Photos WW2 Finnish armed forces

[SamWell]

Another photo of finns performing scorched earth tactics in occupied Karelia

 

[BravoZulu]

Finnish soldiers of Infantry Regiment 12 inspect a destroyed Soviet T-34 tank destroyed by a German assault gun during the Battle of Tali-Ihantala in northern Vyborg. From left, jaeger Eino Heikkilä, sergeant Kalle Niemelä and sergeant Heino Nikulassi. Niemelä and Nikulassi have Panzerfäuste on their shoulders, Nikulassi is carrying a Finnish-made Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun.

Sergeant Heino Nikulassi was killed in action the following day

 

[BravoZulu]

Finnish troops testing a Soviet anti-tank launcher Ampulomet 1941

The weapon consisted of an unrifled tube with a crude breach mounted on a Y shaped pedestal which pivoted on trunnions to provide elevation. Two breech mounted inverted horns were provided for traverse/elevation and a simple inclinometer for targeting and range calculation. A black powder charge was inserted into the breech and fired by a percussion cap to propel the AZh-2 glass ampule. The ampules were filled with an incendiary mixture known as KS. KS was a mixture of 80% phosphorus and 20% sulphur which ignited when exposed to air. The burning mixture created a bright flame, thick white smoke and would burn for up to three minutes at temperatures between 800–1,000 °C (1,470–1,830 °F). The burning liquid would seep through vision slots or engine grilles on a tank and ignite ammunition or fuel as well as choke and blind the crew. Obsolete by 1942

 

[SamWell]

Photo of the finnish deep reconnaissance officers.Third from left is Alexander Vladimirovich Vladislavlev-commander of the 1st reconnaissance regiment of the Northern branch of the ROA,
In the fall of 1943, by order of the german leaders, he was sent to help their Finnish allies.He became one of the founders of the propaganda department in school of Finnish intelligence.And the main teacher of the Russian language there

 

[SamWell]

Finnish officer showing his SIG MKMS sub-machine gun to his german allys.The SIG MKMO,and its version MKMS and MKPS, is a submachine gun produced in Switzerland.
Finnish army became main foreign buyer of this weapon during WW2.

 

[Deleted member 11302]

Finnish soldiers of Infantry Regiment 12 inspect a destroyed Soviet T-34 tank destroyed by a German assault gun during the Battle of Tali-Ihantala in northern Vyborg. From left, jaeger Eino Heikkilä, sergeant Kalle Niemelä and sergeant Heino Nikulassi. Niemelä and Nikulassi have Panzerfäuste on their shoulders, Nikulassi is carrying a Finnish-made Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun.

My man BravoZulu using the correct plural form for "Panzerfaust". My heart is swelling with pride, right now. Let's not think about other anatomical structures that might be swelling.

By the power invested in me by the Order of overly-assimilated Immigrant Knights of the Iron Cross, I declare thee .... honorary Kraut first class. With all privileges and duties.

Use thy power wisely my lord.

 

[BravoZulu]

My man BravoZulu using the correct plural form for "Panzerfaust". My heart is swelling with pride, right now. Let's not think about other anatomical structures that might be swelling.

By the power invested in me by the Order of overly-assimilated Immigrant Knights of the Iron Cross, I declare thee .... honorary Kraut first class. With all privileges and duties.

Use thy power wisely my lord.

I'm overwhelmed, I can't speak...the emotion is too much!

 

[SamWell]

Finnish soldiers posing with map stolen from school in occupied Karelia

 

[SamWell]

Soviet officers entering HanКo(finns are also presented)

 

[guest0001]

On the 10th of September 1941 some Finnish unit in the Tohmajärvi area launched an assault at 5 PM. Here we see some rifleman from the area wearing a Hungarian helmet.
In the autumn of 1939 the Finns recognized an urgent need of helmets, having only some 75000 Stahlhelms ready for issuing to the troops. However, the first batch of helmets were bought from Hungary in the middle of Feb 1940. Despite the fact that the first batch of 29000 was sent immediately they arrived too late to see any action during the Winter War. The main reason for that was the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact agreed with the USSR and the 3rd Reich in August 1939, that preventing all war material transports via Germany.
It's still unclear why the Finnish doctrine created in the late 20s/early 30s stated that "the helmets are no longer needed at the modern battle fields".
Interesting detail: In the Finnish movie Talvisota (Winter War) you can spot several Hungarian helmets, that being one of the most inaccurate facts in the film.
SA-kuva pic # 25228

 

[guest0001]

Lieutenant Tauno Jokinen and "his" POW, a boy called "Jussi" (common Finnish name), think Jussi switched sides, because caption tells he became the lieutenants messenger boy, and that he was a good "scout", helping the Finns to put up "motti´s" (pockets) in the area. Looks like he got a rifle too (perhaps only for the photo). Kilpeenjoki, Ihantala, 1941.08.22 (SA-kuva)

 

[guest0001]

Continuation War, Finland.
Battle at Suojärvi. Destroyed tanks etc. Suojärvi 1941.08.22 (SA-kuva)

 

[guest0001]

Continuation War, Finland.
Troops rests during a break in the attack. Hallaperä 1941.08.22 (SA-kuva)

 

[guest0001]

 

[guest0001]

 

[guest0001]

80 years ago today Finland was waging its most bizarre battle yet, with the national public radio at the forefront and with polka as their weapon.
(The story is as true as the song is annoying

)
As Finnish troops managed to recapture the city of Vyborg at the end of August, there was one thing dampening the long-awaited celebrations of finally having Vyborg back in Finnish hands: the mystery explosions that just continued, long after the Soviet Army had been driven out of this much-loved Finnish city.
From a Russian POW they found out that the Red Army had hidden hundreds of radio mines into the city. They had continued to wreak havoc; destroying buildings and killing officers. In total 17 managed to go off, before the Finns finally discovered the first unexploded one. They were taken to the headquarters, where they were met by bewilderment. Initially they were thought to be remote controlled, but upon a closer inspection they turned out to be radio transmitters, operating at the frequency of 715 kHz. They were programmed to go off as that particular radio frequency would play certain triad (a pattern consisting of 3 particular chords).
The plan was to start transmitting a signal that would distract the frequency. Only the HQ missed the sort of scrambler needed for the job. So, they contacted the national radio agency, tasked them with quickly sending one of transmission cars to Vyborg, which they did. Out of the somewhat limited selection of the records in the car they choose for their secret weapon Vili Vesterinen’s Säkkijärven polkka (Polka of Säkkijärvi, named after a municipality on the shores Viaborg Bay) as they figured that the quick-as-hell fingers of Mr. Vesterinen would be just too much for even the most alert of radists.
Over the next 3 days the song is played non-stop. Over and over again. In total for more than 1500 times (enough to make anyone thrown in the towel if you ask me…!)
And sure enough the explosions came to an end and peace returned to the city

 

[guest0001]

 

[guest0001]

August 1941, the Finns pushed forward hard and often managed to put the retreating enemy i "motti´s" (pockets). A really big motti was the Rautalahti-motti. Must have been total chaos, but as I understand it a lot of enemy´s managed to escape the motti on waiting boats. Rautalahti means Iron-bay in English. Rautalahti 1941.08.19 (SA-kuva)

 

[guest0001]

 

[guest0001]