My Akja - Pull sled

[BergführerKiser]

Grüß Gott Kameraden,

After seeing photos of Jens wonderful Assault Raft, I thought I would post some shots of my Akja pull sled. I picked this up a few years ago. It came out of Finland. It is about 8 feet long and 2 feet wide. The Akjas was used to pull supplies and wounded across snow. These were used mainly by Gebirgsjägers and Skijägers, though I have seen photos of standard troops using them as well.

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Another view:

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The maker's label:

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Here is a graphic showing the different types of Akjas. This is from the German manual "Taschenbuch für den Winterkrieg" which was translated by the Military Intelligence Division of the War Department as "German Winter Warfare" Secial Series, No. 18 and dated 15 December 1943...RESTRICTED:

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Another graphic from the manual. This one shows different methods of evacuating wounded in the Akja:

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This is the Akja filled with supplies at the Reading, PA World War II Living History Event held every June:

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Patrick,

what an awesome Akja, It seems that we could have a good Race together with Ade and his Canoe. .
It must be very hard to locate such an Akja. Nice that the makers label also survived.
It makes a great display with the equipments in it.

Many thanks for sharing your nice Akja. Bests Jens

[Lasse L]

Wow! An amazing object!! Thanks for showing!
May I ask if you have any story behind this item?

[BergführerKiser]

Wow! An amazing object!! Thanks for showing!
May I ask if you have any story behind this item?

Grüß Di' Lasse,

I wish I had a great story for this item. Perhaps you can help with the translation of the maker's label? All I know is that 3 of these Akjas were brought to the USA a few years ago by a museum for a Finnish "Winter War" display. Apparently, after the display was over, some, or maybe just this one, were put up for sale. I found this one on ebay!!! So, as far as I know, only three of these Akjas exist in the USA. I'm sure that they are more common in your neck of the woods.

[BergführerKiser]

Another painting by German War Artist, Emil Rizek. An Austrian-born artist who lived in the United States. During a visit to Austria with his American wife in 1938, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht. Emil used various mediums: watercolor, oils, charcoal.

[Jan B]

This is a wonderfull piece of history Patrick! Thanks for sharing it

Here are some wartime pictures of these akjas being used to transport wounded soldiers. ( copyright "Der Sanitätsdienst des Heeres" by Buchner)


Cheers

Jan

[Jan B]

another one

[ANDY BUTKUS]

That's a very unique item..Thanks for sharing it with us..

[Adrian Stevenson]

Very nice item I have never seen one in a collection before.


Cheers, Ade.

[BergführerKiser]

Grüß Gott Kameraden,

Thanks to all for your great comments.

Jens...thanks for posting the photos from Buchner's book (I have it too.). So you, Ade, and I are on for the race!!! Where shall we do it? Bodensee? Starnbergersee? Chiemsee? Or do we need to have a white water race?

If anyone has other photos of Akjas in use, please post them.