1. The Beginning
Finland declared neutrality when the Germans attacked the Soviet Union on 22nd June 1941.
But Finnish High Command had been because of a danger of renewed Soviet invasion
negotiating with Germans since the end part of the 1940. Germans had planned a part for
the Finnish Army in the Operation Barbarossa even though the Finland wasn't formally
linked up with German plans. Germany and Finland had made a pass-thru deal for German
soldiers going to R&R to the Germany from the Norway. German government also had begun
selling armaments to Finland already in 1940. Some German forces crossed the Finnish
territory immediately after 22nd June, and began to prepare to launch an attack to
Murmansk. Also German Ju-88 bombers used Finnish airforce base in Utti as a refueling
point when returning from bombing the Leningrad. The public opinion in Finland was
accepting that the plan that Finland should take the territories lost on peace of 13th
March 1940 back. Also
the complete destruction of the centuries old enemy was hoped. The Soviet government felt
uneasy with Finnish neutrality and decided to take action herself. The Red Airforce bombed
several Finnish towns with SB-2 bombers on 25 June 1941. The president of Finland, Risto
Ryti, made radio sppech and declared that once again the enemy has destroyed Finnish homes
and ended the speech by stating that a state of war exists between Finland and the Soviet
Union.
2. The Offensive Phase 1941
Finnish Army had been called up already before the Operation Barbarossa, but it had spent
the rest of the June preparing for offensives and stockpiling supplies.
2.1 The First Attacks
2.1.1 The German Gebirgsjaegerkorps, German 36th Korps and Finnish 3rd
Corps
First offensive was launched by German forces under command of AOK Norwegen and operating
from Petsamo in the coast of the Arctic Sea. They attacked the border installations on
29th June and continued a few days. This force was made up of 2nd & 3rd
Gebirgsdivisions (Mountain Division) and Finnish Detachment P. Offensive petered out soon.
Also German 36th Korps which 169th Division, SS-Division "Nord" and 6th
Finnish Division went into action in the central and southern parts of the Lapland.
Later in the 1941 these were reinforced with some additional regiments and battalions.
German attacks were inefficient and Germans took heavy losses. Finnish 3rd Corps was also
under the German command and it advanced more rapidly that German units.
2.1.3 The 14th Division Crosses the Border
On the 3 July 1941 Finnish 14th Division which was operating independently in the
Rukajärvi sector crossed to the Russian side and was engaged in heavy fighting. It
destroyed some Russian detachments in "motti" battle of Omelia and advanced
further.
2.1.4 First Finnish Major Offensive
On 10th July the Finnish Karelian Army began her offensive. It advanced rapidly and took
most of the northern part of the lost territory by the end of the July. Advance was
stopped few dozen kilometres from the old border of 1939. Karelian Army was made of
VII Corps and VI Corps and Group O, which had five divisions, two Jaeger Brigades and a
Cavalry Brigade. (Brigades made up Group O and divisions were divided in the corps). Also
the German 136th Division was a part of this army.
2.1.5 Advance to the outskirts of Leningrad
In the August the I Corps and IV Corps lauched an offensive which at first forced two
Russian divisions evacuate themselves using barges on Lake Ladoga. After that offensive
was directed to the south. Same time IV Corps tried to encircle town of Viborg by making
an invasion across the Gulf of Viborg. Russians fled, but three divisions lost most of
their heavy equipment and lots of men breaking free from encirclement. Within a week the
old border had been crossed, but the advance was stopped on the outskirts of Leningrad.
The front stayed there until June 1944.
2.2 The siege of Hango
Hango, a rental area for 50 years, which Soviets had gained in the Moscow Peace 1940, was
completely isolated from the rest of the Soviet Union. It was heavily fortified and
Finnish Army decided not to attack it. Battles were small skirmishes on the islands
nearby. Sieging troops were mostly swedish-speaking Finns, there was also a Swedish
Volunteer
Battalion from Sweden as the Hango region is populated by swedish-speakers. Russians
evacuated Hango in December 1941, as it was becoming impossible to supply them from
Leningrad, which was also under siege.
