Vesa Nenye: Finland at War: The Continuation and Lapland Wars 1941-45

To our children and to future generations. Remembering those countless unsung heroes whose sacrifices paid the price of freedom.

Lapsillemme ja tuleville sukupolville. Muistaen niitä tuhansia joiden uhraukset lunastivat meille vapauden.

The dates in this section follow on directly from the signing of the Moscow Peace Treaty and the end of the Winter War, through to the end of World War II and its repercussions for Finland.

13 March

The Moscow Peace Treaty is signed. The ceasefire comes into effect at 11:00am (Finnish time), ending the Winter War. Blatantly ignoring the ceasefire, Cyril Meretskov orders the attack on Viipuri to continue until the city is in Soviet hands.

15 March

Finland’s flag is lowered at Viipuri. Troops start to withdraw behind the new borders agreed in the Moscow Peace Treaty. The Soviet Seventh Army is finally able to take the ground denied them during the war.

30 March

The Soviet Union declares that the forming of a Scandinavian defence force would be considered a hostile act.

9 April

Germany invades Denmark and Norway. May Sweden approaches Finland to propose a military alliance.

10 May

Germany invades France and the Low Countries.

22 May

Foundation of the Finland–Soviet Union Peace and Friendship Society; its secret aim is to destabilise Finland’s government.

14 June

The Finnish passenger plane Kaleva is shot down by the Soviets over Finnish territorial waters whilst returning from Estonia. German troops enter Paris.

15–16 June

The USSR demands that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia form new governments and that they grant military access to the Red Army.

17 June

Soviet forces deploy to the Baltic states. Soon Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia ‘ask’ to become members of the USSR.

18 June

The Finnish parliament passes law for the resettlement of Karelian refugees.

22 June

France surrenders.

23 June

Rights to the Petsamo nickel deposits are demanded by the USSR.

26 June

The Soviet Union demands Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina from Romania.

27 June

The Soviet Union demands the demilitarisation of the Åland Islands. The Soviet demands presented to Romania are met in full.

29 June

Finland establishes a trade treaty with Germany.

8 July

Sweden agrees to allow German troops to pass through its territory.

8 July

The USSR demands passage to the leased Hanko Peninsula.

21 July

The Baltic states declare themselves to be Soviet republics.

22 July

First mention of Finland as a viable route of attack against the Soviet Union is recorded in the personal diary of General Franz Halder.

23 July

Finland promises to sell 60 per cent of its nickel production for the year to Germany.

24 July

Finnish Minister of Supply Väinö Tanner’s resignation is called for by the USSR.

31 July

Hitler decides to attack the Soviet Union.

4 August

The Finnish National Brothers in Arms Association is founded.

9 August

The law for the compensation of lost property for Winter War refugees is ratified.

15 August

Väinö Tanner resigns following Soviet pressure.

17 August

German Lieutenant-Colonel Josef Veltjens approaches Mannerheim to ask for permission to move German troops and supplies through Finland to northern Norway. Germany agrees to start to sell arms to Finland.

18 August

Acting President Risto Ryti instructs Mannerheim to verbally accept the German proposal of troop transport.

30 August

Germany give Romania guarantees for the nation’s safety and agree the deployment of the Wehrmacht.

6 September

Finland signs an agreement allowing Soviet passage to the leased military base at Hanko.

12 September

Finland agrees to allow passage to German troops garrisoned in Norway.

26 September

Germany begins arms shipments to Finland.

27 September

Germany, Italy and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact.

7 October

German troops enter Romania to guard its oilfields against the Soviets. In order to deceive the USSR, German soldiers are deployed among the Romanian ranks as ‘advisors’.

12 November

Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Molotov begins his visit to Berlin. The Germans appear to dissuade the Soviets from an immediate invasion of Finland.

27 November

President Kyösti Kallio seeks permission to resign.

16–18 December

Halder and Göring meet with Major-General Paavo Talvela in Berlin.

18 December

Hitler approves the plans for Operation Barbarossa .

December

Hitler informs General Eduard Dietl of Operation Silberfuchs (Silver Fox) , a planned attack against Murmansk launched directly from Petsamo in Finland. The Finns have not yet been consulted.

19 December

Finnish President Kallio passes away.

19 December

Risto Ryti becomes President of Finland.

23 December

The Finland–Soviet Union Peace and Friendship Society is disbanded by court order in Helsinki.

3 January

The new Prime Minister of Finland, Johan Rangell, forms his cabinet.

30 January

General Erik Heinrichs meets General Halder in Berlin. The Finns refuse even to entertain talks about any hypothetical joint operations in the future.

3 March

The Soviets officially object to Germany having pressured Bulgaria to join the Axis powers.

4 March

British Operation Claymore landings against the German base at the Lofoten Islands.

7 March

Finland and Germany sign a trade agreement.

6 April

Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece.

21 April

The Finnish long-range reconnaissance patrols (LRRP) gain official status.

25 April