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Finnish Army
Suomen maavoimat
Finlands armé

Finnish Army emblem
Active 1918–present
Country Finland
Role Ground defence
Engagements Winter War
Continuation War
Lapland War
Commanders
Commander Lieutenant-General Ilkka Aspara

The Finnish Army (Finnish: Maavoimat, Swedish: Armén) is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces. Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. The Winter War (Talvisota Советско-финляндская война - official Зимняя война - unofficial Vinterkriget began when the The Continuation War (Jatkosota Fortsättningskriget Советско-финская война ( 25 June 1941 &ndash 19 September 1944) The Lapland War (Finnish Lapin sota) were the hostilities between Finland and Nazi Germany between September 1944 and April 1945 fought in the Finland's Lieutenant General is a Military rank used in many countries The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. Finnish ( or suomen kieli) is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland (92% As of 2006) and by ethnic Finns outside Swedish ( is a North Germanic language spoken by more than nine million people predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along the An army (from Latin Armata "act of arming" via Old French armée) in the broadest sense is the land-based Armed forces The Finnish Defence Forces is responsible for defence of Finland. Today's Army is divided into six branches: the infantry, field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, engineers, signals, and materiel troops. The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists Field artillery is a category of mobile Artillery used to support armies in the field Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging hostile military Aircraft in defence of ground objectives, ground or naval forces Combat engineering is a Combat service support role of using the knowledge tools and techniques of Engineering by troops in peace and war but specifically in Materiel (from the French "matériel" for equipment or hardware related to the word Material) is a term used in English to refer to the

Contents

History of the Finnish Army

See also: Military of the Grand Duchy of Finland

Between 1809 and 1917 Finland was an autonomous part of the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland. Between 1809 and 1917 Finland was an autonomous part of the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland. Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya The Grand Duchy of Finland (Magnus Ducatus Finlandiæ Великое княжество Финляндское ' Velikoe knjažestvo finljandskoe) was the Predecessor Between 1881 and 1901 the Grand Duchy had its own army. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Before that several other military units had also been formed while Finland belonged to Sweden. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation.

The Grand Duchy inherited its allotment system (ruotujakolaitos) from the Swedish military organization. The allotment system (indelningsverket ruotujakolaitos was a system used in Sweden for keeping a trained army at all times Sweden–Finland is a historiographical term used especially in Finland, to refer to the Swedish Kingdom from the Kalmar Union to the However, for several decades, Russian rulers did not require military service from Finland - operations and defence were mostly taken care by Russian troops based in the Grand Duchy. As a result, officer benefits of the allotment system became practically pensions, as payment was based on passive availability, not on actual service.

The Finnish lantdag made a pact with Tsar Alexander I; Finland paid a tax to Russia as compensation and military service was not called. The Diet of Finland ( Finnish Suomen maapäivät, later valtiopäivät; Swedish Finlands Lantdagar) was the legislative Alexander I of Russia ( Russian: Александр I Павлович / Aleksandr I Pavlovich (23 December 1777 – November 19 1825 served as Emperor of This lasted until the Crimean War, 1854, during and after which Finland set up some sharpshooter battalions based on rote system. The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Eastern War (Восточная война Vostochnaya Vojna) (March 1854–February 1856 was fought These participated on the Russian side in the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), Russo-Japanese War and World War I. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Eastern War (Восточная война Vostochnaya Vojna) (March 1854–February 1856 was fought The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 had its origins in a rise in nationalism in the Balkans as well as in the Russian goal of recovering territorial losses it had suffered The Russo-Japanese War (日露戦争 Romaji: Nichi-Ro Sensō Русско-японская война Russko-Yaponskaya Voyna;, 10 February 1904 – 5 September World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All

At the turn of the 20th century, the Russian empire was weakening, and this was reflected in a reduced capacity of the Russian troops to keep public order. Voluntary defence organizations disguised as fire brigades were formed by the Finnish people. There were socialist Red Guards and conservative, anti-socialist Protection Guards (or White Guards). Also, activists secretly travelled to Germany to receive military training and became elite Jaeger troops (jääkärit). After independence, the government declared the Whites government troops, and the Finnish Civil War was fought between the Reds, assisted by Communist Russians, and White Guards added with the Jaegers and assisted by the German empire. The Finnish Civil War was a part of the national and social turmoil caused by World War I (1914&ndash1918 in Europe After the war in 1919, the Protection Guards became a separate organization. Therefore, strictly speaking, there is no continuity between the White Guards, which became a voluntary organization, and the Finnish army, which was a cadre army based on conscription. However, Jaegers gained important positions in the army, and German tactics and military principles were adopted.