2.3 Attacks in the autumn of 1941
2.3.1 German and Finnish attacks are halted in the Lapland
It became soon apparent that the Germans are not making good progress in the north.
Finnish High Command refused to transfer more troops there, and at first the attack was
halted in Petsamo sector, where the troops were mostly German Gebirgsjaeger-troops
(Mountain Troops). Soon after the German 36th Korps with Finnish 6th Division on their way
to Kandalaksha halted their advance on the Vermajoki line. The front stayed there until
1944 as in the Petsamo. Germans concentrated their hopes on reaching the Murmansk railway
on the Kestenga sector where Finnish forces alone had made rapid advanced in the summer.
However this didn't help as the Russians were determined not to let the railway to be cut
and sent in more forces. Last attempt was made by the Finnish Division J and German
SS-Division "Nord" in the November. After that the front stayed there until
1944.
In the Uhtua sector the Finnish III Corps advanced near Uhtua and stayed there until 1944.
The 14th Division fighting alone in the wilderness took lvillage of Rukajärvi in
September 1941, and stayed on same trenches until armistice of September 1944.
2.4.2 Advance to the Eastern Karelia
The Karjalan Armeija (Karelian Army) launched an offensive in the autumn of 1941, aiming
to take the Soviet Karelia as buffer zone between Finland and Soviet Army. It was also
planned to use it as a ransom in peace negotiations. Finnish advance was very fast
in the beginning, tanks and bicycle jaeger troops were used. The capital of the Karelian
Autonomous Soviet Republic,
Petrozavodsk was taken in the October. Good defence line in the isthmus between lakes
Ladoga and Onega along the
River Svir was achieved in the October. Later the advance continued to the north from the
Petrozavodsk. Town of Medvezhegorsk was taken in the early December. Last advance was made
on the 6th December 1941, the same day when Britain declared war on Finland. After that
the Finnish High Command, mainly Marshall Mannerheim considered the front lines to be in
favourable positions for defence. Finnish Army began to wait how the conflict between
Germany and Soviet Union turns out. Finland had liberated all territories ceded by Soviet
Union in the peace of 1940. German 136th Division was with Finnish Army. It took positions
on the north coast of Lake Ladoga, waiting for German divisions of Heeresgruppe Nord (Army
Group North) coming from Tikhvin in the south
3. The Trenches phase 1942-44
3.1 Frontline from the Gulf of Finland to the Arctic Sea
During the trench time the front was unchanged. Losses were mostly from sniper fire,
patrol skirmishes and air battles. The front line began near the old border on the coast
of Gulf of Finland. From there it went as an continuous line of trenches to the Lake
Ladoga. From the north coast of the Lake Ladoga the front went as trench line to
the Lake Onega. From the northes point of the Lake Onega it went to Lake Seesjärvi. After
Seesjärvi the continuous frontline ceased to exist. The vast wildernessess of the Lapland
were guarded by small patrols mostly. Only near the roads were clear frontlines
established. German AOK Norwegen, from the summer of 1942 known as 21st Gebirsgarmee
(Mountain Army) was in charge of all the troops in the Northern Finland.
3.2 Russian attacks in 1942
Russians tried to launch some serious counterattacks in January, April and May of 1942.
These were in the Medvezhegorsk sector, River Svir sector and in Kestenga. All attacks
failed and caused heavy losses to Russians.
3.3 Reorganization
Finnish economy had been strained to the ultimate limits in the attack phase. It was
deemed as necessary to recude the number of men in the service. So two divisions were
disbanded. Some new brigades were formed in 1943 and an armoured division, which had
captured Russian tanks (T-34, T-26, KV-1) and Stug-IIIG's. Also all Finnish forces except
Detachment P were withdrawn from the German commanded Lapland front.
3.4 Initiatives for peace
Finnish government tried for twice to initiate peace talks, after Stalingrad catastrophe
in early 1943, and after the siege of Leningrad had been broken in the spring of 1944.
Russians tried to bomb Helsinki, so that Finland you be more willing to peace. Three
large-scale air attacks with hundreds of bombers, some even making two sorties a night
from the airfields located near Leningrad, were successfully repelled and most of the
bombs were dropped into Gulf of Finland. The key to success was a new AA-tactic of
concentrated fire, which made bomber crews nervous, and they tended to drop bombs too
early. However, Finnish government started negotiations through Sweden, but Allied demands
were too much, including withdrawal from all occupied terrotiries, expelling of Germans
and large reparations. Finland decided to see what is coming.
4. The Russian offensive in 1944
Stalin had decided to solve the question of Finland and then continue towards Berlin. The
offensive began on 9th June 1944, and took Finnish army by surprise. The artillery
bombardment was one of the heaviest in the WWII.
4.1 The retreat from Carelian Insthmus
The main direction of Soviet assault was in Carelian Isthmus, where the Soviet 30th Guards
Corps and other elite troops were deployed. The 10th Division lines broke at Valkeasaari
(Beloostrov) on 10th June. Finnish forces redeployed themselves to so called VT-line, and
the Armoured Division was sent to help. This was in vain, as the Armoured Division
and 3rd Division were unable to stop Soviets in battle of Kuuterselkä. 2nd Division held
her positions at Siiranmäki, but had to retreat after Finnish loss of Kuuterselkä
exposed her flank.
After that the retreat to VKT-line was very fast, taking only about a week. On 20th June
the newly arrived 20th Brigade from Eastern Carelia as reinforcement took charge of the
defense of Viborg. The Brigade lost the town the same day in a debacle, which caused the
brigade commander to be court-martialed later.
4.1.1 The Battle of Ihantala
After the retreat to VKT-line was complete, the Finnish forces began to make serious
resistance. Lots of reinforcements were hurled in, like 6th Division from Lapland and
several divisions from Eastern Carelia. The decisive battle was fought in the ending days
of June and earliest days of July. It was the largest battle ever fought in the Nordic
countries of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Finns had massed a massive artillery
there, and sometimes it blew Russians apart when they were only preparing
to launch the first wave. Also new anti-tank weapons were provided by Germany, which
proved to be effective. Hitler also sent a flight group, Gefechtverband Kuhlmey, composed
of Fw-190's and Stuka's to help. Also
German 303th Assault Gun Brigade was at Ihantala. The Russian plan had called them to be
by the Kymi River at this time, but
they were still more than 120 km from it. Russians admitted their failure, and began to
move troops to the Belorussian front, so that Allies do not get first to Berlin.
4.1.2 The battle of Vuosalmi
After Russians saw that they had failed in Ihantala, they tried to break Finnish positions
in Vuosalmi and encircle the left part of Finnish forces in the Isthmus. Finnish positions
were in a very unfavourable place in the
ridge of Äyräpää, the wide river Vuoksi behind. Russian 115th Corps soon forced Finns
across the river, but despite the
fields on the other side, which were advantageous to Russian armor, they made no further
advances. The depleted Armoured Division was sent to help the 2nd Division, as the
situation in Ihantala had become more stabile. Russians had lost massive losses, there are
more than 15000 Russians buried in the ridge of Äyräpää alone. Finnish counterattacks
had no success and the both sides were on defensive in mid-July.
4.1.3 The other battles in the Carelian Isthmus
The Russians tried to cross the Gulf of Viborg south of the town in early July. They
managed to take islands on the Gulf, but landings on the other side were repelled. Here
the Finnish forces were helped by the German
122nd Division. In the northern part of the Isthmus the 15th Division and 19th Brigade
repelled all attacks made against the VKT-line.
4.2 The retreat from the Eastern Carelia
The Eastern Carelia was thought of being lesser value, and Marshall Mannerheim decided to
withdraw units from there while slowing the Russians down. The retreat began on 20th June.
The Russians however made a landing in Tuulos beach in the rear of the Finnish and the
retreat nearly failed. After the retreat the Finnish forces occupied the U-line in the
mid-July. There 5th Division stopped Russians in the battle of Nietjärvi. The last
Russian offesive action in the Continuation War was in the Ilomantsi, the only place were
Russians were able to cross over the 1940 border line, only to get destroyed. Finnish
mixed forces of 21st Brigade, Cavalry Brigade and other units encircled Soviet 176th and
289th Divisions. Russians lost all their heavy equipment and divisions retreated through
the woods in the early August. This battle is called as "the last lesson from an old
motti master". The motti tactic was the one used when encircling Soviets in the WWII.
