändrar alt – Med den glömmes
alt; men det försäkrar jag, och J skolen sjelfve finna det,
att Krigsmanna samband, Knutit vid strid, faror, Blod
och död, uplöses aldrig; Således ären J och WJ förvissade om
hvarandras Kjärlek; Krigsmanna Bröderskapet räcker lefnadens
tidlängd, och den tacksamhet jag Er förkunnat, och
nu Er förkunnar, har med detta Vårt samband en ouplöslig
förening. – Finnar! Bröder! Kunde mina ord beseglas
med blods tårar från mine ögon, skulle de strömma, och
hvarje droppa försäkra Er min Vördnad, min vänskap!!!
G. v. Döbeln.
General Befälhafvare

öfver Kongl. Norra Arméen;

Regards Nisse

[rusina]

Thanks.

[wilpuri]

A fine speech, is it not!

[Каие]

So he lost this war?

[wilpuri]

So he lost this war?

The background to this speech is first of all 600 years of history shared within the same realm between Finns and Swedes, and secondly the 1808-09 "Finnish War" between Sweden and Imperial Russia. Napoleon wanted Russia to force Sweden into his little circle of friends. Russia wanted to compensate for losses suffered earlier against the Turks, so they invaded and the war began. It went poorly for the outnumbered Swedish army, and they were driven all the way to Northern Sweden, despite moments of success. In the peace treaty, the territory that is now roughly Finland was ceded to Russia.

Here the good general von Döbeln (with the distinctive eye-patch) bids farewell not just to his soldiers about to return home, now in enemy territory, but also to the bond of arms that had existed for over 500 years.

Tales from this war became folk tales and songs, later becoming infused with the developing Finnish national identity.

[Markas]

So he lost this war?

He was probably too busy yakking he didn't realise the Russians were sneaking up behind him.

[Каие]

It's always the French or Russians isn't it? A lot of the time at the same time.

But it was a great speech. Leaders don't come like that any more. Although we in Britain had Colonel Tim Collins.