Winter War

The Finnish Army (1939) at the beginning of the Winter War in 1939 consisted of 9 field divisions, 4 brigades and a number of small independent battalions and companies. The Finnish Army at the beginning of the Winter War in 1939 consisted of 9 field divisions 4 brigades and a number of small independent battalions and companies The Winter War (Talvisota Советско-финляндская война - official Зимняя война - unofficial Vinterkriget began when the Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Army was organised into three corps. [1] The II and III Corps were organised into the Army of the Isthmus which was located on the Karelian Isthmus, the likely location for the main Soviet Attack. The Army of the Isthmus ( Finnish: Kannaksen Armeija, KanA) was a formation of the Finnish Army during the Winter War. See Karelia (disambiguation for other meanings of the name Karelia. The IV Corps defended the area north of Lake Ladoga. Lake Ladoga (Лáдожское Óзеро Ladozhskoye Ozero; Laatokka is a Freshwater Lake located in Republic of Karelia and Leningrad The defence of the rest of the border up to Petsamo by the Arctic Ocean was given to the North Finland Group which consisted of a handful of independent battalions.

In order to organize replacements for the units a Field Replacement Brigade (Kenttätäydennysprikaati, KT-Pr) of nine battalions was formed. But due to the severity of the Soviet attack the battalions had to be used as combat troops. Also three Replacement Divisions or Home Replacement Divisions (1. Koti. TD - 3. Koti. TD) were formed from the available reservists. As the situation became more alarming the 1st and 3rd Replacement Divisions were reformed into the 21st and 23rd Divisions and sent to the front on December 19th. Events 324 - Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor. The 2nd Replacement Division was deployed as individual regiments to Northern Finland.

Winter War Order of battle

Army of the Isthmus

Army of the Isthmus (Kannaksen Armeija, KannA) under Lieutenant General Hugo Österman was located on the Karelian Isthmus. The Army of the Isthmus ( Finnish: Kannaksen Armeija, KanA) was a formation of the Finnish Army during the Winter War. Lieutenant General is a Military rank used in many countries The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the Hugo Viktor Österman ( 5 September 1892 – 1975 was a Finnish Lieutenant-General during World War II. See Karelia (disambiguation for other meanings of the name Karelia.

Immediately by the border on the isthmus were the four delaying groups named after their location:

Independent formations

IV Corps (IV AK) (in the Ladoga Karelia) under Major General Juho Heiskanen (from 4 December 1939 on Major General Woldemar Hägglund). The IV Corps was a formation of the Finnish Army during the Winter War against the Soviet Union. Karelia ( Karelian and Finnish Karjala, Карелия ( Kareliya) Karelen the land of the Karelian peoples, is an area in "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

North Finland Group (Pohjois-Suomen Ryhmä) under Major General Wiljo Tuompo.

Reserves of C-in-C

Organisation Today

Peacetime Organisation of the Finnish Army (click to enlarge)
Peacetime Organisation of the Finnish Army (click to enlarge)
Wartime Brigade Organisation (click to enlarge)
Wartime Brigade Organisation (click to enlarge)
Finnish soldiers skiing.
Finnish soldiers skiing. The Lapland Group ( Lapin Ryhmä) was a formation of the Finnish Army during the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union. Salla (former name Kuolajärvi until 1936 is a municipality of Finland and is located in Lapland. The North Karelian Group ( Pohjois-Karjalan Ryhmä, P-KR) was a formation of the Finnish Army (1939 during the Winter War. The 6th Division (6Divisioona was a unit of the Finnish Army during the Winter War; its name was later changed to the 3rd Division (3

The Army is organised into four Military Provinces: southern, western, eastern and northern. The military provnces are responsible for the defence and planning in their areas. The four military provinces are further divided into 22 regional offices or regional military provinces which are responsible for conscription, organizing the local defence and aiding the voluntary defence organizations. The Army is commanded by Ilkka Aspara, who succeeded Olli-Matti Multamäki on January 1 2007. Lieutenant General Olli-Matti Multamäki ( April 18, 1948 - January 7 2007) was the commander of the Finnish Army. [2][3] The Logistics is centrally planned by the Army Materiel Command, which has one Logistics Regiment in each Military Province. [4]

Military Province of Southern Finland

Guard Jaeger Regiment (Helsinki)
Southern Finland Logistics Regiment

Military Province of Western Finland

Armoured Brigade (Parola)
Häme Regiment (Lahti)
Signals Regiment (Riihimäki)
Pori Brigade (Säkylä) (Readiness brigade)
Artillery Brigade (Niinisalo)
Engineer Regiment (Keuruu)
Western Finland Logistics Regiment

Military Province of Eastern Finland

Karelia Brigade (Vekaranjärvi) (Readiness brigade)
Reserve Officer School (Hamina)
North Karelia Brigade (Kontiolahti)
Eastern Finland Logistics Regiment

Military Province of Northern Finland

Kainuu Brigade (Kajaani) (Readiness brigade)
Jaeger Brigade (Sodankylä)
Lapland Air Defence Regiment (Rovaniemi)
Northern Finland Logistics Regiment

The Utti Jaeger Regiment which trains Para Jägers and Special Jaegers is directly under the Army Command. The Guard Jaeger Regiment (Kaartin Jääkärirykmentti Gardesjägarregementet is a Finnish Army special forces unit located in Santahamina, an island suburb of Helsinki (in Finnish;) or Helsingfors (in Swedish;) is the Capital and largest city of Finland. The Armoured Brigade ( Panssariprikaati) is a Finnish Army training unit located near Hämeenlinna in southern Finland Parola is a town in the Municipality of Hattula in Finland. It is located 110 kilometres north of Helsinki. Häme Regiment ( Hämeen rykmentti) is a unit of the Finnish Army located in Lahti. Lahti ( Swedish: Lahtis) is a city and Municipality in Finland. Riihimäki (literally "Drying barn hill" in English is a town and municipality in the south of Finland, about 69 km north of Helsinki The Pori Brigade (Finnish Porin Prikaati) based in Huovinrinne, Säkylä, is a Finnish Army unit part of the Western Command of Finland Säkylä is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Satakunta region Artillery Brigade ( Finnish Tykistöprikaati) is a Finnish Army unit situated in Niinisalo, in Western Finland. Keuruu (Keuru is a municipality and Town of Finland. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Karelia Brigade ( Karjalan Prikaati) is one of the three Finnish Army readiness brigades The Finnish defence doctrine relies on the principle of territorial defence which means that the whole of Finland must be defended in all cases Hamina (ˈhɑminɑ Swedish: Fredrikshamn) is one of Finland 's most important harbours North Karelia Brigade ( Finnish Pohjois-Karjalan prikaati) is a Finnish Army unit situated in Kontioranta, Kontiolahti, about 19 kilometres Kontiolahti is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia Kainuu Brigade (Finnish Kainuun prikaati) is a Finnish Army unit situated in Kajaani. History Kajaani was founded in 1651 as one of the Finnish cities founded by the Governor General of Finland Per Brahe. The Jaeger Brigade ( Jääkäriprikaati) is a unit of the Finnish Army. Sodankylä (Suáđigil Soađegilli Suäˊđjel is a town and municipality of Finland. Lapland Air Defence Regiment ( Lapin Ilmatorjuntarykmentti) is a unit of the Finnish Army located in Rovaniemi. History There has probably been continuous settlement in the Rovaniemi area since the Stone Age. The Utti Jaeger Regiment (Utin Jääkärirykmentti is the Finnish Army training and development centre for Special forces and Helicopter operations Since 1998, the amphibious Uusimaa Brigade is part of the Finnish Navy. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) The Uusimaa Brigade or the Nyland Brigade ( Finnish: Uudenmaan Prikaati (UudPr Swedish: Nylands Brigad (NylBr is a Finnish The Finnish Navy ( Finnish: Suomen merivoimat, Swedish: Finlands sjöstridskrafter) is one of the branches of the

Wartime organization

In wartime, the army is composed of Jaeger, Infantry and Armoured Brigades. For other uses see Jäger. Jäger (plural also Jäger, ˈjɛːgɐ (егерь yeger was adopted in the Enlightenment era The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of Armoured fighting vehicles in Modern warfare. Jaeger and infantry brigades serve different wartime purposes, jaegers being more mobile while infantry brigades being equipped with older equipment. Three of the Jaeger brigades are special Readiness brigades with rapid reaction capability. They are more mobile and more heavily armed than the ordinary jaeger brigades, and have a higher proportion of regular to reservist personnel; there is one readiness brigade for each of Finland's 3 territorial commands.

Wartime strength of the Army is 237 000, of which 61 000 are in Operational Units and 176 000 are in Regional Units.

Equipment

Main articles: Equipment of the Finnish Army and Former equipment of the Finnish Army

War-time strength

Operational units:

Regional units:

Major weapon systems used by the army

References

  1. ^ See The Finnish Army in the Winter War at winterwar. This is a list of weapons used by the Finnish Army, for past equipment see here. This is an (incomplete list of former equipment used by the Finnish Army: Tanks PT-A: PT-76: 12 units com
  2. ^ Planning of the Broad Structural Reform has begun within the Defence Forces. 3-15-2007. Retrieved 12-4-2008.
  3. ^ Maavoimien rakennemuutos. Retrieved 2-4-2008. (Finnish). The English page gives outdated information, which has been since partly superseded. The Finnish source shows the actual organization of the Army from 2008 onwards.
  4. ^ Huoltojärjestelmä. Finnish Defence Forces. 2007. Retrieved 2-4-2008. (Finnish)

See also

Ski warfare, the use of ski -equipped troops in War, is first recorded by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus
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