The Rukajärvi sector was the only one where the Russians made no attempts to advance.
There the 14th Division waited until armistice. Russians were
on defense also in the German sector of the front until Finland had made the armistice.
5. Air and Naval War
5.1 The Finnish Airforce
Finnish Airforce had a mixture of mostly obsolete aircraft for the duration of the war. In
the early part fighter force consisted of Bw-239 Buffalo (F2A), which was very liked, and
Finnish aces scored hundreds of red-star planes with them. Also Curtiss Hawk (P-36) and
Morane Saulnier's were used. In 1943 Messerschmitt Bf-190 G-6's were bought from the
Germany, and they were theonly non-obsolete fighter in 1944. Bomber force consisted of
Bristol Blenheims bought from Britain or built under license in the 30's. Later Göring
gave as a gift 15 Do-17Z planes and Finland bought Ju-88's.
5.2. The Finnish Navy
Finnish Navy had two heavy-armed coastal vessels vith 254 mm guns, the Väinämöinen and
Ilmarinen. Ilmarinen was lost after striking a mine in September 1941. 5 submarines were
used to patrol sea lanes. They sunk some Russian subs. Other forces were minelayers,
minesweepers, gunboats and patrol boats. Naval losses were quite minor. The sea lanes to
Germany were very important, as the Finland was not self-supporting in food for example.
Luckily the blockade of Leningrad made it difficult for Soviet subs to penetrate the
Baltic Sea and wreck havoc among shipping. Soviets were most active in 1942. Later
intensified mining and sub nets across the Gulf of Finland diminished the threat.
6. The Armistice and Aftermath
After repelling all Russian attacks, the Finnish High Command decided to sue for peace,
despite unfavourable terms. Finnish President Ryti, who had made a deal that Finland does
not sue for peace while he is in the office, resigned. This deal had been necessary, as
Hitler otherwise would not had given the weapons aid to Finland. Now Marshall Mannerheim
was elected as the president by the Eduskunta (Parliament). Russians were willing to
peace, as they did not want to spent resources and men to conquer Finland, when the race
to Berlin was underway. The Armistice became effective on 4 September 1944. Russians
however interpreted that it bacame effective on 5th September, so about dozen Finnish
soldiers died while fire had been ceased. The interim peace was signed on 19th September.
The terms were hard. All Germans had to leave Finland within 15 days (which they of course
could not accomplish, and this led to Lapland War), a large sum of reparations had to be
payed (this gave rise to Finnish metal and shipbuilding industry), the army had to be on
peacetime streght in November, the army
strenght was limited at peacetime to 30000, all territories lost in the peace of 1940 were
lost again except Hanko, and Petsamo area was added to the lost areas, a base had to be
rented to the Soviets 20 km from Helsinki, all fascist-like organisations were to be
banned (Finland was never nazi-run like Germany or Italy, but it had a small Nazi Party,
which at the height of her power had only 14 of 200 seats in the Eduskunta),all
communists to be released from prisons and an Allied Control Commission came to Helsinki
to supervise that the terms were followed. The Control Commission later demanded for a War
Quilt Trial, which was against all judicial principles of Finnish courts, as the
"crime" had been no crime when committed. However the political leadership of
the wartime was sent to prison for few years. The peace was signed in Paris in 1947. The
Communists plotted for take-over between 1945-48, but Finnish democratic tradition was so
strong that they met no more success than Nazis in the early 30's.
Finland had lost 65000 men dead in the Continuation War, but retained her independence. 10
% of the land was lost permanently, causing 400000 refugees to be settled in to remaining
parts of Finland. War had been immense strain on Finnish economy and society. Finland had
mobilized 16 % of the adult population, more than any other nation in the WWII. When
looking at countries that suffered under the Soviet yoke for 50 years, like our neighbor
Estonia, it surely looks like worth it.
18.05.1998 Jyväskylä Henri Hovi
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