Joy,

Since you asked, this is from the following web site:

http://www.barkingbrook.com/Hakkapeliitta.html

"Hakkapeliittas were the Finnish cavalry of the Swedish army. Gustaf II
Adolf significantly developed the tactics and training of the army, making
the Swedish army possibly the most efficient during the 30 Years War. The
cavalry had a mobile role in it and as the voluntary Finnish cavalry had
many of the better horses (in contrast to small Swedish horses) and able men
it became a feared elite force during the 17th century. The name derived
from their battle-cry "hakkaa p��lle" (strike them down). The Finnish
cavalry, known as hakkapeliittas, fought successfully and spread fear among
the Catholic Imperial troops who're used to more old-fashioned and rigid
warfare. The following territorial conquests from Denmark, Russia and German
states raised Sweden(-Finland) to a great power status for a hundred years.
The Hakkapeliitta studded snow tires are named after these Hakkapeliittas."

You really CAN find anything on the internet...

Don in Reidsville, NC
1987 Vanagon GL Syncro

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joy Hecht" <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Fri 24 September 2004 00:34
Subject: Re: pretend it's already Friday (was RE: Spare-tire Pan Bolt Spec

< SNIP>
> More Friday irrelevancy:  Where on earth does the name Hakkapelliitta come
> from???  It's a delightful name!
>
>
> Joy
>
>
> ****************************************************************
>
> Joy Hecht
> and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon