Lyrics of Soldier of 3 Armies by Sabaton
Started out as a reserve
Soon promoted when deserved
And the legend has begun
With a bounty on his head
The red army wants him dead
Soviet enemy number one
Cross of Mannerheim
Addicted to the war game
Never-ending flame
Victory reclaimed
Oh, we remember, we remember, we remember
Shout, Lauri Törni’s name
A soldier of three armies knows the game
Deeds that echo from the past
Rise from beyond your grave
Son of Finland and the Green Beret
May you rest in peace at last
Lauri Allan Törni
Across the water a new start
War still beating in his heart
A new legend has been born
Started out as a reserve
Soon promoted when deserved
Changed his name to Larry Thorne
Cross of Mannerheim
Addicted to the war game
Never-ending flame
Victory reclaimed
Oh, we remember, we remember, we remember
Shout, Lauri Törni’s name
A soldier of three armies knows the game
Deeds that echo from the past
Rise from beyond your grave
Son of Finland and the Green Beret
May you rest in peace at last
From the Finnish lakes
Into Germany and USA
All the wars he came across
Cross of Mannerheim
An iron cross, a bronze star, purple heart
One distinguished flying cross
Shout, Lauri Törni’s name
A soldier of three armies knows the game
Deeds that echo from the past
Rise from beyond your grave
Son of Finland and the Green Beret
May you rest in peace at last
Lauri Allan Törni
Historical Background
In short: The song is about the Finnish Soldier Lauri Törni, who served in 3 Armies.
Soldier of 3 Armies – The Legend of Lauri Törni
Some men fight for their country. Others fight for a cause.
But Soldier of 3 Armies by Sabaton tells the story of Lauri Törni, the man who fought for three different nations—Finland, Nazi Germany, and the United States.
This is how one soldier became a legend across three armies.
Lauri Törni – From Finland to the World
“Started out as a reserve, soon promoted when deserved.”
Lauri Allan Törni was born in Finland in 1919.
- He first fought in the Winter War (1939–1940), where Finland defended itself against the Soviet Union.
- He quickly became known for his skill in guerrilla warfare.
- When the Continuation War (1941–1944) broke out, he led elite Finnish units against the Soviets.
“With a bounty on his head, the Red Army wants him dead, Soviet enemy number one.”
Törni was so effective at killing Soviet troops that the USSR put a bounty on his head.
A Soldier of Nazi Germany
“From the Finnish lakes, into Germany and USA.”
After Finland signed peace with the Soviet Union in 1944, Törni refused to give up.
- He traveled to Nazi Germany and joined the Waffen-SS, hoping to continue fighting the Soviets.
- He trained with the German army’s special forces but never saw major combat before Germany surrendered.
- After the war, he was arrested for treason in Finland but later pardoned.
“Cross of Mannerheim, an Iron Cross.”
For his service, he was awarded Finland’s highest military honor—the Cross of Mannerheim, as well as Germany’s Iron Cross.
Becoming a U.S. Green Beret – The Final Chapter
“Across the water, a new start, war still beating in his heart.”
After World War II, Törni escaped Finland, traveled to Sweden, and then illegally entered the United States.
- In 1954, he joined the U.S. Army under the name “Larry Thorne”.
- He became part of the newly-formed U.S. Special Forces—the Green Berets.
- He served in Vietnam, leading commando missions against the Viet Cong.
“Son of Finland and the Green Beret, may you rest in peace at last.”
In 1965, during a mission in Vietnam, his helicopter crashed, and he was declared missing in action.
His remains were found in 1999 and buried at Arlington National Cemetery—making him the only former Nazi officer buried there.
“An Iron Cross, a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, one Distinguished Flying Cross.”
Want to Learn More?
- 🎥 Sabaton History – Soldier of 3 Armies (Documentary) – The Sabaton History Documentary to the historical background of the song.
- 🎥 The Soldier who fought in 3 Armies by Simple History (YouTube) – An animated explanation video about Lauri Thorne (Lauri Törni).
- 📖 Lauri Törni (Wikipedia) – His full biography.
- 📖 Winter War (Wikipedia) – Finland’s fight against the USSR.
- 📖 Continuation War (Wikipedia) – Finland’s alliance with Nazi Germany.
- 📖 U.S. Army Special Forces (Wikipedia) – The Green Berets that he joined.
The Lesson?
Most soldiers serve one nation. Lauri Törni served three.
And in 1965, deep in the jungles of Vietnam, his journey came to an end—but his legend lives on.
