Finlands Winter War 1939-40

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

The peace treaty with the Soviet Union called for German forces to leave Finland within 14 days. The Finns hoped that the Germans should leave peacefully.

In the night beween 14th to 15th September 1944 German forces tryed to occupy the island of Hogland/Suursaari - Operation "Tanne Ost". The Finns were surprised but trew the Germans back within 24 hours.

Now when the Germans had started real hostilities the Finns moved north. Learning that the Germans had burnt the city of Rovaniemi - capital in Lappland - it came to a bitter war.

The German forces in Northern Finland were 9 Divisions with some 200.000 men.

The Finns deployed some 60.000 men which was increased in October to 75.000 men and later decreased in December to 12.000 men.

The Finns attacked with 3rd Army Corps (LtGen Siilasvuo). The Army Corps consisted of four Divs and two Bdes and advanced in three coulums:

WEST (MjGen Pajari)
3rd Inf Div (MjGen Pajari)
11th Inf Div (MjGen Heiskanen)
15th Inf Bde (Col Kuistio)

MIDDLE (MjGen Lagus)
Armoured Div (MjGen Lagus) - on map marked PS
6th Inf Div (Col Puroma)

EAST (Col Inkala)
Border Bde (Col Inkala) - on map marked Rj

After the initial phase only the Rifle Bde (JPr, Col Nordgren) of Armoured Div continued north - and fought a distance 0f 540 km.

The West column made a landing in Tornio harbour.

At the same time the Finnish Army was demobilized and on 5th December 1944 the 3rd Army Corps was reorganized as 1st Division (LtGen Siilasvuo) consisting of 1st, 2nd and 8th Inf Regts plus 2nd, 3rd and 4th Rifle Bns.

The Lappland war lasted 1st October 1944 to 25th April 1945.